Are you seeking support to attend a meeting where you can interact with conservation practitioners and resource managers? Are you looking to gain skills in conservation science? 

Program description

The International Network for Conservation Paleobiology (INCP) is offering funding for students and early career researchers in the network to participate in events related to conservation, management, and restoration. This funding call aims to advance the network’s goal of promoting connections between researchers and conservation practitioners to develop conservation paleobiology as an interdisciplinary, applied science. It also aims to foster the professional development of INCP members.

We welcome applications for a variety of events that will bring you into the sphere of conservation science. This includes conferences, workshops, and meetings that relate to conservation, management, or restoration and/or which are attended by conservation practitioners, resource managers, or other decision-makers. Also eligible are activities outside of your primary academic discipline where your participation would lead to new professional interactions. Events can pertain to either skill development (e.g., training workshops) or networking and sharing of knowledge (e.g., conferences or policy meetings).

We will offer awards of up to $500 per applicant to be used toward the cost of registration, travel, and/or accommodation during the event. 

Funding will be offered bi-annually, with calls opening in October and April. The October call is intended to support events taking place between January and June of the following year. The April call is intended to support events taking place between July and December. However, we will consider requests outside of these windows. Exceptions will be assessed on an individual basis.

The deadline for the current call is November 30, 2026 (11:59 pm Pacific Time).

Supported events 

Funds can be used for a variety of activities:

• Presenting original conservation paleobiology research at a conference

• Convening a conservation paleobiology session at a conference

• Participating in a meeting that includes practitioners or other decision-makers

• Attending a training workshop

Events can take place anywhere in the world. Examples of eligible conferences include the National Conference for Ecosystem Restoration, Society for Conservation Biology meetings, Ecological Society of America meeting, World Biodiversity Forum, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference, National Monitoring Conference, Wildlife Society Conference, North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Society for Ecological Restoration chapter meetings, and the British Ecological Society meetings.

Applicant eligibility

The funding call is open to all students and early career members of the INCP. To be considered for an award, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must be an undergraduate or graduate student (up to two years after graduation), postdoctoral scholar, or transitioning between these career stages

• Applicants must be a member of the INCP (join here!)

• Applicants can be based in any country

• Applicants should not have sufficient departmental, lab, or other external funds to cover their participation in the event

How to apply

To apply, please fill out the following application form. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Evaluation criteria

Applications will be scored using the following criteria:

• Potential to foster interdisciplinary links between conservation paleobiology and disciplines outside of the geosciences, especially applied conservation, management, and restoration

• Potential to bring together people who might not traditionally attend the same conferences or meetings, resulting in new connections and collaborations

• Potential to foster the network’s goal of translating conservation paleobiology research into conservation outcomes

• Professional benefit to applicant

• Applicant’s financial need

Please direct any questions about the program or your eligibility to [email protected].

Award expectations

• Awardees will be expected to fill out all required paperwork promptly to facilitate the disbursement of funds. If the awardee is unable to attend the event, the funds must be returned.

• Awardees must acknowledge the INCP in presentations or other products supported by the grant.

• Awardees will be asked to submit a short article (300–500 words) and 1–2 photos for the INCP newsletter describing their experience at the event and what they learned.