Beckman Speaker and Conference Support Fund

Requests for Funding are accepted throughout the year and must be submitted at least three months before the event.

Notification of Award: Generally within 3-5 weeks of submittal
Funding Requests: Up to $3,000 per request

Payments will be made to: Nonprofit, U.S. Institutions via check or online payment portal.

The Foundation recognizes that organizing seminars and conferences and presenting research accomplishments are integral to advancing science. These activities provide critical opportunities to expand professional networks, establish new collaborations, gain exposure to innovative science, promote leadership and communication skills, and strengthen interactions among our Beckman awardees. However, travel and organizational costs can limit the number of opportunities young scientists, in particular, are able to attend each year.

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Speaker and Conference Support program seeks to expand access to these opportunities by providing up to $3,000 in funding support for Beckman awardees and alumni, including current and past Foundation grant awardees, Beckman Institute members, and Executive Committee members, specifically from the Beckman Scholars Program, Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, Beckman Young Investigator, Beckman-Argyros Award, and Instrument Grants programs. Funding may be used to host a Beckman community member (e.g., current/past awardees, Executive Committee Member, Institute Director or member, Science Advisory Council Member or Board of Directors member) to participate in a seminar, talk, or conference hosted at your Institution.

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation (AMBF) will select a limited number of Speaker and Conference events to support, based on their relevance to the Foundation’s mission of campus impact, scientific and community impact, and the scope of the event.

Application should be made by the meeting organizer and must fulfill the following requirements:

• Meeting organizer must be a current or past awardee, Executive Committee Member, or Beckman Institute member.
• Funding requests may not be submitted for yourself. Funds may only be requested for an invited speaker.
  • If you are at a Beckman Institute applying for the fund, you cannot request funding for a speaker who is also affiliated with your own Beckman Institute. 
• Support will be provided for a speaker who is a current/past awardee, Executive Committee Member, Beckman Institute Director or member, Science Advisory Council, or Board of Directors Member.
  • Guest speaker travel, hotel, and travel related expenses are allowable. 
• Costs associated with hosting the event, including, but not limited to: room rental, reception costs, food/beverage, printed materials, etc. are allowable.
• The meeting must address advancements in scientific research or issues impacting science.
• Funding will be provided for one speaker per meeting.
• Meetings with undergraduate students as the target audience will receive higher priority for funding.
• Priority will be given to events where registration to attend the event is open to all.
• Priority will be given to events that do not require a registration fee.

In reviewing the seminar or conference proposal, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation will consider:

• Alignment with the Foundation’s mission to support young scientists and advance research within chemistry and the life sciences.
• Meeting all eligibility requirements.
• The uniqueness of the seminar or conference within the community (i.e., Is another similar event already available?).
• Is the content of the seminar or conference relevant to the community?
• Is there a clear overview of the seminar or conference topic?
• Is there a clear statement of the intended learning outcomes for the seminar or conference?
• Are the timelines appropriate?

To submit a request, email the following information or submission document (word or PDF format) to Esther Devanney at: [email protected]

Optional submission template

• Name of the meeting organizer, including your current or past Beckman Foundation Program award, current Institution, and updated contact information (phone, email, mailing address)
• Name and date of the planned event
• Name of the proposed speaker, their association to the Foundation, and if the speaker has confirmed their participation (or not) in the event
• Title of proposed talk (if the speaker is confirmed)
• Statement of purpose for the event
• Description of the anticipated event attendees (e.g., undergraduates, graduate students, general public, etc.) and anticipated number of attendees
• Amount of funding requested (up to $3,000) and supporting budget materials
• Contact information for the financial office or appropriate department that should receive the funds

Generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT or AI, are evolving into essential software in the researcher’s toolkit. Just as graphing and statistical software aid in data analysis and presentation, AI tools can assist authors in their work. The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation supports the use of these tools as supplementary resources when used in an ethical and responsible manner. Accountability lies with the human authors, who remain responsible for the proper application of AI and the critical review and reporting of its output. All awardees and applicants are expected to comply with best practice in research and publishing ethics, take full responsibility for any errors made by an AI tool, and are expected to cooperate with questions relating to the accuracy or integrity of any part of their work, including data analyses and representation.

Events that receive funding must:

• Include the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation logo on all publicity related to the meeting.
• Introduce the speaker as an awardee or member of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation and identify the program and years associated with their award and/or their title and relationship to the Foundation (e.g., Executive Committee Member, Science Advisory Council Member, Institute Director, or Board of Directors Member).
• Provide a subsequent write up of the event for use on social media by AMBF.

We encourage co-sponsored events. Applicants are encouraged to speak with departments and other campus units, as well as neighboring universities.

AMBF does not require the submittal of post-event expenditure reports or receipts. If the event is cancelled prior to expenditure of grant funds, please contact AMBF for instructions on how to proceed.