Request for Proposals for Field Research Earthwatch Institute
Earthwatch Institute is an international
non-profit organization with the mission to
engage people worldwide in scientific field
research and education to promote the
understanding and action necessary for a
sustainable environment. Earthwatch is currently
seeking proposals from field-based researchers to
provide grants to address the following topics:
* Marine Biodiversity Conservation in the
UK/Europe, Central America, Northeast Pacific, Galapagos and the Caribbean
* Archaeology in Central America
* Ecosystems and Biodiversity of the Galapagos
* Biodiversity of North America
* European and UK Terrestrial Biodiversity
* Terrestrial Biodiversity of Africa
Please visit the Earthwatch website for pdfs with
more information and priority areas for each Request for Proposal:
<http://www.earthwatch.org/aboutus/research/scientistopps/reqresprop/>http://www.earthwatch.org/aboutus/research/scientistopps/reqresprop/
Please refer to the individual RFPs on the
website for contact information for additional information.
Earthwatch will only consider proposals for field
research that have a strong rationale for
requiring involvement of non-specialists
(Earthwatch volunteers) in a variety of
scientific tasks. Earthwatch volunteers are
highly motivated citizens from around the world
who are interested in improving environmental
understanding. A typical project would engage a
minimum of 30 volunteers over 3-10 teams per
annum. Each team can spend 3-12 days in the
field. A priority audience for Earthwatch is
young scientists; therefore ideal projects have
flexibility to engage audiences such as high
level school groups (15-30 participants, aged
16+). All projects are conducted in English.
Earthwatch encourages proposals that are
interdisciplinary and/or transnational.
Preference will be given to projects that
directly contribute to environmental or social
change on the ground as well as providing
scientific evidence to inform management
strategies and improve livelihoods of local
communities. All projects should contribute to
the scientific literature and improve public
understanding of science. Professionals from any
nationality are eligible to apply, but should be
affiliated with a university or environmental
organization and have in-country experience (and permits).
Concept Notes and Proposals
Concept Notes for projects starting in spring or
summer 2013 will be accepted through Friday,
January 27, 2012. Invitations for full Research
Proposals will be communicated in late February.
Applications must be submitted online in English:
<http://fs22.formsite.com/EarthwatchResearch/ConceptNote/index.html>http://fs22.formsite.com/EarthwatchResearch/ConceptNote/index.html
Grants
Annual grants are available to cover research
related costs which can include equipment
(<US$1000), supplies, transport, support staff,
food and accommodation during teams. The grant
cannot cover scientist salaries, overheads,
capital equipment. Grants are negotiated on an
individual basis, but usually average around
US$20,000. Volunteer costs in the field
(volunteer accommodation, food and transport in
the field) will be budgeted for in partnership
with Earthwatch. The field research proposals are
tenable for three years, and potentially renewable in the fourth year.
Additional
Comfortable accommodations for volunteers must
be in reasonable travel distance of the research site(s)
Incorporation of time for volunteers to
experience the surrounding environment and culture is encouraged
