UCSC Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program – Apply by Feb 1

Hello Friends and Colleagues,

We are looking for your help finding emerging conservation leaders!

Applications for the University of California Santa Cruz Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (conservationscholars.ucsc.edu) are available today through February 1st.  We would like to enlist your help reaching prospective Scholars using the attached materials, social media posts, websites, and invitations to webinars.  Our goal is to serve students from groups traditionally underrepresented in conservation, across disciplines, who can contribute to diversifying, redefining, and strengthening efforts to protect land, wildlife, and water.  
 
Each March we select 20 early-undergraduate Scholars from around the country to participate in a two-year conservation mentorship program focused on the summers between academic years.  Each summer Scholars receive a $4,400 stipend and funding to cover travel, room, and board.  
 
During the first summer (June 8 – August 2, 2022), Scholars participate in an eight-week, immersive field course on conservation practice, leadership, and ecological research while traveling with a close group of peers and mentors through California.*  During the second summer, Scholars pursue eight-week research and practice internships with nationally recognized conservation organizations, labs, and agencies.  A professional development retreat after the second summer brings together the Scholar cohort and prepares them to apply for jobs and graduate school. Throughout the two years, we work with ‘home mentors’ at each Scholar’s campus to provide ongoing support.  We mentor Scholars well past program completion as alumni, and they join a nationwide alumni network for peer support and professional networking.

We serve all students who can study in the United States without a visa (including citizens, nationals, residents, refugees, DACA, undocumented, and more) and plan to finish a four-year degree with a graduation date AFTER December 2023.  We highly encourage applicants from groups underrepresented in environmental conservation to apply. Visit our FAQ for more questions about eligibility and criteria.

I hope you will share our program information with faculty, advisors, freshmen, sophomores, eligible juniors, and others in your professional and community networks.  We would be happy to visit groups virtually to talk more about the program.  We are planning three informational webinars on November 15, December 11, and January 19.  Applications are now available and will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, February 1, 2022. 

Please incorporate the attached flyer, slides, and short video into talks and presentations, or print and distribute it.  For more information, visit conservationscholars.ucsc.edu or email us at scholars@ucsc.edu.  

Kind regards,

Prof. Erika Zavaleta, Faculty Director
Abraham Borker, Ph.D., Program Director

Additional Resources:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mR4hXa-OcENxy5OOMfRy9Es9-tfsRrgE/view