Therkildsen Student Grants
The Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon (TFSE) regularly invites UIS students (Graduate or Undergraduate) to submit proposals for student-driven projects based in, and around the Emiquon Preserve. The number of awards and their value is expected to vary from year-to-year. Projects do not need to be scientific in nature. Projects should have a defined outcome. Students are expected to present at STARS.
Outcomes will vary widely based on the project. Some potential examples are:
- Visual Arts: a project might result in a collection of images (paintings, drawings, photographs, etc.) for use by the TFSE on the website, in promotional materials, or as decorations in the facility.
- Chemistry: a project could examine pesticides in the Illinois River and Thompson Lake. This project could contribute to the TFSE data repository and might help inform decisions about water management.
- Environmental Studies: a project could examine plastic, metal, and other pollution found along the shore of Thompson Lake. Besides cleaning-up, this project could produce pamphlets, posters, and brochures to make users more aware of how they impact the Emiquon Preserve.
- Economics: a project could examine how the Emiquon Restoration project has impacted the surrounding communities.
- Biology: a project might catalog the locations of trees, muskrat huts, beaver dams, or other features of interest, and become part of an on-going project examining how these features change over time.
- Education: a project could focus on creating a “Guide for Teachers” that provides information and activities for K-12 classes that visit the TFSE.
Proposals must include the following sections:
- Project Title.
- Your Name, Degree Program, and Name of Supervising Faculty.
- Description of the project. Be sure to adequately describe the project, including your expected methodology.
- Expected Outcomes. This should describe what you will be giving to the TFSE at the conclusion of your project. This may be files containing data, or physical collections.
- Completion Date. This can be an estimate, but should represent when your Expected Outcomes will be turned over to the TFSE.
- Budget. Be as specific as possible. Materials and transportation costs may be included in the budget. No support is available for stipends or salaries.
- A Letter of Support. This should be sent by your Supervising Faculty member.
Proposals and Letters of Support should be emailed to the TFSE Director, with the subject “students last name – TFSE grant“.
All proposals will be reviewed by a committee assembled by the TFSE Director, which will make recommendations based on the quality and feasibility of the project.
Other Opportunities for Students
The Therkildsen Field Station maintains a page with links to a variety of funding opportunities for students. These include grants for student research and travel to conferences.