PSECCO Conference Travel Grant Program for polar early career scientists and educators is launched!

The Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) is opening the PSECCO Conference Travel Grant Program to polar early career scientists and educators who need funding to attend an international or domestic conference at which they intend to present polar science-related content. Travel funding grants aim to support polar early career scientists and educators with demonstrated financial need. In this funding cycle, PSECCO will be distributing $7,000 to applicants; applicants may request a reasonable amount of funding to support their travel to/from a polar conference, up to a value of $1,000 per person. The deadline by which to apply is August 14, 2022 at 11.59pm MT. PSECCO will open another round of conference travel funding in spring 2023.   

To apply for travel funding support, please fill out this application form. Questions can be accessed in the attached document for ease of filling the application out.  

To be eligible for funding applicants must:  

• Be an early career scientist ranging anywhere from an undergraduate student to seven years or less since your last terminal degree OR be a currently practicing educator

• Be based in the United States and affiliated with a US-based institution 

• Do research/science focused on or related to polar regions or educate about the polar regions 

• Have demonstrated financial need 

PSECCO is committed to supporting and creating opportunities for those from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences, people from groups historically excluded from the polar sciences are encouraged to apply.    

Expectations for applicants related to attending the conference include that each PSECCO-funded grantee must: 

• Give a presentation at the conference (poster or oral) 

• Organize a PSECCO social meet-up event for polar early career scientists and educators at the conference. The PSECCO Director will help with advertising this event.

• Submit a report to PSECCO (psecco@colorado.edu) within two months of the conclusion of the conference, which includes: a 500-word written reflection on what you got out of attending the conference and at least two photographs of you at the event that can be shared on the PSECCO website and media outlets

The funding award can be used to request funds for transportation, accommodation, per diem, meeting registration, abstract submission, and dependent care costs (if applicable). Other costs may be considered depending on the need and accompanying explanation of the request.  

If you have any questions or need clarification about anything related to the PSECCO Conference Travel Grant Program, please email psecco@colorado.edu.

Applicants will be selected based on the following criteria: 

• How well does the applicant explain the relevance of topics & issues addressed at the conference and potential for professional development?
• Their demonstrated financial need to attend the conference
• Are the applicant's expenses reasonable based on where they are traveling and/or justified?