Conservation scientists take note: there’s a new, exciting fellowship program for scientists who want to develop the skills and connections necessary to help local communities develop solutions to current conservation challenges in the western United States and Canada. The application deadline is September 30, 2014.
The fellowship is seeking scientists whose work is related to Wilburforce’s priority regions, including the Hell’s Canyon area in the Pacific Northwest. Photo: Nan Palmero/Flickr
The new fellowship program is funded by the Wilburforce Foundation (which provides some funding for UCS) in partnership with COMPASS, a great organization based in Portland, Oregon that helps scientists improve their communication skills and helps bridge the worlds of science, journalism, and policy.
The twenty fellows who are selected will be expected to participate in an intensive training in Seattle April 19-24, 2015. Wilburforce will cover all costs associated with the training, except that they ask fellows to pay for their own travel to Seattle if they can (if not, the foundation can cover these costs as well). Priority will be given to scientists working in Wilburforce’s priority regions. From the application:
We welcome applicants from any affiliation (academic, NGO, agency, tribal, etc.) and career level. We are seeking scientists whose career trajectory and impact will benefit from the training, network, and tools garnered through the fellowship. We expect fellows to be fully committed to dedicating the time and energy necessary to fully participate in the in-person training and to follow through on the aspirations and personal goals that will come out of it.
At the training, fellows will set goals for engagement on a specific conservation issue and develop plans to meet them. Over the next year, fellows will meet regularly with coaches and peers to advance their goals.
Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume, 2-3 page statement of purpose, and two letters of endorsement. Materials are due September 30, 2014. I would love to see members of the UCS Science Network apply.
Learn more about the fellowship in this interview with Amanda Stanley from Wilburforce and Brooke Smith from COMPASS. And then apply here.