Conservation & Ecological RestorationThe Garden Club of America Fellowship in Ecological Restoration

Purpose

The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers an annual Fellowship in Ecological Restoration.  Established in 2000 with funds from the John B. Young Charitable Trust as well as GCA  members and clubs, the fellowship’s goal is to support research that will advance knowledge and  increase the number of scientists in the important field of ecological restoration, the active  healing of the land. The $8,000 grant is awarded annually to exceptional graduate students to  support specialized study in ecological restoration at an accredited U.S. university. Preference  will be given to projects that include field research conducted in the United States. A panel of  experts associated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum reviews the  applications and makes recommendations to the GCA Scholarship Committee. 

For the purposes of this scholarship, The Garden Club of America agrees to the definition of ecological restoration as stated by the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER).

 

Education

Graduate Students

Eligibility

Open to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who are currently and actively enrolled in a U.S.-based institution. Due to IRS restrictions, GCA is unable to fund awards for international applicants.

Recognizing that the field of ecological restoration can be studied in a variety of degree programs, the Fellowship is not limited to a specific degree. Fields of study of past recipients have ranged from forestry to applied plant sciences to ecology and evolutionary biology.

Provisions

Provides an annual grant of $8000 to support study and research in the field or in the lab, while enrolled in a leading accredited university based in the United States.

Selection

Selection criteria will include the degree to which the proposed fellowship work addresses the objectives of the GCA,* as well as the excellence of the student’s academic qualifications and person.  

* The purpose of The Garden Club of America is to stimulate the knowledge and love of  gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings,  conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality  of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and  civic improvement.

History

This GCA Fellowship in Ecological Restoration was established on 2000 with funds from the John B. Young Charitable Trust, along with contributions from GCA members and clubs. John and Marge Young of Waterloo, Iowa, are the parents of Marilyn Magid (Cedar Rapids GC, Zone XI), who has served on GCA’s Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Conservation and National Affairs and Legislation Committees.

To Apply

Applications are considered only if these instructions are followed: 

A. The applicant shall prepare the following: 

1. A one-page, left-justified cover sheet that includes: applicant’s name; academic advisor’s  name and title; name of university and department; title of research; applicant’s mailing address,  e-mail address, cell phone number and permanent mailing address, email and phone (if  different).  

2. A written proposal for the research to be undertaken: no longer than five single-spaced pages,  including literature cited, tables, figures, etc. Margins shall be at least one inch. Font shall be 12  point; smaller—but readable!—font is allowed in figures. References should be listed  alphabetically with a hanging half-inch indent. 

3. A one-page budget for the proposed research, describing how the award would be spent. If the  budget is over $8,000, state specifically which item(s) are included in the request for funding  from the GCA. 

4. A current resume: no longer than two pages. 

5. The four documents should be sent via e-mail as a single PDF attachment. They must be 

emailed no later than December 31. Send to Josh Goldman, Associate Director, josh.goldman@wisc.edu. The subject line must read “GCA fellowship application.” 

B. The applicant shall also see that the following two letters are written and sent: 1. A letter of endorsement written by the applicant’s graduate faculty advisor. The letter must include a statement that the applicant is properly enrolled in graduate school. 2. One additional letter of recommendation. 

3. These letters must be submitted by their authors via e-mail. They may be sent either in the  body of the e-mail or as PDF attachments. The letters must be emailed no later than December  31. Letters should be sent to Josh Goldman, Associate Director, josh.goldman@wisc.edu. The  subject line should read “GCA letter for [applicant’s name]”. 

Notification 

Award selection will be completed early in March. The recipients will be notified and the award  made by the GCA Scholarship Committee shortly thereafter. Applicants not receiving awards  will be notified via e-mail before the end of March. Please do not send inquiries regarding the  status of the award before April 1.  

The GCA requests the following of fellowship recipients: 

1. An abstract describing the study in plain language (250 words), due September 1, for possible  publication in the GCA Bulletin and/or on the UW–Madison Arboretum website.  2. An annual accounting of expenditures. 

3. A final project report due February 1. 

4. Notification of any published papers or reports based on work supported by this fellowship  (see also #8). 

5. Clear, crisp high-resolution photographs of the recipient at work, and other interesting photos  of the research that are suitable for use in publications or scholarship promotion, should be  included with the abstract and report as JPEG attachments. At least one should be of the recipient  alone. 

6. Send all the above to Josh Goldman, Associate Director, josh.goldman@wisc.edu. He will  forward materials to the Garden Club of America Scholarship Committee. 7. As is practical, recipients may be invited to make a brief oral presentation of their project  activities at a GCA zone or annual meeting.  

8. The Garden Club of America and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum shall receive acknowledgement for their assistance in any publication or report resulting from this  fellowship. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. May the restoration research be conducted outside of the USA? Yes, but preference is given for projects within the United States.

2. I am not a U.S. citizen. May I apply? Yes, if you are a permanent resident who is currently and actively enrolled in a U.S.–based  institution. Due to IRS restrictions, GCA is unable to fund awards for international applicants. 

3. Are there any restrictions on how the money is spent? The fellowship is awarded to people who exemplify high standards, and the GCA expects that  the money will be spent appropriately. Examples of appropriate expenditures include supplies  and equipment directly related to your research, travel expenses, hiring assistants, and tuition costs. Although tuition costs are acceptable, it is recommended not to include these costs as more  than 75% of your budget. If you have doubt about the appropriateness of your budget, please  contact Josh Goldman, Associate Director, josh.goldman@wisc.edu. 

4. Can the award be given directly to my university? No. The GCA only writes checks to individual students. If you want the money to be  administered by your institution, you must make those arrangements yourself. 

5. Can I read examples of previously funded proposals? No, these are not made available. 

6. Does the five-page limit for proposals include the bibliography and figures? Yes, absolutely. 

7. Are proposals considered that emphasize the social-science aspects of restoration? Yes. Although the fellowships have thus far been awarded for biological research, we welcome  proposals for research into the social aspects as well. Note that the SER definition includes  “cultural practices.” 

8. When can I expect to receive the money? The Garden Club of America usually mails checks in April. 

9. What are some tips on improving my proposal? Choose a title that clearly and concisely describes your proposed work. Do not go over the five page limit. Avoid terms that require value judgments (e.g., success). Include a rationale for how  the proposed research will advance the science of restoration ecology and the practice of  ecological restoration.

Contact

Josh Goldman, josh.goldman@wisc.edu

University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI 53711

Phone: 608-263-7344, Fax: 608-262-5209

Email: josh.goldman@wisc.edu, website (click here)