Quaker Institute for the Future

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The Quaker Institute for the Future (QIF) is holding its Summer Research Institute on Zoom from August 16-20. They are also, for the first time, offering $300 stipends to applicants aged 18 to 35 years old  to make a presentation on research that resonates with the QIF mission of advancing a global future of inclusion, social justice, and ecological integrity through Spirit-led participatory research and discernment. – CYFYM

Dear Friends,

Please mark your calendars!  The Quaker Institute for the Future’s 2021 Summer Research Seminar will take place by Zoom from August 16-20, 2021.  Registration will begin on May 1 and will close on July 15.  Participants are encouraged to make a donation to QIF that is within their means.  Please share this notice with Monthly and Yearly Meetings, Quaker groups and anyone else who might be interested in participating this year.

About the 2021 QIF SRS 

QIF Summer Research Seminars create a venue for spirit-led research using Quaker methods of discernment and reflection.  The seminars are centered around research presentations that include time for questions, clarification, and discussion, followed by a time of collaborative discernment conducted as a “meeting for worship for sharing.”  Time is also reserved for theme-based discussions, worship sharing, artistic and other creative sharing, and informal interactions among participants.  More information about summer research seminars is available at http://www.quakerinstitute.org/?page_id=1215

We welcome those who wish to make a plenary presentation followed by worshipful discernment including all in attendance, as well as those who just wish to attend without making a formal presentation.

Stipends for young researchers

In 2021 for the first time, QIF is also offering $300 stipends to applicants aged 18 to 35 years old  to make a presentation on research that resonates with the QIF mission of advancing a global future of inclusion, social justice, and ecological integrity through Spirit-led participatory research and discernment.  

What QIF asks of successful applicants: QIF will expect successful applicants to make a research presentation of 20-30 minutes during the SRS.  The presentation will be followed by a period of Spirit-led discernment involving all participants at the SRS.  Because the success of the SRS will depend on participants creating a sense of gathered community as much as possible with the on-line format, we also ask all stipend recipients to attend as much of the SRS as possible given other time demands.  Finally, we would like each stipend recipient to write a short reflection (a few paragraphs) about their SRS experience, which QIF can share as a blog post on the QIF website. 

The SRS organizing committee will hold one or more orientation sessions for stipend recipients and will be generally available to help stipend holders to prepare for the SRS.  

Application requirements:  Applicants aged 18-35 years are requested to submit an application providing the following information:

  • short description of the presentation topic (around 200-400 words)
  • how the presentation aligns with the QIF mission of advancing a global future of inclusion, social justice, and ecological integrity through Spirit-led participatory research and discernment
  • status of the research, i.e. are you just getting started, mid-way through, or nearing the end?
  • the kind of discernment you seek (e.g., if you are just starting your research, maybe you want more of a “brainstorming” response, whereas if you are mid-way through or near the end, you may have specific questions or issues for which you seek more clarity)
  • Contact information for one or two references, i.e. people who are familiar with you and your work.

Deadlines: Stipend applications are due July 1 and successful applicants will be notified by July 15.

Registration and more information

Please contact me (Geoff Garver) at  to register or to apply for a 2021 SRS stipend, or for additional information about the SRS, including more about the stipends and how to apply for them.

Blessings,

Geoff