Foreign Scholar Travel Award

IALE–North America (IALE–NA) supports attendance by landscape ecologists from around the world at our Annual Meetings as a means of fostering greater international exchange among scientists and practitioners of landscape ecology.  ​A limited number of travel awards are thus made available to foreign scholars each year to help lower the costs associated with attending the Annual Meeting.  Foreign scholars in non-G7 countries as well as from IALE–NA countries outside the United States and Canada (i.e., Mexico, Central America, and The Caribbean) are invited to apply for a Foreign Scholar Travel Award.

The Foreign Scholar Travel Awards Committee is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in accordance with the IALE–NA Strategic Plan. To that end, we specifically encourage foreign scholars with traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply for this award.

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ELIGIBILITY
Foreign scholars are NOT eligible to apply for a Foreign Scholar Travel Award (FSTA) if:

• they are a citizen or current resident of the United States or Canada
• they are a citizen of a G7 country (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, or the United States)
• the applicant (of any nationality) is currently studying in the United States or Canada
• the applicant (of any nationality) received a Master's or Doctorate at an institution in the United States or Canada
• they are a past recipient of a FSTA

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Scientific merit and application to landscape ecology. We favor applicants who demonstrate that their research (i) advances the scientific basis of landscape ecology, and/or (ii) the application of landscape ecology for the conservation or management of natural resources
2. Financial need. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and show that they would be unable to attend the conference without FSTA support
3. Professional development. Applicants must demonstrate that attending the IALE–NA Annual Meeting will represent a significant professional opportunity for developing their expertise in landscape ecology and in establishing working relationships with landscape ecologists from other countries. Preference is given to applicants in early-career stages
4. Geographical representation. Selection of awardees may be made to maximize the number of countries and regions represented
5. Clarity of English and expression. All application materials must be in English and demonstrate clear communication skills

How To Apply

​APPLICATION PACKAGE  
All application materials must be in English. The application package must contain all of the following information to be considered for a FSTA (incomplete applications will not be reviewed):

1. Name, Institution, Email address, Postal Address, and Citizenship
2. Curriculum vitae (maximum 4 pages)
3. Title and abstract of the paper or poster you will present at the conference. The abstract must be submitted to the conference organizers by the submission deadline (usually in December)
4. A summary of your research (750 words maximum) explaining how your research extends the scientific basis or application of landscape ecology (see Selection Criteria listed above)
5. Statement on what you hope to gain professionally from attending the IALE-NA Annual Meeting (200 words maximum) 
6. An explanation (200 words maximum) of why you need financial assistance to attend the conference (see Selection Criteria listed above) 

DEADLINE:  Check back for the deadline for the 2024 Foreign Scholar Travel Award (usually in December)

• Compile all materials into a single file with your last name included in the filename (e.g., Kuhn_FSTA_2023.pdf). Files will be returned if materials are not combined into a single file
• Acceptable file formats include Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format (RTF), and Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
• ​Submit your FSTA application by the deadline to ialena.foreignscholar@gmail.com

Awards will be announced by JANUARY 2024.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Although the FSTA is intended to help lower the financial barrier to attending the conference, the award amount may not (and likely will not) cover all travel- and conference-related costs. Applicants are therefore advised to consider additional sources of funding support and will be responsible for covering any costs not covered by the FSTA

QUESTIONS?
Contact Anne Kuhn-Hines, Chair of the Foreign Scholar Travel Award Committee (ialena.foreignscholar@gmail.com)