About
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at UCSC, founded in 2016 focuses on to growing a diverse community of emerging leaders to strengthen conservation. Each year we select 20 students from around the U.S. and its territories to participate in our two-year conservation leadership program. Scholars enjoy two fully-funded summers in an immersive mentorship program focused on Conservation Research, Leadership, Communication, and Professional Skills, and join a network of 500+ conservation leaders.
The two-year program is built around two core experiences:
The first-year consists:
- of an eight-week, paid, intensive summer course integrating conservation design, leadership, and research experiences while traveling with a close group of peers and mentors
- Scholars lead their own original research in small groups
- Scholars interact with a diversity of conservation leaders
The second-year consists:
- of an eight-week, paid, intensive summer internship with a conservation organization or agency
- Past Internship partners have spanned conservation NGOs, government agencies and research labs across the country.
Scholar Benefits:
- Scholars receive a $4600 stipend each summer
- Scholars re-convene for a fully-funded professional retreat and workshop the winter after nationwide internships.
- Year-round support from DDCSP staff and support finding mentors at your home campus
- Scholars who complete the program become part of a growing scholarly and professional network of 700+ Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Our program will no longer be taking new cohorts
Funding for this program is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.