Society for Marine Mammalogy

2008 Research Grants-In-Aid Program

In 1999 the International Society for Marine Mammalogy established a program to help support marine mammal research in economically disadvantaged countries. From 2008, individual awards of up to $1500 (U.S.) may be made annually.  The awards are for one year only but successful applicants may re-apply in subsequent years.

$1500 IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE UNDER THIS PROGRAM. REQUESTS FOR FUNDS BEYOND THIS AMOUNT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.   

The grants-in-aid program is open to all marine mammal researchers. Membership in the Society for Marine Mammalogy is not required. Awards to non-members of the Society will include a membership for the duration of the award.   

These grants are intended to support field research directly. For example, funds are intended for the purchase of essential equipment, travel to field sites, or other fundamental components for conducting the research.  Applications for conference fees, meeting attendance, workshop travel or salaries will not be considered.  Although we all recognize that all projects in our field, everywhere, could benefit from increased funds, these small awards are intended to support research needs in areas of the world where other support is difficult or impossible to obtain.

Preference will be given to nationals, particularly early career researchers such as research students and researchers with less than 5 years post-doctoral experience, who are working in economically disadvantaged countries and based at local institutions. Applications are particularly welcome from scientists working in Africa, Asia, Pacific Island states, and countries which made up the former USSR, as well as Latin America.

Applications will be reviewed by the Committee of Scientific Advisors and recommendations for awards provided to the Board of Governors of the Society.

When preparing your application for a Society for Marine Mammalogy Small Grant in Aid of Research, please provide information for each of the items requested below. Your entire application (including your short CV or resumé) should not be longer than 5 pages in total length (single spaced 12 point font). Applications which exceed this word length will not be considered.
APPLICATIONS MUST FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING FORMAT OR THEY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED:

1. Project Title.

2. 100 word summary suitable for a lay audience for the Society’s website.

3. Investigator's name, affiliation, address, e-mail and any other relevant contact information.

4. General description of the research to be undertaken.

5. Specific research question or hypothesis being addressed.

6. Methods to be employed to carry out the project.

7. Analytical approach to be used including, where appropriate, the statistical tests to be used.

8. Significance to our understanding of the biology and/or conservation of marine mammals.

9. Budget.  Provide a detailed one-year, itemized budget.  Identify and justify specific requests for equipment, supplies, travel to field site, etc.

DO NOT REQUEST MORE THAN $1,500 US.

10. Short resumé or CV.

11. Provide details of any other funds available to support your project and the proposed uses of such funds.

Grants will be awarded based on need and scientific excellence.

One year from the date that an award is made, grantees will be required to provide the Society with a 250 word summary report on how the small grant funds were used to support marine mammal research, and if the research findings will be published. These summaries of each supported project will be published in the Society's Newsletter. 

Applications will be accepted, reviewed, and awards made annually. Proposals will be reviewed in July –August 2008.  Funds will be distributed to grant recipients by the Society’s Treasurer.   

Please send your intention to submit a proposal as an e-mail message to Helene Marsh the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee at: helene.marsh@jcu.edu.au between June 1 and June 15 2008.  Helene will then advise you of the protocol to upload you proposal to the internet. Please do not  email your proposal to Helene as an attachment. Proposals must be uploaded to the internet by June 30 2008.