Department of Philosophy

Bornblum Travel Award

Overview

This award was made possible by the generous donation of David Bornblum in honor of his father Bert Bornblum, a long-time friend of the Philosophy Department. It provides, on a competitive basis, funds to curb the expense of professional travel for PhD students.

Selection Criteria

Generally, grants should be awarded according to the following priorities:

Category I

(1) Conference presentations of a primary paper. (Note: presentations national conferences, including those within a significant disciplinary concentration, are more significant than regional conferences)

(2) Research travel for advanced PhD students with promise of significant contribution to their dissertation project.

Category II

(3) Other conference presentations. Commenting.

(4) Other educational or research opportunities such as language programs or work that, while not immediately relevant to the identified dissertation area of the student, contributes to the student's AOS/AOC.

These categories and subcategories may be thought of as providing four default ordered priorities. However, they cannot be thought of as providing a strict lexical ordering. Various considerations may be relevant.

Obviously, the expected benefits of presenting a paper (or commenting) at a conference varies with the geographical and disciplinary scope of the conference, but also with the expected quality of participants generally, the focus of the conference on an issue, the connections and visibility that is likely to result, and like matters.

So, commenting on a paper by a prominent philosopher at a conference analogous to our own Spindel Conference, and one focused centrally in the student's AOS would presumably have a strong case for being funded.

Similarly, participation in certain programs at which our faculty and students have been conspicuous and at which our students have made contacts of significance can be given some weight, even when a student is not presenting. Here, clearly, more advanced students may do more for themselves and for our program than less advanced students, and clearly those presenting are likewise better placed to benefit themselves and the program.

Application Process

1. Students must complete the Bornblum Application Form, linked here.
2. Email the completed form to your Dissertation Director or Mentor, together with supporting documentation (e.g. conference acceptance notice).
3. If your Director or Mentor approves, they will email the form and documentation to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The DGS will verify you are in good standing, and forward to the Chair. If approved, the Chair will sign and forward to the Business Officer, cc'ing all parties of your accepted proposal.

Rolling Admissions and Decisions

Proposals should be submitted at least ten weeks prior to conference travel.

Students are typically allotted a maximum of $500 per year, though this can change for a variety of reasons. Proposals may be rejected on the basis of the availability of funds.