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About the SFRA

Our Mission

Improve classroom teaching,

Encourage and assist scholarship, and

Evaluate and publicize new books and magazines dealing with fantastic literature and film, teaching methods and materials, and allied media performances.

Among the membership are people from many countries — students, teachers, professors, librarians, futurologists, readers, authors, booksellers, editors, publishers, archivists, and scholars in many disciplines. Academic affiliation is not a requirement for membership.

This website provides information to prospective members, current members, and the general public, including membership information, calls for papers, notable achievements in the field, schedules for upcoming conferences, and other relevant announcements. It also contains an online archive of the SFRA Review, as well as other documents and materials related to the association.

Statement

As an international organization, we are watching developing policies and practices regarding travel between nations. We want to assure our members that, as always, we value diversity, equality, and inclusion. We are an international community of scholars and writers, and we will continue to support all those who believe in the free exchange of ideas. If you have concerns about your personal status, please contact the board with details.

Election Results

Dear SFRA, I’m pleased to pass on the results of the election for the next SFRA executive board:
 
* Hugh O’Connell has been elected President;
* Sarah Lohmann has been elected Secretary;
* Helane Androne and Gabriela Lee have been elected our first At-Large members for the 2023 pilot.
 
Thank you to all the candidates, and thank you to Keren Omry and Sean Guynes for their service on exec! 

SFRA Executive Committee

Officers of the Association

President
Hugh O’Connell
hugh.oconnell@umb.edu

Secretary
Sarah Lohmann
sarah.lohmann@lit.gess.ethz.ch

Immediate Past President
Gerry Canavan
gerry.canavan@marquette.edu

Vice President
Chris Pak
c.a.pak@swansea.ac.uk

Treasurer
Joshua Pearson
jpears10@calstatela.edu

At-Large Members
Helene Androne
adamshd@miamioh.edu

Kania Greer
kgreer18@kennesaw.edu

 

SFRA Staff

Web Director
David Shipko
dshipko1@jhu.edu

Outreach Officer
Anastasia Klimchynskaya
anaklimchynskaya@gmail.com

SFRA Review Editor
Ian Campbell
icampbell@gsu.edu

Overview

The Executive Committee of the Science Fiction Research Association invites travel grant proposals to attend and present at the annual conference of the Science Fiction Research Association. Maximum awards of $500 may be given. (In the past the SFRA has considered distance traveled primarily in terms of domestic vs. international travel. Starting with travel awards for the 2019 conference, the geographic criterion has been based on the estimated cost of travel, as one factor among many.)

While you do not need to be a current member of the organization to apply for this grant, please remember that you must be a member of SFRA to present at the conference. Grant checks will be presented to awardees during the conference funded by the grant.

Deadline for this year's grants: March 31st (notifications of awards will be sent around April 30th)

 

Please organize your proposal as follows:

  1. A cover page that gives the name of the applicant (please do not identify yourself or your institution in the rest of the proposal), mailing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, distance from the conference; please note your willingness to accept partial funding. Submit your cover page as a separate document from the remainder of your proposal.
  2. The abstract for your paper (as submitted to the conference director).
  3. A grant proposal of no more than 300 words in which you explain:
    • the financial difficulty you face in attempting to attend the annual SFRA conference and
    • the professional growth you intend to receive by attending the conference.
  4. A realistic, detailed budget for your conference attendance. Be sure to list alternative funding resources you have already applied for and/or received money from.

 

Criteria for Selection

You may find the following criteria useful in preparing your proposal. The Executive Committee will use these to conduct reviews of all proposals.

  1. Need: The proposal demonstrates a significant need.
  2. Distance: The proposal demonstrates that the applicant will have to travel far distances to attend the conference.
  3. Contribution: The project being presented makes an original contribution to scholarship in the field.
  4. Professional Growth: The proposal articulates clear objectives for professional growth.
  5. Cost: Budget expenditures are reasonable and the applicant has also sought funding elsewhere.
  6. Dollars Available: The organization will attempt to award as many travel grants as possible while remaining fiscally responsible.

 

Restrictions

No individual or organization may submit more than one proposal for SFRA funding per calendar year (conference travel, research travel, or other grants); this does not prohibit an individual applying for conference travel funding from preparing a small grant application on behalf of a collective to which he or she belongs. The first consideration will go to those who have not received an award in the last three years.

 

Expectations of Award Recipients

Grant recipients will be expected to do the following:

  • Present at the SFRA Conference they are being funded to attend.
  • Submit a final written report of 1 to 2 pages to the secretary of the SFRA Executive Committee by September 30 of the calendar year in which they attend and present at the SFRA conference.

Questions should be directed to SFRA Secretary Sarah Lohmann.

Proposals should be submitted to the same, as Rich Text File or Portable Document Format attachments.

Join fellow scholars, educators, librarians, editors, authors, publishers, archivists, and artists from across the globe in the SFRA.