The John Parham Fellowship is a biennial award of £5,000 supporting innovative research in ecocriticism and the environmental humanities. Funded jointly by John Parham’s estate and ASLE-UKI, the Fellowship honours John Parham’s intellectual legacy by supporting the development of ambitious and original work in the field. We are particularly keen to support those who are in positions of precarity in relation to their academic/creative career. Early career researchers and those outside full-time academic employment are especially encouraged to apply.
About the Fellowship
The Fellowship is awarded to the best proposal for a research or creative project—including scholarly publications, or creative outputs—that can be completed within one year. Applicants should clearly explain how the funding will enable the completion of their project (for example, through buy-out for teaching or other employment, living expenses, travel, equipment, or research costs) and should include a timeline.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be members of ASLE-UKI at the time of application
- Applicants must be resident in the UK or Ireland
- Projects must not be for the completion of a degree programme (e.g. PhD, MA, or undergraduate study)
- Applicants must not be currently in full-time employment in an academic role
Selection Criteria
Applications will be assessed on:
- The quality, ambition, and originality of the project
- Its contribution to ecocriticism or environmental creative practice
- The feasibility of completion within one year
- The impact of the Fellowship funding on the project
- The potential to support the applicant’s career development
We particularly welcome projects engaging with areas connected to John Parham’s wide-ranging research interests, including (but not limited to):
- Victorian ecology
- Punk, music, and sound studies
- Green media and popular culture
- Contemporary literature, science, and technology
- Environmental activism
- Transnational ecocriticism
- Anthropocene studies
- Photosynthesis
Fellowship Requirements
At the end of the fellowship, the successful applicant will be required to:
- Submit a brief report on the completed project
- Deliver The John Parham Lecture at the ASLE-UKI Postgraduate Conference in 2028 (this may take the form of an academic paper, or a presentation/reading of creative work). Travel within the UK and Ireland for this event may be supported.
Application Process
Applications should be submitted via the online form by 1st March 2027 and must include:
- A project proposal of 2000 words
- A statement of how the funds will be used, including itemised estimated costing.
- Two references
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 30th June 2027.
The successful application will be announced formally at the ASLE-UKI Biennial Conference 2027.