Scholarships and Awards

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.

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 2017 Scholarship awards. The goal is to award two $500 awards prior to the biennial meeting of WBWG, which will next convene April 11-14, 2017 in Ft Collins, Colorado. 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.

Proposals are now being accepted for the Dixie Pierson Scholarship Awards. Proposal application deadline is March 1, 2017 and we will try to notify the winning recipients by March 15, 2017. Prior recipients of the Bob Berry Scholarships are eligible to apply.

Please limit proposals to 3 pages including a cover page with the title of the presentation, the applicants 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 March 1, 2017 to Bill Rainey at weredp@aol.com and Patricia Brown  at patbobbat@aol.com with a message subject of ‘Pierson WBWG Award Proposal.’

A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals based on the following criteria:

• paper addresses a relevant conservation issue for western bats,
• paper demonstrates a sound scientific approach to the conservation issue, and
• applicant demonstrates financial need (conference attendance could be compromised without this award).
  

The contents of the presentation will be distributed or made publicly available through publication/report.

The 2017 Bob Berry Scholarship awards will be given at the biennial meeting of WBWG, which convenes April 11-14, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The impetus behind the generous donations to this fund by the suppliers of bat research equipment, software and training is to perpetuate Bob’s legacy of assisting other bat biologists.  Bob utilized 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.  Bob 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 technology and training from the developers of the technology.

The following awards will be given in 2017:

The Bob Berry SonoBat and Binary Acoustic Technology Award A full version of SonoBat 4,  along with a Binary Acoustic Technology mini-MIC ultrasonic microphone, donated by Joe Szewczak and Mark and Kim Jensen. Two of these awards will be offered. Proposals accepted until March 15.

The Bob Berry Pettersson Elektronik and SonoBat Award 2 A M500 USB Microphone + Batsound Touch Software + SonoBat 4 West donated by Lars Pettersson and Joe Szewczak. Proposals accepted until March 15.

Bob Berry Bat Survey Techniques Workshop Awards $500 certificates towards registration at Bat Survey Solution’s weeklong training workshop in AZ, CA, or KY. Two award certificates available for students, faculty, or professionals. Donated by Bat Survey Solutions. Two of these awards will be offered. Proposals accepted until March 15.

The Bob Berry Wildlife Acoustics Award An Echo Meter Touch, and the Discover Bats! curriculum guide. Proposals no longer being accepted.

The Bob Berry Pettersson Elektronik and SonoBat Award 1 A D500x + SonoBat 4 West donated by Lars Pettersson and Joe Szewczak. Proposals no longer being accepted.

The Bob Berry Holohil Award Six transmitters donated by Holohil and a $1,000 cash award from the Bob Berry Fund for receiver purchase or to cover research expenses. Proposals no longer being accepted.

The Bob Berry Titley Electronics Award AnaBat Walkabout bat detector and a seat in one of the AnaBat trainings donated by Titley Electronics. Proposals no longer being accepted.

Proposals are now being accepted for the Bob Berry Scholarship Fund, with awards to be announced at the WBWG biennial conference in April 11-14, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Extended deadline for proposal submission in the 3 categories listed above is March 15, 2017. You may apply for only one award and only one proposal per applicant or organization. You are not required to attend the WBWG Fort Collins meeting to be eligible for the award. 

A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals based on the following criteria:

• demonstrates financial need (project could be compromised without this award),
• demonstrates urgency for project/research to be conducted,
• demonstrates a relevant conservation issue for western bats,
• demonstrates a sound scientific approach,
• and 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 2019 WBWG meeting.

Please limit proposals to 2 pages (including the information on the cover page below) and submit electronically to Patricia Brown at patbobbat@aol.com with ‘Bob Berry Scholarship Fund Proposal’ as the subject. Receipt will be acknowledged.

Project Title

Applicant Name

Affiliation

Mailing address

E-mail address

Phone number

Award category (choose one):

Holohil        Titley Electronics        Wildlife Acoustics        SonoBat/Binary Acoustics Technology        Bat Survey Techniques Workshop        Pettersson Electronics/Sonobat #1        Pettersson Electronics/Sonobat #2

In one page, please describe your proposed research, how this award will facilitate that research, your previous experience with bats, and how your research will continue to yield benefits for bat conservation in the Western United States.

Bonnie, the big brown bat, through classes and programs introduced thousands of adults and children to the wonderful world of bats. She never tried to bite, and rarely emitted an irritation buzz. She also appeared on the Jay Leno Show, Nickelodeon and Beekman’s World.
To honor Bonnie’s memory and continue her legacy of bat education we have established the ‘Bonny Bat Education Grant’. This grant will help fund bat education themed projects. Project proposals need to explain how the money would be spent, and show a matching contribution. Submissions are reviewed and the selected proposal is awarded $250 at the WBWG Biennial Meetings.
Tax deductible contributions can be made to the Western Bat Working Group- Bonnie Bat Education Fund.

Proposals are now being accepted for the Bonnie the Bat Grant Awards. Proposal application deadline is March 15, 2017 and the winning recipients will be announced at the WBWG meeting in Ft. Collins.

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, 2017 to Patricia Brown at patbobbat@aol.com and Brad Phillips at bjphillips@fs.fed.us, with a message subject of Bonnie the Bat Grant Proposal.

A committee of five representatives of WBWG will judge the proposals based on the following criteria:

• project addresses a relevant education and/or conservation issue for western bats,
• applicant demonstrates financial need (education project could be compromised without this award) and submits a project budget, showing that a $250 match is available, either in cash or in-kind services,
• preference will be given to projects that reach an “underserved” audience for bat conservation,
• demonstrates a sound scientific approach,
• and project is appropriate for the target audience.