Rolex Scholarships

Deadline: December 31, 2009

Each year the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society awards year-long scholarships designed to expose a qualified young person to a wide range of experiences in various marine-related fields. With continued generous funding from the Rolex Corporation, the awards are now known as the Rolex Scholarships.

For 2010, three Rolex scholarships will be offered: one in Australasia, one in North America, and one in Europe. Each Rolex Scholarship provides a hands-on introduction to underwater and other aquatic-related endeavors for a young person considering a career in an underwater-related discipline. One scholar is selected from each of the three regions and each scholar spends approximately one year working side by side with current leaders in underwater fields. Each scholar travels primarily within his or her region, but may have opportunities throughout the underwater world. The range of experiences may include active participation in field studies, underwater research, scientific expeditions, laboratory assignments, equipment testing and design, photographic instruction, and other specialized assignments.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements:

-Minimum age of 21 and maximum age of 26 at the time of the application deadline (December 31)
-Valid citizenship for the relevant Rolex Scholarship (North America, Europe, and Australasia)
-Applicant has not yet earned a graduate degree by April 1st of the scholarship year and has not yet chosen a clearly defined career path
-High academic standing
-Fluency in English
-Certification as a Rescue Diver or equivalent with a minimum of 25 dives logged in the past two years.
-Evidence of adequate health insurance for duration of scholarship year
-Submission of a completed diving medical examination form, which is found in the application

The society also offers summer internships in North America for one to three month periods to college undergraduates and graduating seniors. Internship recipients receive a grant to help fund travel to/from site, room and board, and a stipend to cover living expenses. Current North American internship sponsors include the Aquarena Center, Blackbeard’s Cruises, Divers Alert Network (DAN), the REEF Environmental Education Foundation, AAUS and “Sport Diver” Magazine.

For more information on scholarships and internships, and to download application materials, visit the Our World-Underwater web site.

Ralph Brown Expedition Award

Deadline: November 27, 2009

The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) Ralph Brown Expedition Award is a single annual award worth £12,500, offered to the leader of an expedition working in a marine environment. This includes the study of coral reefs, rivers, lakes and shallow seas.

The award was created in memory of Ralph Brown whose passion was jet-boating the wild rivers of the world. He led many expeditions and competed in the top international jet-boating races, winning the world championship trophy in 1996.

Applicants must be fellows or members of the Society. The grant is open to applicants from any nation.

For further information, please visit The Royal Geographical Society web site or download the award guidelines (PDF).

NOPP Funding Announcement

Deadline: November 23, 2009

For funding beginning in FY 2010, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) welcomes research proposals meeting the goal of partnerships between at least two of the following three sectors: academia, industry (including NGOs), and government.

Research proposals are being solicited for two topics: Improving Attachments of Electronic Data Loggers to Cetaceans and Improvements in High-Resolution, Tide-Resolving Global Ocean Predications.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 23rd by 2:00 pm Eastern standard time.
For further information, contact:
NSF: Cynthia Suchman (scuchman@nsf.gov) or Dave Garrison (dgarriso@nsf.gov)
NOAA: Mike Ford (Michael.Ford@noaa.gov) or Lora Clarke (Lora.Clarke@noaa.gov)
More information can be found online.