Please Note For any WBWG grants/awards, WBWG will not pay for administration/indirect costs. WBWG is willing to make payments to the applicant’s institution on behalf of applicant, as long as the applicant states that this is acceptable.
Bob Berry Fund
2023 Scholarship Awards
Award See ‘Scholarship Details’
Deadline Extended April 9, 2023 (for six award categories)
Notification At Biennial Conference
Printable RFP Download
Email Submission Patricia Brown and Brad Phillips
The 2023 Bob Berry Scholarship awards will be given at the biennial meeting of WBWG, which convenes April 18-21, 2023 in Victoria, British Columbia
The impetus behind the generous donations to this fund by members of the WBWG (including Dr. Patricia Brown-Berry) and the suppliers of bat research equipment, software and training is to perpetuate Bob’s legacy of assisting other bat biologists. Bob used his engineering and computer skills to refine the tools used for bat-related field work, and to help people to understand the different and changing technologies. He worked best one-on-one and offered his expertise to many students and agency biologists until the time of his death in 2008. The goal of these awards is to facilitate research by providing current equipment and training from the developers of the technology.
Scholarship Details
The following awards will be given in 2023
The WBWG grants do not allow administrative fees (indirect costs) and the award can be issued to a recipient’s institution if the recipient prefers.
Application Process
Proposals are now accepted for the Bob Berry Scholarship Fund, with awards to be announced at the WBWG conference in Victoria, B.C. The extended deadline for proposal submission will be April 9, 2023. You are not required to attend the WBWG meeting to be eligible for the award. Please limit proposals to 3 pages (including the information on the cover page) and submit electronically to Dr. Pat Brown and Brad Phillips. Receipt will be acknowledged.
An applicant may only apply in one award category. A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals for equipment based on the following five criteria. The Bat Survey Techniques Award will be judged on criteria 1-3.
- Demonstrates financial need (project/training could be compromised without this award)
- Demonstrates urgency for training/research to be conducted.
- Demonstrates a relevant conservation issue for western North American bats.
- Demonstrates a sound scientific approach.
- Demonstrates a requirement for and understanding of the equipment by the applicant.
Applicant must outline a clear plan for how the equipment/money will be used (i.e. the level of funding and/or requested equipment is appropriate for this study).
Applicant must assure that results from this work will be distributed or made publicly available through publication/report.
Applicant must convey project objectives clearly, demonstrating a sound understanding of his/her proposed project.
Applicant must demonstrate the long-term benefits for bat conservation, specifically for western North American bats in the provinces or states (Canada, Mexico and the US) represented by the WBWG.
Awardees will be expected to prepare a research report and poster or oral presentation for the 2025 WBWG meeting.
Bonnie Bat Fund
2023 Education Grant
Award $500 Education Grant
Application Deadline March 15, 2023
Award Notification At Biennial Meeting
Printable RFP Download
Email Submission Patricia Brown and Brad Phillips
Bonnie, the big brown bat, introduced thousands of adults and children to the wonderful world of bats through classes and programs given by Dr. Patricia Brown. She never tried to bite, and rarely emitted an irritation buzz. She also reached a larger audience through appearances on the Jay Leno Show, Nickelodeon and Beekman’s World.
To honor Bonnie’s memory and continue her legacy in bat education, the ‘Bonnie the Bat Education Grant’ was established. This grant will help fund bat education themed projects.
Scholarship Details
Proposals are now being accepted for the Bonnie the Bat Education Grant Awards. Proposal application deadline is March 15, 2023.
Project proposals need to explain how the money would be spent. After review, one proposal will be awarded $500 at the WBWG Biennial Meeting, April 19-21, 2023 in Victoria, British Columbia.
Application Process
Please limit proposals to 2 pages including a cover page with the title of the project, the applicants name, affiliation, and physical and email addresses; and a narrative addressing the award criteria listed below. These should be submitted electronically by March 15, 2023 to Dr. Pat Brown and Brad Phillips. Receipt will be acknowledged.
A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals based on the following criteria;
Preference will be given to projects that reach an “underserved” audience for bat conservation.
Dixie Pierson Fund
2023 Scholarship Awards
Award $500 Scholarship (2)
Application Deadline February 15, 2023
Reward Notifications March 1, 2023
Printable RFP Download
Email Submission Bill Rainey and Patricia Brown
Dr. Elizabeth (Dixie) Pierson was one of the core founding members of the Western Bat Working Group. She was a member of the team that developed the Townsend’s big-eared bat Conservation Strategy in 1993 and 1994 that eventually led to the formation of the Western Bat Working Group in 1996. Dixie’s leadership promoted more effective bat conservation efforts across the western United States. She inspired and provided training and field experience to many students and agency biologists.
Following her death in 2014, the Dixie Pierson Memorial Fund was established by her husband, Dr. Bill Rainey, and colleagues at the Western Bat Working Group. Donations are now being accepted for 2023 Scholarship awards. The goal is to offer two $500 awards prior to the biennial meeting of WBWG, which will next convene April 19-21, 2023 in Victoria, British Colombia. The goal of these awards is to defray travel costs and provide the opportunity for biologists to present their papers at the biennial meeting of the WBWG, where they can network with other biologists across western North America. Registration fees for the meeting will also be waived for the award participants.
Scholarship Details
Proposals are now being accepted for the Dixie Pierson Scholarship Awards. Proposal application deadline is February 15, 2023 and the winning recipients will be announced by March 1, 2023, before the WBWG deadline for submission of abstracts on March 15, 2023. Prior recipients of the Bob Berry Scholarships are eligible to apply.
Application Process
Please limit proposals to 3 pages including a cover page with the title of the presentation, the applicant’s name, affiliation, and physical and email addresses; an abstract of the oral or poster presentation; and a narrative addressing the award criteria listed below. These should be submitted electronically by February 15, 2023 to Bill Rainey and Patricia Brown. Receipt will be acknowledged.
A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals based on the following criteria;
The contents of the presentation will be distributed or made publicly available through publication/report.