CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SWS DIVERSITY PROGRAM UNDERGRADUATE MENTORING AWARDS FOR THE JOINT AQUATIC SCIENCES MEETING IN PORTLAND, OREGON (MAY 18 – MAY 23, 2014)

The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) announces the availability of undergraduate student awards for travel to attend the Joint Aquatic Sciences meeting in Portland, Oregon May 18 – May 23, 2014. This unique meeting is co-hosted by SWS, ASLO, PSA and SFS and will build a bridge across the disciplines within the field of aquatic science and will explore many exciting opportunities for collaboration. The mission of this SWS program is to increase diversity in the Society and the field of wetland sciences by offering full travel awards to undergraduate students from underrepresented groups and providing career mentoring and exposure to career options at the Society’s annual meeting (see application form for eligible groups). These awards are supported by the National Science Foundation and several SWS Chapters (Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, South Central, North Central, Western, and Pacific Northwest). The areas of interest of the student participants range from freshwater to marine and involve a wide variety of organism types. Undergraduate participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associates degree. Spring 2014 graduates are eligible as well. Participants are selected based on academic promise, interest in exploring a career in the natural sciences, potential for serving as a mentor, and demonstrated commitment to increasing opportunities for underrepresented students. It is especially important that applications be complete and that the "tell us about yourself" essay clearly addresses the information requested and that it be well composed. Application materials and additional information are available from Dr. Frank P. Day, Old Dominion University (fday@odu.edu) and on the program’s web page (http://www.sws.org/mentoring.mgi). An email to Frank Day expressing interest in the program can serve as a preapplication. Application deadline is November 8, 2013.