Awards & Scholarships Overview
The ACTWS annually administers four professional awards, five student scholarships, and several student travel awards.
Larry Norman Comin Photo Contest Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025
Professional Awards
Recognize someone for their special contribution. Consider nominating a colleague today.
- Nominations can be made by any ACTWS member.
- Nominees are normally residents of Alberta or have made a significant contribution in Alberta.
- Awards will be presented at the ACTWS conference.
- Eligible nominations can be considered for up to 3 years.
Outreach Award
This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Alberta’s fish and wildlife through effective and excellent communication to the public.
Deadline: January 17th, 2025
Alberta Wildlife Publication Awards
These two awards recognize wildlife professionals for outstanding written contributions in:
1. technical publication (within the past 3 years)
2. popular publication (within the past 3 years)
Publications can be a book, article, or monograph but must be relevant to wildlife management and conservation. The review committee will assess publications based on originality, impact on management and conservation science, and overall presentation. The Alberta Chapter will announce the winning publications at the annual conference. Each award will include a plaque presented to the authors at the ACTWS conference and the winning publication(s) will be recognized in the newsletter.
Please indicate category in the nomination.
Deadline: January 17th, 2025
William Rowan Distinguished Service Award
The William Rowan Distinguished Service Award is presented to an Alberta wildlife biologist who has made outstanding cumulative contributions to the management and conservation of wildlife and their habitats. These contributions could involve excellence in research, teaching, public allocation (hunting, nonconsumptive use), habitat protection and development, land use planning, impact assessment, endangered species management, work in professional associations or any other area of the wildlife management profession.
The awards committee is asking for nominations from the membership for this prestigious award. A nomination involves a letter of support from a Chapter member along with the candidate’s curriculum vitae/resume. The letter should explain the value of the nominee’s contributions in the areas outlined above.
Deadline: January 17th, 2025
Kristina Norstrom Dedicated Service Award
Presented to an Alberta Chapter member who actively and unselfishly contributes their time and resources to further the aims and objectives of the Chapter. This award acknowledges members whose contributions far exceed the expectations of being a member and capture the spirit and essence of dedication to the Chapter. The awards committee asks for nominations for this award in the form of a letter of support from one or more Chapter members.
Deadline: January 17th, 2025
We suggest using the embedded Google Form to submit your nomination. However, if you prefer to nominate someone via email, please include:
- The name of the nominee
- The name of the award
- A justification for why they deserve the award
- CV of the nominee
Submit email nominations to the Chair of the Professional Awards Committee (awards@actws.ca) by Friday, January 17, 2025.
Larry Norman Comin Photo Contest
Share with us those exceptional photographs where you caught incredible wildlife poses, beautiful landscapes, or just stunning moments in nature. Submit your photograph to the Larry Norman Comin Photo Contest using the link provided, by January 24, 2025. There are three categories for submission: Wildlife Poses, Landscapes, Relationships with Nature. An award is presented for the top photo and the winner announced at the meeting banquet.
All photos must be submitted online using the link below or to the Chair of the Professional Awards Committee (awards@actws.ca). For more information, please consult this document.
Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025
Student Scholarships
The Alberta Chapter annually presents academic student awards to promote interest and reward excellence in the field of wildlife conservation. A list of past recipients can be viewed here.
Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in wildlife management and clearly state how their career goals align with the award and the lifetime achievements of its namesake. Student submissions for each award category are reviewed by ACTWS member committees.
Scholarship Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Robert (Bob) K. Goddard Memorial Scholarship
Amount
$1500
Deadline
January 31st, 2025
Eligibility
This award is open to students that are presently enrolled in a technical program in the Province of Alberta, focusing on wildlife biology or management, and will be enrolled full-time in September 2025 (participating on a co-op work term is also eligible). Program examples include, but are not limited to: Renewable Resource Option (NAIT), Wildlife and Fisheries Major (Lakeland), Renewable Resource Management Diploma (Lethbridge College). Please note that programs in conservation enforcement are not eligible for this award.
- Transcript of marks for courses taken and a list of courses planned for remainder of program, if any.
- Contact information for one reference (e.g., a faculty member or other professional biologist) who agrees to be contacted by the Awards committee.
- Typed essay (500 words or fewer) outlining: career goals and relevance to this awards; summary of involvement or experience with the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society; and summary of volunteer or work experience in the wildlife field.
Ian Ross Memorial Scholarship
Amount
$1500
Deadline
January 31st, 2025
Eligibility
This award is open to students planning a career in wildlife management and preparing to enter the final year of a 4-year Alberta university program in Biological Sciences, Forest Science, Animal Sciences, Zoology, or related field of study, in September 2025. This award is also open to students entering the final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Ecosystem Management – Fish and Wildlife stream at Lethbridge College. The award funds will be disbursed upon confirmation of registration for the next year of full-time enrollment.
- Transcript of marks for courses taken, and a list of courses planned for their final year.
- Contact information for one reference (e.g., a faculty member or other professional biologist) who agrees to be contacted by the Awards committee.
- Typed essay (500 words or fewer) outlining: career goals and relevance to this awards; summary of involvement or experience with the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society; and summary of volunteer or work experience in the wildlife field.
