The Latin American and Caribbean (LACA) Region of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is pleased to announce the 2025 scholarship program, supporting graduate students and conservation organizations working in the LACA region.
SCB-LACA will award four scholarships of $1,000 USD each to graduate students to support their thesis or dissertation research. Additionally, two grants of $500 USD each will be awarded to conservation organizations for impactful projects in the region.
Purpose
The LACA region faces some of the most pressing conservation challenges globally. However, many universities and institutions in the region lack adequate funding for professional development in conservation science. This scholarship aims to support outstanding research in applied natural and social sciences, empowering creative and innovative graduate students conducting meaningful conservation work in LACA. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen conservation organizations with limited financial resources, helping them advance impactful projects aligned with SCB’s mission and vision.
Graduate Student Scholarships
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, students must:
1. Be a member in good standing of SCB.
2. Be a member of the SCB LACA Region.
3. Be a native citizen of a LACA nation (i.e., countries and territories of the Americas, excluding the United States, Canada, and Greenland).
4. Be enrolled in a graduate program at a university or college in a LACA nation.
5. Demonstrate financial need.
6. Conduct a graduate research project with high potential for immediate conservation impact in LACA.
Priority consideration will be given to applicants whose work aligns closely with SCB’s mission, vision, goals, and values.
Conservation Organization Grants
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, organizations must:
1. Have at least one member in good standing with SCB.
2. Have at least one member affiliated with the SCB LACA Region.
3. Be originally based in a LACA nation.
4. Demonstrate financial need.
5. Be conducting a conservation project with high potential for immediate impact in LACA.
Priority consideration will be given to projects that strongly align with SCB’s mission, vision, goals, and values.
Application Guidelines
Applicants must submit the following materials by April 11, 2025:
1. Proposal Summary (maximum 3 pages, single-spaced), including:
- Project overview (location, objectives, methodology, expected deliverables)
- Rationale for the work
- Key knowledge gaps or problems the project addresses
- Relevance to SCB’s mission, vision, goals, and values
2. Professional or Organizational Goals (one paragraph outlining career objectives for students or primary objectives for organizations)
3. Budget (a budget table and a brief description of how the funds will be used)
4. Financial Need Justification (one paragraph explaining why the funds are needed)
5. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages, any format)
6. Country of Citizenship and SCB Membership Number
7. Reference Letters:
- Students: Two letters, one of which must be from the major professor or advisor, explaining the need for funding.
- Organizations: Two letters of support from professionals familiar with the organization’s work.
8. Academic Transcripts (undergraduate and current graduate transcripts, including GPA)
Submission Instructions:
· All files must be in MS Word, PDF, or JPEG format.
· Submit all materials as a single compressed (zipped) file, named as “LastName_FirstInitial” (e.g., Lopez_G).
· Email the application with the subject line “LACA Scholarship 2025” to scblaca@conbio.org.
Application Deadline: April 11, 2025, at 11:59 PM (US Central Time)
Results Announcement
Selected candidates will be announced via SCB-LACA’s social media platforms on April 21, 2025.
Post-Award Requirements
Successful applicants must:
· Submit receipts for expenses up to the full scholarship amount.
· Provide a project report detailing results and impact.
· Submit 3-4 photos for SCB-LACA’s social media.
· Participate in SCB-LACA’s podcast or host a webinar about their project.
· Recipients will also be invited to present their work (poster or oral presentation) at the next SCB-LACA regional congress.
For any inquiries, please contact scblaca@conbio.org.
We encourage all eligible students and organizations to apply and contribute to conservation efforts in the LACA region!