Submit Entries for Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship Program 2025 (Canada)

Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowships support field-based research that contributes to WCS Canada’s conservation objectives or priority research projects in the Ontario Northern Boreal and the Northern Boreal Mountains of BC and Yukon. They encourage research that partners with Indigenous communities in these regions. Boreal research that takes place outside of the priority regions that supports WCS Canada’s vision and mission may also be eligible if it aligns with the conservation and research objectives of the priority regions.

Funding Information

• WCS Canada will award one-year Fellowships of up to $20,000 each.

Eligible Expenses

• The following expenses are considered eligible for Fellowship support:
  • Lab fees and other analytical costs
  • Research equipment, material, and supplies
  • Travel to, from, and around research sites
  • Travel in support of collaborative activities with partners and attending and presenting at conferences
  • Shipping and postage costs
  • Stipends and salary costs for hiring field assistance & support
  • Expenses that support knowledge co-creation with Indigenous communities, including honoraria, consulting with the community before the research begins, and returning the results to the community in ways that are meaningful (e.g., translation, plain-language materials, photos, video, and other visuals)
  • Training that supports cross-cultural competency before engaging with Indigenous communities
  • Costs associated with the publication of research results in open-access journals
  • Other costs related to the needs of the research project or that have the potential to expand the impact of the research project

Eligible Projects

• Social and/or ecological scientific research conducted in Canada’s boreal region that addresses the cumulative impacts of climate change and industrial development on biodiversity and ecosystems, and specifically aligns with the conservation objectives and research priorities of the Ontario Northern Boreal and Northern Boreal Mountains priority regions.
• A high quality research proposal with clear objectives and appropriate study design, methodology, and analyses, with likely success of implementation supported by the student’s experience and references.
• Projects that demonstrably address the needs and priorities identified by Indigenous communities where the research is taking place, and a clear plan for how the research will be developed, shared with, and benefit the Indigenous community. Boreal Mountains

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible for the Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship, applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in conservation science, or in a related social or natural science field, i.e., applicants may either be currently enrolled or must have accepted a letter of offer from a University.
• Current fellows may reapply for and receive continued project support for a maximum of three years per research project.
• Applications for new projects from Fellows who have previously been awarded the Weston Family Boreal Research Fellowship will be considered up to a maximum of four awards. For example, a student that received a Fellowship award for Master’s research may apply to support subsequent PhD research.

For more information, visit WCS.