MERS Marine Mammal Naturalist Course Bursaries 2025 - Application

MERS will be providing two bursaries for each of the 2025 MERS Marine Mammal Naturalist Courses (click links below to learn more):

These bursaries are specifically for those who reside in B.C. and have a financial barrier to being able to attend the course but whose learning will strongly benefit local marine conservation / education.

These bursaries will cover the registration fee and the course text “Marine Mammals of British Columbia” by Dr. John Ford (value of $658).

One of the four bursaries will be eligible for additional coverage for travel and accommodation (up to $740 in value). Support for the combined course and travel bursary was generously provided by the Alway-Connors Charitable Fund.
Travel and accommodation costs for the remaining 3 bursaries are not included and must be covered by the applicant.

Applicants must be age 18 or older.

To apply, please fill in all the information below.

The bursary deadline is February 15th at 11:45 p.m. PST.

The bursary recipients will be contacted by March 1st.

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* 1. Full Name

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* 2. Email

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* 3. Phone number

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* 4. Do you reside in B.C.? The bursaries are only available those who reside in B.C..

Yes

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* 5. Are you 18 years of age or older?

Yes

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* 6. Which MERS Marine Mammal Naturalist Course would you attend (please choose one answer)?

Nanaimo (May 10-13, 2025)

Campbell River (May 30 - June 2, 2025)

No preference

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* 7. Which bursary are you applying for?

Course fee and book only

Course fee, book, and travel (transportation and accommodation)

No preference

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* 8. Please let us know how the knowledge gained from a MERS Marine Mammal Naturalist Course would be of use to you and how it will benefit marine conservation and education.

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* 9. Please make a statement about your financial need (if you are applying for additional coverage for travel and accommodation, describe your specific travel-related needs and how this bursary would help you).

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* 10. The Marine Education and Research Society is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Priority for this support will be given to those who self-identify as belonging to underrepresented groups e.g., but not limited to, women in STEM, Indigenous youth, and recent immigrants or refugees. Please provide any information you feel we should consider in addition to what you have provided above.

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* 11. The recipient of the travel bursary will be invited to submit a brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) reflecting on their course experience and the impact of the bursary on their experience. This valuable feedback will be shared with the travel bursary donors, highlighting the impact of their generous support.

I understand that if a successful travel bursary applicant, I will provide a short written statement.

Thank you so much for your interest and your dedication to marine conservation.