WS2: The Power of Language in Successful Proposal Writing
Location: TBA
The Power of Language in Successful Proposal Writing
Presenter: Rita Gil Mata
Date: Tuesday 23rd April 2023 (09:00-12:00)
Location: University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Target Audience: All RMAs involved in the writing and editing of proposals and those looking to know more about it.
Content
I will explore the use and power of language in our proposal writing – with word counts and page limits, how can we maximise what we need to say in getting our research idea across?
Substantively, proposals are similar, but I believe that with powerful language and strong editing skills we can increase the impact of your message - the selling of your Research Idea (your story) as opposed to the telling of the story.
I propose to bring a variety of successful proposals I have worked on (redacted and anonymised) for the purposes of studying and analysing the ‘before’ and ‘after’. I have sought and gained permission from a number of researchers whose proposals I have edited, and they are happy for me to use their work by way of example.
There are invaluable lessons to be learned through this process for any RMA that is involved in the writing and editing of funding proposals. This hands-on approach will equip RMAs with new insights and expertise as they face the increasing challenge of securing research funding. For me, this is knowledge exchange at work in its truest sense. I will be pulling examples from a variety of sources including ERC, IRC, H2020, Horizon Europe, Fulbright and Marie-Curie. I will also ask attendees to bring their examples and we can work on them in real time.
Learning Outcomes
As a collective, we can brainstorm ideas as we explore the power of language in proposals. We will create an arsenal of examples of powerful, persuasive language that we can use in our future work. Post-workshop, I will create a shared RMA Toolkit of resources where you can find examples of successful proposals and curated content as developed by the workshop itself.
Profile of the Presenter
Rita Gil Mata has been a Research Funding Advisor & Manager since 2005, facilitating over 700 applications and securing more than 30M€ in funding. Specializing in strategic content development and Responsible Research & Innovation, she has collaborated with various research organizations, including universities, research centres, SMEs and public bodies. She holds a PhD in Work Psychology and is currently member of the Coordination Team of the Portuguese RMA group PIC. Actively involved in Research Management, Grant Writing, Open Science, Responsible Research and Innovation. With a strong background in aligning research with European agendas, she is skilled in proposal development, policy analysis, and training in Research Management and Research Integrity. Fluent in English and French, she is known for her excellent planning, communication, and leadership skills.
