Institute for Integrative Conservation Events

Location

The Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) is seeking proposals from conservation partners (e.g. non-governmental organizations, government agencies, tribal governments, Indigenous Peoples & local communities, and private corporations) for applied research projects that advance integrative solutions to global conservation challenges. These applied research projects will be conducted by W&M undergraduate students in collaboration with conservation partners and with support from faculty with expertise in the field of research as part of a year-long program in 2022. Through these collaborative student research projects, we bring together experts from conservation organizations, an interdisciplinary team of W&M faculty, and exceptional undergraduate students to conduct innovative research needed to advance the conservation of biodiversity and its inextricable benefits to human well-being.

We are seeking proposals for applied student research projects from conservation partners that will directly advance conservation outcomes and integrative conservation approaches. W&M students will work alongside a conservation mentor from the partner organization and a W&M faculty mentor to develop a research proposal in the spring, will complete the bulk of the research during the summer, and will continue the work and finalize reports and deliverables in the fall of 2022. Students will participate in lab group meetings in the spring and fall semesters, where they will learn how to write a research proposal, communicate research results to diverse stakeholders, and write a manuscript or technical report. Below is the research program schedule:

Spring 2022: Students will work with faculty mentors and conservation partners to complete a project proposal, which will include the identification of project objectives, a literature review, a compilation of data, and a proposal that outlines the research approach.

Summer 2022: Students will complete research full-time over 10 weeks during the summer and will receive a stipend from W&M.

Fall 2022: Students will complete their analyses, finalize reports and deliverables, and present their findings to stakeholders. 

Contact

iic@wm.edu