A New Source of Funding for students undertaking a Master’s or Doctorate degree in a UK University
What is the source for the new funding?
The Research Group for the Critical Study of Astrology (RGCSA) is an independent body that has been set up to encourage good standards of academic research into astrology. Research projects do not need to look solely at the phenomenon of astrology but would need to have astrology as part of the research question in order to qualify for consideration for a grant by the Group. The Group is funded by private donations and is able to make grants of up to £1000 per year towards registration fees to UK University students undertaking a Master’s or Doctorate degree.
What are the RGCSA ’s aims and objectives?
The RGCSA has been set up to monitor standards of research into astrology and to promote the use of sound scientific methods in empirical studies by offering advice and guidance in the development of research projects and design to students wishing to investigate astrology in relation to other special fields of interests. Some example areas of disciplines include: social statistics, sociology, psychology and cultural studies. The position of the RGCSA is agnostic, objective and critical and is concerned to ensure that research undertaken into astrology is carried out to the highest possible standards. The RGCSA website provides an abstract database, free on line, of more than 200 papers on academic research into astrology and which provides a valuable resource for research in this field.
The Staff, Advisors and Supporters of the RGCSA
The RGCSA is hosted by its Convenor, Mrs Susan High, MSc, BSc., who is a Principal Experimental Officer in the Social statistics Division of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton. She is a statistical advisor to colleagues and students in the School of Social Sciences and the School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences. In her role as the Group’s Convenor, she is able to make this advice available to students in other UK universities who are applying to the Group for a grant.
Pat Harris, MSc., DFAstrolS., is the Deputy Convenor of the RGCSA . She is the editor of Correlation, the leading research journal in astrology, and has a diploma in astrological studies. She is currently researching a doctorate at the University of Southampton in the application of astrology to health psychology.
Dr. Tony Roberts is an associate advisor to the RGCSA and is a Senior Experimental Officer in the School of Psychology at Southampton University with expertise in Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis (EDSA).
Dr. Chas Skinner is an associate advisor to the RGCSA and is co-director of the Master’s Degree in Health Psychology course in the School of Psychology at the University of Southampton.
Mr. John Sommerville, BSc., is an associate member of the RGCSA and is currently a Research Fellow in the Sustainable Energy Research Group within the Civil & Environmental Engineering School at Southampton University.
The RGCSA Grants Advisory Board
Research proposals are submitted for consideration for a grant to the RGCSA Grants Advisory Board. This Board consists of academics with a good understanding of the discipline of astrology.
The history of the development of the RGCSA
The Research Group for the Critical Study of Astrology was created in 2001 with the aid of an annual grant from the Sophia Trust but since July 2004, has been funded through private donations. It has supported the research of three students who have undertaken doctorates where astrology formed a component of their research: Dr. Padam Simkhada who researched prostitution among young girls in Nepal and beliefs in astrology associated with this, Aaron Pycroft who researched alcoholism and Jupiter’s association with excesses of drinking, and Pat Harris who is now completing her research into psychological and astrological factors that might be associated with success and failure of fertility treatment outcome.
It continues to support and work with students who are seeking to register for Masters and Doctorate degrees in the UK and would welcome enquiries from any students who would like help and advice in developing research proposals that would be eligible for a grant from the RGCSA towards supporting their course fees.
Contact:
Pat Harris, Deputy Convenor Tel: 01962 713134 email: pat.harris@btconnect.com
Sue High, Convenor Tel: 023 80 593322 email: sjh1@socsci.soton.ac.uk
Website: www.astrology-research.net