Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

News and Notes

Despite the general decline in financial support for arctic insect research, some sources of funding are available especially to assist students who want to do northern research. Some of these sources are outlined in the brief: "Information on Biodiversity Funding: Funding Sources for Graduate Students in Arthropod Biodiversity" by Terry Wheeler. See http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/funding.htm. Students are encouraged to read the entire document for advice on preparing applications.

Some sources of funding specific to northern research are listed below. In addition, the funding brief lists other sources not necessarily specific to arctic research.

AINA Grants in Aid - Arctic Institute of North America. Support up to $500 for young researchers, including graduate students, to defray the costs of research in the north.
See: http://www.ucalgary.ca/AINA/education/grants_AINA.html

Aurora Research Institute. The James M. Harrison Bursary is intended to assist a student planning to return to the Northwest Territories. It will be awarded to a NWT resident; graduate student, fourth year student, or third year student enrolled in a natural sciences program in a university or college. The Aurora Research Institute also helps fund research with the: Research Assistant Program; Research Fellowship Program, and the Research Associate Program.
See: http://www.nwtresearch.com/default.cfm

Canadian Northern Studies Trust (ACUNS). The Canadian Northern Studies Trust offers one or two scholarships valued at $10,000 each, to students currently enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. Research must be conducted in northern Canada, where north is defined as on or north of the sporadic-discontinuous permafrost line.
See: http://www.cyberus.ca/~acuns/EN/a_sns_g.html

Canadian Northern Studies Polar Commission Scholarship. Administered by ACUNS. Studentships will be awarded to students enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. Studentships cover a 12-month period of study and are valued at $10,000. Proposals are especially invited from candidates who (a) will engage in research culminating in a thesis or other such document, (b) whose programs show excellence in research in Polar regions and (c) are willing to communicate results in a major national or Northern forum.
See: http://www.cyberus.ca/~acuns/EN/a_cnspcs_g.html

Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The goal of the Northern Research Fund (NRF) is to enhance field research conducted by researchers utilizing facilities and services of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC). It is a fund-matching program that awards a combination of cash and in-kind support by the CNSC for expenses normally encountered during the course of research programs.
See: http://mail.churchillmb.net/~cnsc/re-funding.html

Circumpolar/Boreal Alberta Research (C/BAR) Grants. Funded by the Government of Alberta, the Circumpolar/Boreal Alberta Research Grants are open to graduate and senior undergraduate students of the University of Alberta, staff or students at another college or University in Alberta, as well as residents of Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. These grants-in-aid provide funds in support of research in any subject area.
See: http://www.ualberta.ca/~ccinst/GRANTS/grants.html

Jennifer Robinson Memorial Scholarship - Arctic Institute of North America. $5000 scholarship given annually to a graduate student in northern biology. May be used to defray the costs of research.
See: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/Others/AINA/education/scholarships_Robinson.html

Lorraine Allison Scholarship - Arctic Institute of North America. $2000 scholarship given annually to a graduate student conducting research related to northern issues (including northern biology).
See: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/Others/AINA/education/scholarships_Allison.html

Northern Research Institute of Yukon College. The NRI Fellowships provide up to $6,000 for expenses associated with defined research in the humanities, social, pure and applied sciences, investigating northern issues especially those with a Yukon focus.
See: http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/programs/nri/

Northern Scientific Training Program - Administered by the Northern Studies Committee at selected Canadian Universities on behalf of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Support up to $3000 for graduate students or senior undergraduates to defray the costs of research in the north.
See: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nstp/nstpb_e.html

Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). RCGS sponsored two studentships in 2003, both of which are administered by the Canadian Northern Studies Trust. The James W. Bourque Studentship is available for those enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. The other RCGS studentship is open to students currently enrolled in a master’s level program. 
See: http://www.cyberus.ca/~acuns/EN/a_jwb_g.html