William (Bill) Wishart Post-Graduate Scholarship
Amount
$1500
Deadline
January 31st, 2025
Eligibility
This award is open to students planning a career in wildlife management and accepted into a full-time post-graduate degree program at a Canadian University in Biological Sciences, Forest Science, Animal Sciences, Zoology, or related field of study (must be enrolled full-time in September 2025), and conducting the majority of their (field) research in Alberta.
- Outline of proposed thesis work
- Transcript of marks for undergraduate and graduate courses
- Contact information for one reference (e.g., a faculty member or other professional biologist) who agrees to be contacted by the Awards committee
- Typed essay (500 words or fewer) outlining: career goals and relevance to this awards; summary of involvement or experience with the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society; and summary of volunteer or work experience in the wildlife field.
EDI Scholarship
Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in wildlife management and clearly state how their career goals align with the award details below.
The Wildlife Society (TWS) is committed to the identification and removal of barriers to recruitment, effective mentoring, retention of a diverse workforce, and to communicating with a diverse array of stakeholders. TWS recognizes the value of including the richness of human diversity in our efforts to discover, educate, inform policy, and involve the public in wildlife science and management. The ACTWS has always been an organization that welcomes all people with an interest in participating in wildlife and habitat research and conservation.
The ACTWS Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) works to address equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Alberta wildlife profession. One of the goals of the EDIC is to reduce financial barriers experienced by members of marginalized communities in entering or staying in the wildlife profession. These student awards are one part of our effort to address that complex issue.
These scholarships are one program of the EDIC. Learn more about this committee’s work and see their Terms of Reference that outlines committee goals and objectives.
EDI Scholarship Application Deadline: January 31st, 2025
EDI Post-Secondary Student Award
Encouraging diversity in the wildlife profession starts with encouraging diversity in wildlife programs at our post-secondary institutions. There are several colleges, universities, and schools in Alberta that offer post-secondary courses in wildlife science and management. Often starting a post-secondary education can be a financial barrier for a variety of reasons, these reasons may be exacerbated or compounded for people from marginalized communities. Sometimes, these barriers may be sufficient to prevent people from entering the field or committing to a multi-year program at a post-secondary institution. This student award is designed to encourage and empower students to commit to a post-secondary education in a wildlife related field. Increasing the diversity of people in the wildlife profession starts with their post-secondary education.
Amount
$1500
Deadline
January 31st, 2025
Eligibility
This award is open to students who identify themselves as members of a marginalized community that are currently in or about to enter a wildlife related program at a post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta. Program examples include but are not limited to: Resource Option (NAIT), Wildlife and Fisheries Major (Lakeland), Renewable Resource Management Diploma (Lethbridge College).
Submission Requirements
- Transcript of marks for high school or post-secondary.
- Contact information for one reference (e.g., a faculty member, other professional biologist, or other professional mentor/traditional knowledge holder) who agrees to be contacted by the Awards committee.
- Typed essay (500 words or fewer) outlining: career goals and relevance to this award; and summary of volunteer or work experience in the wildlife field (if any), or summary of transferable skills that apply to the wildlife field; a short description of why you think addressing EDI is important for the wildlife profession.
- Complete this Google Form to submit your application.
Student Registration Grants
The Alberta Chapter helps students attend the annual conference every March. We invite qualifying students to apply for an award to assist with their registration expenses. Individual travel awards will be 50% of the student registration fee.
Eligibility
All applicants must be:
- a member of ACTWS (at time of application);
- pursuing a career in wildlife research and/or management; and
- Must be in financial need and not have another source of funding to register for the conference.
Presenting Student Registration Grants
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must also be:
- a current student or recent (within the last 12 months) graduate;
- a senior author and presenter of an accepted poster or oral presentation; and
- conducting research or has proposed to conduct research on wildlife, fisheries, and/or related habitats within Alberta.
Although a student’s paper/poster must be accepted for presentation by the ACTWS Program Committee to receive the Award, students should apply for the award prior to being notified by the Program Committee of abstract acceptance.
Deadline
January 20, 2023.
New Student Registration Grants
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must also:
- Not have attended an ACTWS conference in the past.
- Be presently enrolled in either:
- a post-secondary program in a technical college or 4-year University program in Alberta. The program must be focused in Biological Sciences, Forestry Science, Animal Science, Zoology, Environmental Sciences, or related field of study.
OR
- a Grade 12 Alberta high school with anticipated graduation date in 2022. Student must have an interest in pursuing a career in the wildlife field.
Deadline
January 20, 2023.
Student Travel Awards
The ACTWS would like to help students attend the conference scheduled for 7–9 March 2025 in Drumheller, Alberta. We invite qualifying students to apply for a Student Travel Award to assist with their travel expenses.
Travel Award Application Deadline: January 31st, 2025
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be:
- a member of the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society;
- a current student or recent (within the last 12 months) graduate; and
- senior author and presenter of an accepted poster or oral presentation.
Successful applicants will be asked to provide voluntary service during the conference and, following the conference, they must submit an expense claim, one or more photos, and a short write-up about their experiences at the conference. The photos and write-ups will be used in the ACTWS member newsletter. Although a student’s paper/poster must be accepted for presentation by the ACTWS Program Committee to receive the Award, students should apply for the award prior to being notified by the Program Committee of abstract acceptance.
There is no cap on the amount that can be requested. All applications will be reviewed, and awards will be determined based on the funds available in the 2025 conference budget.