Posted: October 23, 2019
Each March, 20 early-undergraduate scholars from around the country are selected to participate in a two-year conservation mentorship program hosted by the Doris Duke Conservation Scholarship Program (DDCSP) and centered on the summers between academic years. Each summer Scholar receives a $4,400 stipend and funding to cover travel, room, and board. The program's goal is to serve students from groups traditionally underrepresented in conservation, across disciplines, who can contribute to diversifying, redefining, and strengthening efforts to protect land, wildlife and water.
During the first year Scholars participate in an eight-week, immersive field course on conservation practice, leadership and ecological research while traveling with a close group of peers and mentors through California. During the second summer, Scholars pursue eight-week research and practice internships with nationally recognized conservation organizations, labs and agencies. A professional development retreat after the second summer brings together the Scholar cohort and prepares them to apply for jobs and graduate school. Throughout the two years, the DDCSP works with home mentors at each Scholar's campus to provide ongoing support, and continue to provide mentoring beyond the program.
DDCSP serves college freshmen, sophomores, transfers and juniors with two or more years of college left, who attend or are in the process of transferring to any four-year institution in the US and its territories. All U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents (holders of a Permanent Resident Card), as well as individuals granted deferred action status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program1, indigenous individuals exercising rights associated with the Jay Treaty of 1794, political asylees, and refugees, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation are eligible.
Applications are now available and will close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday February 5, 2020.
For more information, visit conservationscholars.ucsc.edu or email us at scholars@ucsc.edu.
