FOUR (4) TRAVEL GRANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FORUM ON RELIGIOUS STUDIES - FOREST by FBK-ISR

FoReSt is addressed to the community of PhD students and young researchers in Religious Studies with the aim of creating an open and welcoming space, within which to discuss in depth issues related to the specific research trajectories of each of the participants, starting from the dialogue between a young researcher and two tenured researchers.

Each meeting will be attended by
– one doctoral student;
– a discussant, as an expert in the specific field;
– a mentor, identified from the FBK-ISR Center research group.

The Forum on Religious Studies, by overturning the usual seminar structure, offers doctoral students the opportunity to propose an extended paper on their own topic of interest, sharing doubts and methodological uncertainties, in order to receive feedback and suggestions from the senior discussants and mentors, and then concentrically extending the dialogue to the other participants in the Forum (doctoral students, post-doctoral students, researchers). The presence of a senior discussant and a mentor is meant to foster a rigorous discussion on the topic addressed, listening to voices arising from different analytical postures, and at the same time to stimulate and encourage the young researcher’s ability to make useful contacts for his or her own research work. Therefore, it is possible to suggest in the application (in an indicative and non-binding way) the names of three scholars/experts the participant (speaker) would like to involve in the Forum activities and who will be evaluated for the role of discussant by FBK-ISR.

The Forum will include afternoon sessions (workshops and round tables) dedicated to the issues of communication and dissemination, with a special focus on the topics of storytelling and communication of scientific research, in which all the winners of this call will participate. These activities will be held in collaboration with Banca per il Trentino-Alto Adige Südtirol of Trento.

The travel grants in the following call for applications are intended for PhD students who wish to attend the Forum as speakers.
You can apply for a travel grant to attend the Forum as a co-discussant, poster session participant and trainee in the afternoon activities at this link, even if you have already obtained your doctoral degree (maximum two years).

Mentors FBK:
Paolo COSTA
Valeria FABRETTI
Lucia GALVAGNI
Debora TONELLI

Keynote Speakers:
Graziano LINGUA
Michael STAUSBERG

Roundtable Speakers:
Gabriele MARINO
Nicolò MONTI
Claudio GIUNTA
Sara HEJAZI
Stefano ALLIEVI

Forum overview:
Themes (indicative, not exhaustive): religious sciences, theology, interreligious dialogue, religious violence, spiritual spatiality, cultural studies, philosophy of religions, sociology of religion, bioethics, theory of secularisation, contemporary transformations of spirituality, anthropology of religions, history of religions.

Duration: Three days

Location: Trento, Fondazione Bruno Kessler

Date: 27-29 October 2025

Language: Italian, English

The organisation of the Forum offers a contribution (Travel Grant) up to 400 Euro to each selected participant to cover the costs of participation in the Forum through analytical reimbursement of expenses incurred for the purchase of travel tickets and accommodation.

No. 4 participation travel grants are available and the selected candidates will be chosen based on the quality and relevance of their research contributions to the Forum. Applications will be reviewed by an internal committee of the FBK-ISR.

Eligibility criteria:
PhD students in Religious Studies and related disciplines are eligible to apply. Applicants must have a demonstrable interest in the study of religions and related phenomena.

How to apply:
Interested candidates are invited to apply by 01/06/2025. The application package must include the following documents:
– A curriculum vitae (CV) in European format highlighting academic and professional background;
– A short letter of intent of maximum 2000 characters, outlining your research interests and explaining why you are interested in participating in this forum;
– An abstract (maximum 300 words) of the research project you intend to share during the forum;
– The names of at least three scholars (from Italian or foreign universities, not already involved in your own research) with whom you would like to dialogue during the forum;
– Names and contact information of at least two academic or professional references who can testify to the candidate’s qualifications and potential contribution to the symposium.
Interested applicants should send these documents in a single PDF file by e-mail to fbk.isr[@]fbk.eu with the subject line: ‘FOREST Grant Application – [Surname]’.

Important dates:
– Application deadline: 15 June 2025, at 11:59 PM | NEW DEADLINE
– Notification of acceptance: 20 June 2025, at 3:00 PM

	L’iniziativa è stata realizzata anche grazie al contributo della Direzione generale Educazione, ricerca e istituti culturali del Ministero della Cultura.

PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA
Pursuant to art. 13 of EU Regulation no. 2016/679 (GDPR), please note that the personal data provided will be processed by the Foundation – in its capacity as Data Controller – using manual, computerised and telematic means suitable to guarantee the security and confidentiality of such data, exclusively within the scope of this Call for Conference Grants and for the fulfilment of the obligations connected thereto.
The provision of data is compulsory in order to submit an application. It is the right of each candidate to obtain access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection to processing for legitimate reasons, portability and the right to lodge and complain to the Data Protection Authority under Chapter III of the GDPR.
The full information on the processing of personal data is available at link