Copenhagen, Denmark, 1 July 2010: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an intergovernmental initiative established to enable free and open access to biodiversity information via the internet to underpin sustainable development, today announced a call for proposals for the first GBIF Young Researchers Award 2010 (YRA). Two awards of Euro 4,000 each will be made available in 2010.
The main objective of the award is to foster innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics by graduate students in masters and doctorate programs at universities in countries participating in the GBIF network. It is expected that the awards will stimulate graduate students to develop new research in biodiversity informatics and also serve as an outreach mechanism to universities.
“Students are the future of the biodiversity research community,” commented Dr. Leonard Krishtalka, Chairperson of the GBIF Science Committee at the release of the call. “To have more researchers in biosystematics and biodiversity informatics, we need greater involvement with students and academia and these awards will serve as an incentive towards that goal.”
The call for proposals provides prospective applicants with more information regarding the requirements for submission as well as details of the selection process.
Masters and doctorate students who are interested in submitting an application can obtain details regarding the submission of proposals and other information from the national GBIF Head of Delegation or the National GBIF Node Manager for the country where their studies are registered. Please note that submissions must be submitted through these focal points and not through the GBIF Secretariat. Contact details of the Heads of Delegations and Node Managers are provided in the call, but may also be accessed through the GBIF website by following the link http://www.gbif.org/communications/directory-of-contacts/governing-board-of-gbif/ and http://www.gbif.org/communications/directory-of-contacts/nodes-committee/.
The winners of the 2010 YRA will be announced at the GBIF Governing Board meeting due to take place in the Republic of Korea during October this year.
GBIF currently comprises 54 countries and 44 international organisations and the network collectively mobilises a growing amount of biodiversity data records, already counting more than 200 million from around the world. Participation in GBIF by countries from all over the world is imperative for the network to be optimally beneficial. The more data that countries are able to mobilise and use, the greater the potential for strengthened decision-making and policies - instrumental in finding solutions to pressing environmental and cross-boundary issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change.
The 2010 Young Researchers Award is now open!
Deadline for applications 15 September 2010
