Research and grants

Philosophical ideas—theories, claims, concepts—change over time, in part due to creative analysis and debate applied by philosophers, and in part because there are changes in society which force ideas to evolve. (Take, for example, the 1968 public redefinition of death as "brain death" by an ad hoc committee of Harvard faculty. The effects of this redefinition have been enormous and philosophers have played a large role in analyzing the logic and moral implications of the new definition.)

What forms does philosophical research take? For many philosophers, the exchange of ideas happens in journal articles, books and reviews, conference presentations, and university colloquia. Sometimes, newspapers and magazines publish philosophical pieces, especially when they touch upon a topic in the news. However, philosophers are increasingly bringing philosophical conversation into new media like podcasts and blogs. These innovations are exciting because they make it easier for those outside of the academic arena to chime in with their views and experience. Philosophers welcome this.

The University of Colorado Denver is committed to innovation in philosophical research. We aspire to analyze and discuss the issues most meaningful to people today, and are always trying to draw as many people into philosophical discussion as we can. Whether it is through our department talks (open to the public, documented on video), our interdisciplinary conferences, our undergraduate Ethics Bowl teams, our undergraduate Philosophy Club, or our faculty's individual visits to local groups and organizations, you will find the University of Colorado Denver Philosophy Department reaching out to explore and analyze both new ideas and old ones we thought we always understood.

Faculty resources for grants, travel support, etc.:

  • CU Denver Philosophy Department Travel/Grant Request Form. This form is intended for internal use by research-contract faculty requesting Department funding for travel or related research activity.
  • The President’s Fund for the Humanities​ was established to preserve a balance in the University’s programs of education and research by giving special attention to the humanities. Proposals might include: seminars in humanistic studies; public programs in the humanities; innovative teaching in the humanities; or requests for lectures or exhibits by visiting scholars. The fund might also support projects that involve interdisciplinary teaching, increase the visibility of the humanities, emphasize humanistic values, or address special social problems in a humanistic context. Typically, the application period for these funds is in the Fall (September/October).
  • Center for Faculty Development: The Center sponsors Faculty Development grants, YUMPS grants, and co-sponsors the Research and Scholarship Completion Fund Grants with the Office of Research.
  • General CU Denver Page on Grants: "As a driving force in a research-intensive university, faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are active and productive scholars engaged in basic, applied and translational research and creative activities. The college supports these efforts as faculty and students conduct and disseminate their scholarly work in the humanities, sciences and behavioral sciences."
  • CLAS Research Innovation Seed Programs (CRISP) - link temporarily unavailble CRISP funds are designated specifically to promote innovative research activities and encourage the submission of applications for externally funded research. CRISP funds are intended to provide seed money to fund studies to be used in grant proposals and to facilitate research that could not be successfully completed with currently available resources.
  • CLAS Dissemination Grants - link temporarily unavailble: The CLAS Dissemination Grant program is designed to provide tenure-track and tenured faculty with funds for disseminating research via publication (page and other publication charges), travel to support presentations at professional meetings, website design related to communication of research results, or other scholarly dissemination venues. 
  • Office of Research Development and Education (ORDE):  Supporting Faculty Success in External Funding ORDE is a faculty resource for information and resources related to obtaining external support for your research and teaching activities. 
  • ORDE Videos on Creating a Compelling Case in a Proposal:http://vimeopro.com/user22715452/orde-videos​
  • Office of Research Services (Contact: Bob Damrauer) The CU Denver Office of Research Services (ORS) is the overarching faculty development component of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. ORS provides faculty development resources targeted at enhancing faculty research and creative work. 

  • Grant Application Forms (including for travel)