In Africa, most students pay for their graduate education and research. This creates a major barrier to quality education, which result in massive exodus of young and skilled experts to the Global North. In 2020, the SCB Africa Section started offering $500 research grants to six African graduate students. The awardees wrote to us sharing how the grant has made significant impact on their research.
Following the success of the 2022 research grant cycle, we are proud to have received over 132 applications for the 2022 African graduate student research grants. We have funding to support only six graduate students, but want to extend our efforts to support even more.
Would you consider supporting us by making a donation, so we can provide additional research grants from the pool of 132 applicants? Whether it be $10, $20, $50 or $100, your donation can play a role in addressing biodiversity crisis in Africa.
To support this grant, please go to the SCB Africa Section donation page where you will be able to make your donation. Donations can be made through Saturday, 22 October 2022, so we can announce grant winners at the end of October.
In the recent past, the SCB Africa Section has intensified efforts to increase capacity building of African scientists in biodiversity conservation. The Africa Section hosted the virtual 30th International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB), and also sponsored both members and non-members to attend the ICCB. The Africa Section has also revitalized the e-mentoring program, energized the Young Women in Conservation Biology group, developed an Education Program to organize several professional development courses, and partnered with the Conservation Science and Practice journal to publish a special Africa issue. We also offered free SCB membership to those who cannot afford it. The Africa Section recently organized the first ever African Diaspora Biodiversity Symposium, which was aired during both the 1st IUCN African Protected Areas Congress and the 6th North American Congress for Conservation Biology.
Please join us to raise a new generation of African scholars in biodiversity conservation. Your support can make a difference!
Author Bio
Israel Borokini is the president of the SCB Africa Section and a Class of 2021 Smith Fellow working on “Conservation prioritization of the United States flora using metrics of phylodiversity, land management, and vulnerability to climate change.”