Fall 2012 EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships program, is offering Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) undergraduate fellowships for bachelor level students in environmental fields of study. See Section I.D for funding opportunity descriptions. The deadline for receipt of applications is December 12, 2011 4:00 PM ET for receipt of paper applications, and December 12, 2011, at 11:59:59 PM ET for submittal of electronic applications to Grants.gov. Subject to availability of funding, and other applicable considerations, the Agency plans to award approximately 40 new fellowships by July 30, 2012. Eligible students will receive support for their junior and senior years of undergraduate study and for an internship at an EPA facility during the summer of their junior year. The fellowship provides up to $19,700 per academic year of support and $9,500 of support for a three-month summer internship.

Link to Full Announcement

Fall 2012 EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study

NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows

Through SEES Fellows, NSF seeks to enable the discoveries needed to inform actions that lead to environmental, energy and societal sustainability while creating the necessary workforce to address these challenges. The program's emphasis is to facilitate investigations that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and address issues of sustainability through a systems approach, building bridges between academic inquiry, economic growth, and societal needs. The Fellow's proposed investigation should be interdisciplinary and allow him/her to obtain research experience beyond his/her current core disciplinary expertise. Additionally, Fellows are required to develop a research partnership that would broaden the impact and/or scope of the proposed research activities. Such activities might include, but are not limited to, a connection with a NSF Research Coordination Network (RCN), center or facility; industry; a national laboratory; or a state, regional, or local resource management agency. Fellows are required to have two mentors, one for the proposed research at the host institution (the institution that will administer the award) and the other for the research partnership. The mentors can be from the same institution, but should not be from the same discipline.

The challenge of sustainability, maintaining and improving the quality of life for the nation within a healthy Earth system, is of global concern. The NSF SEES Fellows may strengthen connections and collaborations with the broader international science and engineering community by having an international research partnership.Fellows are also expected to devote some time to a professional development activity such as, but not limited to, broadening participation of under-represented groups in sustainability science, an education activity, or a project that focuses on public engagement. Fellows may also include a plan for leading and teaching a course at the undergraduate or graduate level, provided it is supported financially by the institution where the teaching would take place. NSF Publication 11-575

Fall 2012 EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships program, is offering Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) undergraduate fellowships for bachelor level students in environmental fields of study. See Section I.D for information on the different funding descriptions. The deadline for receipt of applications is December 12, 2011 4:00 PM ET for receipt of paper applications, and December 12, 2011, at 11:59:59 PM ET for submittal of electronic applications to Grants.gov. Subject to availability of funding, and other applicable considerations, the Agency plans to award approximately 40 new fellowships by July 30, 2012. Eligible students will receive support for their junior and senior years of undergraduate study and for an internship at an EPA facility during the summer of their junior year. The fellowship provides up to $19,700 per academic year of support and $9,500 of support for a three-month summer internship.

Link to Full Announcement

Fall 2012 EPA Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowships For Undergraduate Environmental Study

Expected Number of Awards:	40
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$1,956,000
Award Ceiling:	$48,900

Walton Family Foundation pledged $71.8M

[from Philanthropy News Digest] The Walton Family Foundation in Bentonville, Arkansas, has announced that during 2010 it awarded more than $71 million in support of environmental initiatives, with the majority of the grants going to organizations working to protect ocean and river systems.

For a complete list of 2010 environmental grantees, visit the Walton Family Foundation Web site. “Walton Family Foundation Invests $71.8 Million in Environmental Initiatives in 2010.” Walton Family Foundation Press Release 8/16/11.

Clean water funding announced for PA

American Rivers has announced a three-year, $1 million grant from the Pittsburgh-based Richard King Mellon Foundation to help protect and restore rivers and clean water in Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The organization will use $600,000 to identify unnecessary dams and restore rivers and streams in the Laurel Highlands, French Creek watershed in northwestern Pennsylvania and western and central-northern counties collectively known as the "Pennsylvania Wilds," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. In Georgia, the remaining $400,000 will be used to restore natural water flows in the Flint River watershed and lead a long-term river protection strategy to benefit local communities.

While the organization will partner with other conservation groups for the river restoration work, it will seek additional foundation support for dam removal, which will likely cost several million dollars. Partners in Pennsylvania include the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, the French Creek Valley Conservancy, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative, and local watershed groups and county conservation districts.

"Rivers are the arteries and veins of our nation," said Bob Irvin, president of American Rivers. "By protecting and restoring rivers, we are safeguarding clean drinking water, creating jobs and recreation opportunities that benefit our economy, and revitalizing our natural heritage for future generations."

“American Rivers Receives $1 Million to Restore Rivers and Clean Water in PA and GA.” American Rivers Press Release 8/03/11.

Hopey, Don. “American Rivers Gets $1 Million to Improve Waterways.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8/04/11.