Bo Koster Grant For Nature Study

The Bo Koster Grant for Nature Study, funded by the Webster Groves Nature Study Society, supports college students in Missouri and Illinois conducting natural history fieldwork. This $5,000 grant encourages research in areas like ornithology, ecology, and conservation. Eligible applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students, and the grant facilitates various academic endeavors including presentations and article submissions post-award. Applications are accepted annually with deadlines in mid-February.

The Webster Groves Nature Study Society is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the Bo Koster Grant for Nature Study, an annual award to support the fieldwork of a college student in natural history. This grant honors long-time WGNSS member Bo Koster, an avid birder, and researcher in diabetes.
The scholarship is eligible to graduate or undergraduate students at accredited colleges or universities in Missouri and Illinois. Students planning fieldwork in such areas as ornithology, systematics of plants or animals, entomology, forestry, ecology, behavior, population genetics, conservation, and biogeography, or those desiring to attend field coursework in such areas are invited to apply.
The amount to be awarded will be up to $5,000 for one year.
Scholarship Schedule:

1. Middle February. Application deadline. Word or PDF format preferred. Costs may be submitted in Excel.
2. Early April: Award notifications due to students. 3. May: Recipient presentation at WGNSS general meeting. 4. June: Funds awarded to recipient’s institution. Award is for one year. 5. September/October: Recipient presentation at WGNSS general meeting.

The winner will be invited to the annual WGNSS dinner meeting in May to receive the award. In September, the award recipient will give a 20 or 25 minute presentation on the project. Within two years of receiving the funds, the winner is asked to submit a summary article for the WGNSS Nature Note journal and acknowledge the grant in any resulting published material.
The award will be made to the applicant’s institution, which is expected to establish and monitor a fund as appropriate to curate the stipend. The funds may carry over beyond the year of award, if to the benefit of awardee’s research. The funds cannot be used to pay overhead to any institution. Automobile travel is reimbursed at institution’s rate. Expenses for air travel are based on tourist class. Personal expenses should not be included. Scientific supplies and equipment should be itemized. Field course expenses should include tuition, room/board, and travel.

Eligibility

The scholarship is eligible to graduate or undergraduate students at accredited college or universities in Missouri and Illinois. Students planning fieldwork in such areas as ornithology, systematics of plants or animals, entomology, forestry, ecology, behavior, population genetics, conservation, biogeography, or those desiring to attend a field course work in such areas are invited to apply.

Ineligibility

The funds cannot be used to pay overhead to any institution.Personal expenses should not to be included.