Opportunity profile: Science history brought to book

The Royal Society’s Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme offers science historians the opportunity to access archives anywhere in the world, including at the society itself. Keith Moore, head of library and information services, talks to Fiona McIntyre.

Keith’s top tips 

• Be very clear about what you want to do, where you want to go and why. Set it out in a pithy, intelligent way.
• If appropriate, show how your proposal is closely matched to the interests of Lisa Jardine, especially the influence of scientific developments on other fields.
• Do your background research and check that your proposal has not been done before.
• Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of your field of research.

The Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme is intended to help early-career researchers use collections on the history of science, including the Royal Society’s own, by providing travel and subsistence costs. It should also encourage scholars to build relationships with the Royal Society and other institutions.