The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) has a Travel Grant program designed to assist members with the costs of attending the Society’s annual meeting. Grants will be available for attendance at the 2018meeting of the Society in Dunedin, New Zealand, August 25 – September 1, 2018. Meeting information can be found at http://spnhc-tdwg2018.nz/.
The SPNHC Annual Meeting Travel Grant program consists of three different grants:
The Fitzgerald Travel grants are for a minimum of $750 each. (The amount of each individual grant is determined by financial need of the applicant.) While any SPNHC member may apply, preference will be given to students (undergraduate or graduate) and emerging professionals in fields related to the management and preservation/conservation of natural history collections. Each year, the number of Fitzgerald grants awarded may vary, as determined by the members of the SPNHC Annual Meeting Travel Grant Program Committee depending on the number and quality of the applicants.
The Christine Allen Travel grants are for a minimum of $750. (The amount of each individual grant is determined by financial need of the applicant.) This grant is dedicated to the memory of Christine Allen, who worked for University Products, Gaylord Brothers and Hollinger Metal Edge during her long career in museum support. She was a long time member and supporter of the Society and worked tirelessly with many of us to ensure that the products marketed by her companies reflected the needs articulated by the SPNHC membership. The grant is funded by her three former employers. To be eligible for this grant, the applicant’s oral presentation or poster must focus on the physical care and preservation/conservation of natural history collections. While any SPNHC member may apply, preference will be given to students (undergraduate or graduate) and emerging professionals.
The Jean De Mouthe Travel grant is one grant for $1000. The money for this grant was graciously donated to SPNHC by an anonymous donor. This grant is dedicated to the memory of Jean and her significant contributions to the field of natural history. While any SPNHC member may apply, preference will be given to students (undergraduate or graduate) and emerging professionals in fields related to the management and preservation/conservation of natural history collections.
Applicants and Recipients’ Requirements
Applicants must be members of the Society. Applicants from the institution(s) hosting the meeting are not eligible. Members who have already received a Travel Grant are not eligible.
Applicants may only apply for one grant.
Recipients are required to make either an oral or poster presentation at the meeting and to be first author on the presentation. Receipt of a grant is contingent on the acceptance of the applicant’s abstract by the SPNHC 2108 local organizing committee. Conditions of the grant require that successful applicants will also produce a short article (1,000 words) based on their presentation/poster for publication in the SPNHC newsletter, SPNHC Connection, or publish their work in Collection Forum.
SPNHC Membership Application
To become a SPNHC member, please visit http://www.spnhc.org/13/become-a-member. Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage, and click on the link, Join SPNHC Today.Please email the application to the appropriate address listed on the bottom of the membership application form.
Travel Grant Application
Applicants should submit the following:
- A completed application form. (Application forms are available at http://spnhc-tdwg2018.nz/, or by contacting Elise LeCompte, Chair, SPNHC Annual Meeting Travel Grant Program Subcommittee.)
- A letter of support/recommendation from the applicant’s advisor, supervisor, or professional mentor.
- A statement (maximum 400 words) from the applicant describing how attendance at the meeting will benefit him/her.
- A copy of the abstract for the paper/poster the applicant intends to present. (Submit your original abstract to the SPNHC 2018 Local Organizing Committee, http://spnhc-tdwg2018.nz/. Guidelines for preparation and restrictions on abstract word and/or character length, are also available at http://spnhc-tdwg2018.nz/.)
- An estimate of the total costs for travel and accommodation.
Application Submission, Deadline, and Review Process
These documents should be emailed to:
Elise V. LeCompte
Chair, SPNHC Travel Grant Program Committee
Florida Museum of Natural History
1659 Museum Road
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
The deadline for applications is March 12, 2018, COB (Close of Business) your local time. Members of the SPNHC Annual Meeting Travel Grant Program Committee will review the grant applications and select recipients. Successful applicants will be notified no later than April 2, 2018 (COB, Eastern Standard Time). All funds will be distributed to the recipients via US$ check or via PayPal. If you find that you are not able to attend the SPNHC annual meeting, your grant may be awarded to another deserving applicant.
