PSECCO Conference Travel Grant applications due March 25, 2026!

February 4, 2026

Mariama smiles in the aspens of Colorado
Mariama Dryák-Vallies

The Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO)* Conference Travel Grant Program is now open for applications. Travel awards to attend and present polar-related work at a conference are open to polar early career scientists and educators. In this Spring 2026 funding cycle, PSECCO will be distributing $3,000 of awards. Applicants may request a reasonable amount of funding to support their travel to/from a conference, up to a value of $900* per person, with awards aimed at those with demonstrated financial need.  An additional $100 is available for awardees who organize a PSECCO social event at the conference. 

The application deadline is March 25, 2026, at 11.59pm MT.  Depending on review availability and the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to inform applicants as to the status of their application until April 22, 2026, or later. Please take this into account when applying for funding. 

To apply for the travel funding, please fill out the questions below. Note that the grants can be used to support 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. Taxes may apply to this funding; it is the responsibility of individuals receiving the funds to understand how this may impact their individual tax situation. PSECCO will be managing the selection process for the conference travel grants call, but funds will be distributed to awardees by University of Maryland, College Park. 


To be eligible for funding applicants must:  

  1. Be an early career scientist (undergraduate to seven years beyond your terminal degree) OR be a currently practicing K-12 or informal educator
  2. Be based in the United States and affiliated with a US-based institution
  3. Do polar-related research or educate about the polar regions
  4. Have demonstrated financial need
  5. Be attending a conference taking place after May 1, 2026 and before August 31, 2026

Please note that awardees of the grant are expected to:

  1. Give a presentation at the conference (poster or oral).
  2. Submit a short report to PSECCO (psecco@colorado.edu) within one month of the conclusion of the conference. This includes a 500-word 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. Funds will be distributed to successful awardees after they successfully submit these photos and report.
  3. Serve on a selection committee for the next conference funding award cycle. 

Recipients of the grant will have support to organize a PSECCO social meet-up event for polar early career scientists and educators at the conference if they choose to do so, with an extra $100 stipend provided to those who do.

If you have questions, please email psecco@colorado.edu.

*PSECCO is a community-building and support effort for early career scientists with a focus on building more welcoming spaces in the polar sciences, funded by NSF and housed at the University of Colorado.