Wellesley College
AC-10: Support for Research

The Environmental Studies Opportunity Fund: The Environmental Studies Opportunity Fund supports students pushing Environmental Studies -- or their own work -- in new directions. Aware of the historical lack of diversity in environmental fields and the common (mis)perception that environmental issues are high priorities only for affluent socioeconomic groups, we are committed to nurturing innovative and inclusive approaches to understanding and advancing environmental sustainability. We also want to support work that expands an individual’s opportunity to study environmental issues in novel or important ways, regardless of what those ways are. The Opportunity Fund will be open to all students at Wellesley College, irrespective of major. Students may apply for up to $500 per student with a maximum of $1,000 per project. (Successful proposals asking for smaller amounts are more likely to be fully funded.)We encourage students to propose projects that may fall outside of the standard academic approaches to studying or protecting the environment, and for which nominal amounts of funding can help a project to succeed. Some possible examples of the use of funds include (but are not limited to): supplies/equipment, travel, analysis / professional services fees, printing/publishing costs. Thesis & Independent Study Support: Students undertaking a thesis and/or 300-level independent study projects may apply to the Environmental Studies Program for funds up to $350 per semester. In order to receive funds, students must submit a detailed budget to the Program Director, who will bring it to the ES Advisory Faculty for approval. Sophomore Early Research Program: http://www.wellesley.edu/sciencecenter/students/opportunities/serp The ES Program (and Faculty) also participate in Summer Research Programs, outlined in the faculty section below.

Social Science Summer Research Program (faculty research projects have included The Environmental/Sustainability History of Batteries; and "Why Good People Do Bad Environmental Things." http://www.wellesley.edu/provost/students/summerresearch There is also a Science Summer Research Program that encourages faculty to create projects that directly involve students. http://www.wellesley.edu/sciencecenter/students/opportunities/summer/sciaward/ ES faculty (Monica Higgins) have also benefited from Brachman Hoffman Small Grants for faculty research. http://www.wellesley.edu/sciencecenter/faculty/grants - Monica's research focuses on Environmental engineering, life cycle assessment, and the design of sustainable environmental systems.

Ongoing library support for sustainability research and learning includes research guides, materials selection policies and practices, curriculum development efforts, sustainability literacy promotion, and e-learning objects focused on sustainability. Wellesley Library Sustainability Research Guide: http://libguides.wellesley.edu/sustainability