Two awards of 4000€ will be available in 2011.

The main objective of the Young Researchers Award (YRA) 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.  The award has been put in place to stimulate use of GBIF enabled data by graduate students developing new research in biodiversity informatics and also to 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. “To have more researchers in biosystematics and biodiversity informatics using GBIF enabled data, 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 sent directly to the GBIF Secretariat. 

Heads of delegations have been encouraged to select a national contact person for the call. We will update this news item with the name of contact persons as we receive them:

DENMARK: Finn Borchsenius - finn.borchsenius(at)biology.au.dk 

Where a contact person has not yet been identified we advise you to contact the Heads of Delegations or National Node Managers of the country in which you are enrolled as a student. You can find the contact details on 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 2011 YRA will be announced at the GBIF Governing Board meeting due to take place in the Argentina during October 2011.

The 2011 Young Researchers Award is now open and if you are using or planning to use GBIF enabled data in your thesis work you are hereby encourage to apply for the award. 

Deadline for applications 15 March 2011.