The British Fluoridation Society (BFS) has set up a fluoridation-specific career development fellowship with the support of the Borrow Foundation. Funding available: up to £15,000 per fellowship. There is likely to be one fellowship offered every three years (subject to funding).

It is aimed at applicants from all members of the dental team.

The first Fellowship shall commence no later than September 2023, be implemented over a period of approximately 24 months and be completed no later than 31st December; the second Fellowship shall commence no later than 30th June 2024, be implemented over a period of approximately 24 months and be completed no later than 30th June 2026.

It is envisaged that the successful fellow will arrange a suitable project/attachment programme including visiting relevant colleagues/institutions in the UK or abroad (subject to funding) which will result in a formal end-of-fellowship report and, if appropriate, a publication in a recognised academic journal.

Some examples of the sort of activity the prospective fellow might undertake:

• Look at the politics of fluoridation: interview/consult political practitioners and pundits and write an authoritative short thesis
• Undertake a research study into intervening on social media on the issue of fluoridation ending with a paper for publication
• Travel abroad (eg to the USA) to network with prominent fluoridation experts to produce a thesis comparing the situation there with the UK, in a written report
• Use qualitative research methods to explore how best to engage with decision makers/appropriate target audiences around implementation of new schemes
• Do a detailed study of implementation of new schemes concentrating on recording “soft data” rather than the usual epidemiological, public health and health service information.

Applications are invited for the Fellowship (closing date for the first: 30^th June 2023) (online, see below; or, on request, with printed application form).

Water fluoridation is an important element in the prevention of dental caries and the securing of good dental health for all. In spite of its long history and exemplary pedigree, in the UK only 10% of the population drinks deliberately-fluoridated water, and they benefit from schemes that were introduced decades ago. Even though there has been recent political enthusiasm for prevention and water fluoridation in particular, there has been a slow dwindling in the academic interest in it in the UK. As the senior academics who were instrumental in establishing the academic basis for water fluoridation retire, few potential successors now come forward. This is leading to a reduction in the academic underpinning for water fluoridation in the UK. The British Fluoridation Society Career Development Fellowship is a first step in rectifying this position.

The fellowship will be open to UK candidates from all members of the dental team and those transitioning into a dental career from a relevant field. It may be appropriate for potential applicants to use the fellowship as part of a portfolio when transitioning into a career in public health or similar professions. The Fellow will be responsible for organising the Fellowship program with the support of the steering group and the BFS. This will include contacting the institution where any visit is to take place, confirming the institution’s agreement to accept the Fellow, and making all the necessary on-site arrangements. A statement will be expected from responsible individual(s) at the host institution that they are willing to accept the Fellow and willing to bear any relevant costs involved.

Thus the fellowship:

• Presents the means whereby a fellow could spend quality time associating and collaborating closely with leaders in the water fluoridation field world-wide
• Provides funding for travel, subsistence and accommodation up to £15000
• Helps the successful fellow to negotiate appropriate attachments

The process in outline:

1. BFS will advertise the fellowship widely.
2. Appropriate applicants will then be encouraged to make representations to prospective hosts/organisations to firm up what is proposed both as attachments and what experience to cover (early negotiations have already been initiated at time of application).
3. BFS (and, for example, the American Fluoridation Society) will collaborate to make sure the attachment and the experience gained maximise the opportunities accessed and benefits accrued by water fluoridation as a cause and specific aspects of it.
4. The awarding of the Fellowship is subject to approval by The Borrow Foundation.
5. Reports

Report	Date
Interim Report	Nine months from the date on which the Fellowship commenced.
Final Report	Within one month of the date on which the Fellowship is completed.

 

FORMAT FOR INTERIM REPORT

The interim report should cover the first 9 months of the project.

1. title of the project;
2. location of the project;
3. the commencement date and duration of the project;
4. name, title and position of the author[s] of the report;
5. name, title and position of personnel involved in the project (with the date of commencement if other than the start of the project);

The report should:

1. describe the works carried out to date
2. highlight any difficulties or obstacles that have been encountered
3. comment on progress made to date and whether there is any reason to believe that the project will not be completed in accordance with the protocol
4. inform on any preliminary findings / results

The report should provide details of the expenses met from the grant to date and the balance held.

FORMAT FOR FINAL REPORT

The final report should cover the whole period of the project.

1. title of the project;
2. location of the project;
3. the commencement date and duration of the project;
4. name, title and position of the author[s] of the report;
5. name, title and position of personnel involved in the project (with the date of commencement if other than the start of the project);
6. date of submission of the report.

The report should include:

Aims and objectives

• Restatement of the aims and objectives.

Project overview

• A description of the work carried out in the project.
• Comments on whether (a) the project has been implemented in accordance with the protocol and (b) the original aims and objectives have been met.

Results / Findings

• Full details of the results / outcomes of the project. Supporting documents can be appended to the report.

Discussion / conclusions

• Comments on the results / outcomes of the project, their significance and how they might be applied.
• Any suggestions / recommendations

Financial

• Confirmation that all grant expenditure has been applied in accordance with the Protocol
• A detailed financial statement showing the grant monies received, all grant expenditure (compared to the agreed budget) and any balance held

Publications

Details of any publications, articles, reports etc arising out of the project.

If you have any queries or need to speak to someone to discuss any aspect of an application, please contact the British Fluoridation Society.