The University of Wisconsin-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve is pleased to announce a funding opportunity to support undergraduate education and research in the Preserve. These small grants are made possible by generous support from the Academic Endowment Fund of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. The maximum individual award is $1,000. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.
Purpose of the Grants
The broad purpose of these grants is to facilitate use of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve as a resource for education among UW undergraduates. In general, funds will be used for one of the following:
- Purchase of equipment, supplies, etc. related to a specific project in the Preserve by or for the benefit of undergraduates
- Undergraduate student stipends related to a specific project in the Preserve
Eligibility and Criteria
Any student, faculty, or staff member at UW-Madison may apply. Groups of individuals may submit a proposal as a team. Every proposal must have at least one faculty or staff member who is expected to play an active role in overseeing the project. Funds may only be released to the faculty or staff person overseeing the project.
Review criteria are listed below:
- Degree of undergraduate student engagement with the Preserve that will result from the grant award
- Scientific, educational, outreach, or applied value
- Efficient use of funds
- Potential to serve as pilot or pilot data for external funding of additional programming, teaching, or research
- If this is a request for continuing funding (i.e., a project has received Student Engagement Grant funding in previous years), there is a clear, compelling rationale for continued funding
Contribution to the Digital Collection
If requested, projects that collect data will make the data available upon completion of the project.
Process for Application
Submit a proposal—please keep to less than 1,000 words in total, excluding cover page. Proposal should include the following components in this order:
- Cover page: Include project title and names and positions of applicants
- Summary: (<100 words) What will you do? Who will you work with? What is the basic purpose (e.g., research, education, etc.)?
- Problem Statement: Why is this work important? What need(s) does it fulfill?
- Objectives: What do you hope to accomplish with this work (research or other activity)?
- Nature of the work: Tell us what you plan on doing; anticipated number of hours per week; where you will work; with whom you will work and how you will recruit them; how you will publicize the activity or its results. We want to see that you have thought through these details and discussed them with your partners/staff-faculty advisors (if applicable).
- Expected educational outcomes for participating undergraduate students: How many students are involved? In what way are they engaging in the Preserve?
- Other expected outcomes: (e.g., pilot data for an external grant, scientific value, if funded in the past- how would this research/ project extend and enrich past outcomes etc.)
- Budget and budget justification
- Timeline
Application Submission
Please submit application by email to Preserve Director Brad Herrick (bradley.herrick@wisc.edu) by March 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee, with decision notifications sent by April 1. Grant funds should be expended by the following October 31 unless otherwise arranged.
Additional Expectations
- Recipients will submit a brief final report by October 31 to the Preserve Director and may be invited to present their project results to the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee.
- Recipients will present research findings at an appropriate venue, such as the undergraduate research symposium.
- Recipients will write two letters to donors, thanking them for their support and including a short summary of how they plan to use the funds.