Joint ICTP-CCG Catalyst Facility Academic Writing Residency for Global South Scholars

Administration

Description

A residency supporting researchers from developing countries to complete a nearly finished academic paper through dedicated writing time and mentorship at ICTP, leading to a pre-print and journal submission.

This three-week residency offers scholars from ODA-eligible countries the time and guidance needed to finalise an academic manuscript related to climate-compatible growth. Research must already be completed; the focus is exclusively on writing and publication. Participants receive travel support, accommodation, DSA, and in-person mentorship from the CCG Consortium. Topics include energy, transport, finance, policy, governance, critical minerals, circularity, Data-to-Deal, and related interdisciplinary themes. Residents are expected to produce a pre-print and ideally submit their paper to a peer-reviewed journal.

Topics:

Energy systems and low-carbon transitions
Sustainable transport and mobility planning
Infrastructure resilience and circularity
Resource efficiency and critical minerals
Green growth, economics, and climate finance
Governance, equity, and GESI
Data-to-Deal and investment preparation
System planning and integrated policy design

The core objective of the residency is to reduce the persistent publication gap between Global South researchers and scholars based in developed institutions, particularly in fields that feed into global climate assessments and policy processes. By strengthening scientific writing, peer-reviewed publication, and international collaboration, the programme ultimately aims to enhance the contribution of Global South research to global processes such as the IPCC.

Eligibility:

Nationals of ODA-eligible countries only (priority: LDCs)
Affiliation with a university or research institution in an ODA country
A completed or nearly completed research paper (all analysis finished)
Alignment with one or more CCG research communities
Encouraged: collaboration with co-authors, especially South-South
Encouraged: prior participation in CCG capacity-building activities
Encouraged: contact with CCG academics before applying

Selection Criteria:

Quality and originality of the proposed paper
Relevance to CCG research themes
Applicant’s academic profile and publication record
Presence of co-authorship across institutions
Potential for publication and impact

What the Residency Offers:

Round-trip airfare
ICTP guesthouse accommodation
Daily subsistence allowance
In-person academic mentorship
Optional journal submission/Open Access support (with approval)
Expected output: pre-print + journal submission

Grants: A limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from developing countries. There is no registration fee.

Material

Abstract Template Final list of Participants Group photo Poster Preliminary programme

Joint ICTP-CCG Catalyst Facility Academic Writing Residency for Global South Scholars | (smr 4296)

Go to day

Monday, 2 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
```
Week 1: Scoping, diagnostic review, and manuscript architecture

Core objective: Establish a clear scholarly argument, define the paper’s contribution, and agree a realistic route to submission
```
  Material: Writing residency outline
  - 09:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Carla Cannone (ICTP, Imperial College London)
  - 10:00 Manuscript architecture and contribution framing 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Strategies and tips on paper writing 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Phillipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
  - 12:00 Protected writing block 1h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Tuesday, 3 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Use of AI tools in the process of paper writing 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Abstract, title, and keywords clinic 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
- 18:30 - 19:30 Welcome reception
Thursday, 5 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Results-discussion discipline and interpretive writing 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
- 17:30 - 18:30 Get-together drink
Friday, 6 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Figures, tables, and narrative integration 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Monday, 9 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
```
Week 2: Substantive revision, coherence, and evidentiary strengthening

Core objective: Produce a complete, coherent near-final draft with improved argumentation, structure, and presentation of results
```
  Material: Writing residency outline
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Scholarly integrity and citation practice 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 3h0'
```
4 slots of lectures
```
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 3h0'
```
4 slots of lectures
```
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 3h0'
```
4 slots of lectures
```
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
  - 11:00 TWAS presentation 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Max Paoli (TWAS)
  - 12:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 3h0'
```
4 slots of lectures
```
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
Thursday, 12 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 One-to-one meeting for paper review 3h0'
```
4 slots of lectures
```
    Speaker: Philipp Trotter (University of Oxford)
  - 13:00 Group photo & Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
- 17:30 - 18:30 Get-together drink
Friday, 13 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Design of supplementary material and technical appendices 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Monday, 16 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
```
Week 3: Submission readiness, compliance, and research uptake

Core objective: Finalise a submission-ready manuscript package and strengthen pathways to dissemination and uptake
```
  Material: Writing residency outline
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 15'
  - 09:15 Testimonial on the role of Chapter Scientist 15'
    
    Speaker: Leila Niamir (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA))
  - 09:30 Q & A 10'
  - 09:40 Overview of the key milestones in the drafting of an IPCC report 15'
```
Including the stages at which scientists can put themselves forward, an explanation of the different roles, and the relevant IPCC webpages 
```
    Speaker: Erika Coppola (ICTP)
  - 09:55 Q & A 10'
  - 10:05 Chapter Scientist programme overview 15'
    
    Speaker: Fred Kucharski (ICTP)
  - 10:20 Q & A 10'
  - 10:30 Publication pathway orientation 30'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Submission package workshop 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Navigating peer review 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
Thursday, 19 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Uptake and dissemination 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Fernando Plazas (CCG)
  - 11:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 End-of-day accountability 1h0'
- 17:30 - 18:30 Get-together drink
Friday, 20 March 2026
- 09:00 - 17:00
  - 09:00 Morning progress briefing 1h0'
  - 10:00 Protected writing block 3h0'
  - 13:00 Lunch 1h0'
  - 14:00 Protected writing block 2h0'
  - 16:00 Closing remarks 1h0'
    
    Speaker: Carla Cannone (ICTP, Imperial College London)