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Home > Grants & Prizes > education > Ecological Education Grant

 Ecological Education Grants

Ask a successful ecologist what originally fired his or her enthusiasm for ecology and many will tell you that it was a teacher at school who passed on their enthusiasm more often than not through a field course. Teachers are in the front line transmitting not only knowledge but enthusiasm. The British Ecological Society realises that the best way to get the message across to young people that ecology is an exciting science is to support, encourage and equip teachers.

The Ecological Education Grants (EEGs) are to enable teachers to make the teaching of ecology more innovative, interesting and exciting. (If you are an Ecologists and you would like to take a group of students to help you on your research work, please also see our Field Experience Grant).

Applications are accepted from the UK without having to be a BES member and from any other country if the principle applicant is a BES member.

It not possible to apply for more than one category in any one application round.

The exception to this rule is the Professional Development Courses in Fieldwork category, which can be applied for in combination with or in addition to any one of the other EEG grants.

The EEG Toolbox

Innovation and Research Grants

Description: This grant is to help teachers to develop creative approaches in communicating ecology. The aim is to promote good practice and to support ecology teaching that is both exciting and intellectually stimulating. Money is available to encourage teachers to develop innovative ways of teaching ecology and/or to undertake research to evaluate methods of teaching ecology. This can be achieved in many different ways and can include projects based in or outside of the classroom.
Suitable for: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Higher Education
Value: Up to £750
Application deadlines:  Jan 31st and April 30th, Sept 30th.

To view or download the online questions before filling in the online form  click here (this form is only for guidance and applications will need to be submitted using the online application system)

To enter the online application system for this grant please click on this link

Please make sure that your application form includes a title for the project and a short summary of what you intend to do as well as the methods you intend to use. Please also don't forget to explain why it is educational.

Field Equipment Grant

Description: The BES is offering funding specifically to enable institutions to buy ecology field work equipment. Our aim is to equip science departments with resources that will then enable students’ to access high quality educational experiences outside the classroom. Applicants who do not justify what they will be using the equipment for will be automatically rejected. Please read the application guidance notes provided before submitting your application.

Suitable for: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Value: Upto £500
Application deadlines: Jan 31st and April 30th, Sept 30th.

To view or download the online questions before filling in the online form  click here (this form is only for guidance and applications will need to be submitted using the online form)

To enter the online application system for this grant please click on this link


The following Ecological Education grant category is run on a first come first served basis, and so the application form and procedures vary from the rest of the EEG scheme. This BES webpage will be posted when all the funds have been allocated for this grant.

Professional Development Courses in Fieldwork

Description: The BES helps biology teachers to develop their expertise in fieldwork through sponsoring training courses in collaboration with the National network of Science Learning Centres. The courses may include support on management of groups during fieldwork, risk assessments and practical subject-based activities and ideas. The money can normally be used for paying for supply cover or a contribution towards upto half of the tuition fees. Visit the Science Learning Centre's website for details and to book on the courses below.

The Courses that the BES will be providing support for in 2009 are:

Science Learning Centre

Course

South West

Sea for Curriculum

South East

Marvellous minibeasts

East England

Nature detectives

West Midland

Take it outside

(The BES also subsidises weekend residential courses in teaching fieldwork at Field Studies Council study centres but there is no need to apply for a grant for these). Contact the Field Studies Council directly to book a place. Click here for support for, undergraduates or graduate students (including trainee teachers) to meet the costs of specialist field courses.

Click hereto downlad an application form.

APPLICATION FORMS NEED TO ARRIVE AT THE BES BEFORE THE COURSE HAS TAKEN PLACE AND DUE TO LIMITED FUNDS NOT ALL APPLICATIONS MAY BE AWARDED.

Suitable for: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Value: Up to £100

*Please note that courses eligible for Impact reward funding are not eligible for funidng under this scheme.

Application Process:

The grant application form is to be completed and sent into the BES before the course has taken place. No course fees can be paid before the course has taken place. The amount awarded will be only be paid on receipt of a letter of attendance and/or copy of invoice for supply cover. As this grant is run on a first come first served basis, the BES website will be posted when all the funds have been allocated.

Note to Science Learning Centres:

Please send Suzy Grace the list of next years courses that you would like funding support for by the 28th of April.

Conditions for course qualification are - Any course that raises the profile of ecology/fieldwork. Priority of funding will go towards courses which focus more specifically on ecology and biology, followed by any outdoor science if there is space in the budget. Centres should show how much (as a percentage) of the course they deem as being ecological and list as detailed a course aims and description as possible to inform the committees decisions. Primary specifically need to ensure that their course content is clearly based on ecological science as opposed to environmental education.