What is Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program 2016?

The Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program funds three major activities:

1. Masters Degree at an International University: The Program will fund one or two students to work towards a 1-2 yr Masters degree in a reputed academic program in ecology or conservation. The purpose of this Fellowship is to train the student recipients in the science and/or implementation of conservation; and to facilitate interaction with the larger international community of people involved in conservation science and practice.
   Funding provided: stipend, course fees, one-way international travel.
2. Internship with a International Conservation Organisation: The Program will fund one or two recipients to carry out an internship of 6 weeks to 1 year with a university research group, NGO, government agency, or other organisation, known for its work in conservation science and practice in a country other than India. The purpose of the internship is for recipients of the fellowship to gain experience and insight in field ecology and conservation beyond what they would ordinarily gather from an academic degree program; and to facilitate interaction with the larger international community of people involved in conservation science and implementation.
   Funding provided: stipend, internship fees (if there are any), to-and-fro international travel (with a cap of USD 1,500 for travel).
3. Small Grants program for a conservation research or implementation project within India: The Program will fund up to 4 recipients to carry out an initial project of up to 1 yr that is expected to lead to a longer-term conservation science and/or implementation project. Thus, this program provides “seed money” for what may ordinarily be viewed as an unconventional or risky project. Recipients of an initial Small Grant may apply for follow-up funding; when doing so, they must demonstrate the success of the pilot project and show how subsequent funding is essential to bring out the conservation benefits of the project. Activities funded by the Small Grants program should ordinarily be carried out in India. Where appropriate, applicants for a small grant are encouraged to consider and include the potential role that local communities can play in conservation.
   Funding provided: stipend and project expenses (not exceeding Rs 2 lakh per year in total).

Note that Masters and Internship fellows are not eligible for project/research funding.

Who can apply for this scholarship ?

Ravi Sankaran Fellowships are open to Indian nationals (who must also be resident in India at the time of applying) with a demonstrated deep interest in wildlife ecology and conservation through some sort of prior involvement in this field. Applicants must hold a Bachelors degree in any subject, and should normally be below 30 years of age on the first of July in the year of application.

Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to conservation and strongly justify how the fellowship will further conservation in India. Small Grant applicants must also submit a project proposal with budget. Full details accompany the application form for the specific activity.

All complete applications received will be screened by a committee, who will then shortlist candidates for interview. If you are shortlisted, we will send you details of travel, venue, etc. No interviews will be conducted for Small Grants applications. Interviews for Masters and Internship applicants usually take place in Mumbai or Delhi at the end of May or early June. Decisions on all three fellowship activities will be announced shortly thereafter.

Fellowship recipients must submit a detailed Interim Report every year, and a Final Report at the end of their term. All reports must contain an accounting of funds spent. Fellows retain all rights over information generated during their tenure. Fellows must acknowledge support received from the “Ravi Sankaran Fellowship” when and where they publish this work.

How can you apply ?

Application form should be downloaded, filled and send by post.

Apply

Application materials for 2016 are available below. The deadline for receiving completed applications is 15 April 2016.

There is a separate application form for each activity funded by the Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program. Please download and use the appropriate form for your application. All application forms are in Microsoft Word format.

• Master’s abroad
• Internship abroad
• Small Grant

Instructions on filling in and submitting the forms are contained within these files. Some fields have a word limit; please make sure you do not exceed this limit. In addition, please note:

• Type out your answers to all questions in the space provided (note that the space will expand if needed), then print out your form, add your signature and photograph, and courier a hard copy of the completed form to the Inlaks address below. The completed form should reach us on or before the deadline.
• Master’s and Internship applicants must enclose a letter of acceptance from the host institution.
• We will contact your referees directly — please ask them not to send their letters until they have heard directly from us.
• Application materials must be sent in hard copy. Emailed applications will be ignored.

FAQs

1. I am already pursuing a Master’s or PhD degree in India. Can I still apply for an international internship?
Yes, so long as you provide a letter from the head of your institution in India allowing you to take up your proposed internship.

2. Are host institutions for a Master’s degree abroad restricted to those in certain countries?
No, there is no restriction, but your host institution must have a track record of excellence in the discipline of your proposed Master’s degree.

3. What is the age restriction for applicants?
The age restriction for the Ravi Shankaran Fellowship Program is the same as that for the regular Inlaks Scholarships, which is that you must ordinarily be below 30 years of age on the first of July in the year of application.

4. Are applications accepted by email or in other electronic form?
No, applications must be completed, printed and sent in hard copy to the Inlaks Foundation office in Mumbai.

Terms and Conditions

Fellowships for young conservationists
The Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Program has several aims. One is to build capacity by facilitating the training of students in reputed international universities and institutions. This strategy is based on the recognition that a wide exposure to wildlife science and to conservation models from other parts of the world is needed to infuse Indian conservation with new ideas and approaches for greatest effectiveness. Such exposure includes, but is not limited to, work done towards an academic degree, which is why the Fellowship is offered for both Masters degrees and practical internships. An additional goal of the Fellowship is to provide small amounts of funding for the initial phases of new and perhaps controversial or risky work in conservation. This is based on the success of other small-grants programs, like the Rufford Small Grants, in kick-starting the work of large numbers of young, dynamic, and creative conservationists.

Important documents

RSFP-INLAKS-Application-MastersAbroad-2016-5401.doc

Important Links

• Original website
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