 Sponsor: Fulbright
Program; Organization
of American States
Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas,
Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts
and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
Program focus: Environment
Timeframe: 2001–2007
Description: The Fulbright/OAS Ecology Initiative
offered grants to individuals from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada
for master’s and doctoral level study at U.S. universities. Grantees
in the natural sciences, social sciences, and public policy studied multidisciplinary
approaches to environmental preservation and sustainable development. In all,
85 environmentalists were selected to expand their skills and knowledge through
this program.
More Information
The Amazon Basin Scholarship Program and the
Caribbean and Central American Ecology Program were combined and
expanded into the Fulbright/OAS Ecology Initiative through a partnership
between the Fulbright
Program, sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs of the United States Department of State, and the Organization
of American States. The goal of the initiative was to develop
a well-prepared cadre of environmental professionals who, upon
completion of their studies, would return to their institutions
to share their expertise with colleagues while maintaining contact
with each other.
LASPAU staff worked closely with Public Affairs Sections of U.S.
Embassies, Fulbright Commissions, National Liaison Offices, and
Offices of the General Secretariat of the OAS in the member states
to promote the scholarships at institutions of higher learning
and at research organizations, government ministries, and nongovernmental
agencies devoted to environmental concerns in Latin America, the
Caribbean, and Canada. These institutions were invited to nominate
candidates for the program.
The selection process was highly competitive, given that candidates
from 33 countries were competing for one of the 18 available grants.
Applicants were expected to have outstanding academic credentials,
at least three years of professional experience related to environmental
preservation and sustainable development, and the potential to
take a leadership role in addressing environmental issues. Applicants
also were required to demonstrate a basic knowledge of English.
Advanced English language training was provided through the grant
when appropriate.
In addition to academic work, grantees were encouraged to pursue
short-term internships at U.S. environmental organizations and
to return to their countries during the summer to carry out thesis
research.
To Apply for the Fulbright–OAS Ecology Initiative
Although current grantees
are now finishing their studies, the program has ended and
applications will no longer be accepted.
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The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. |
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