Nominations sought for GBIF’s 2019 Young Researcher Award – Biodiversity Ireland

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) has issued invitations for nominations for the 2019 Young Researchers Award.  The annual programme aims to foster innovative research and discovery in biodiversity informatics by graduate students whose M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies rely on GBIF-mediated data.

The 2019 awards will provide €5,000 prizes recognising the work of two graduate students—preferably one M.Sc. and one Ph.D. candidate—nominated by GBIF Participant countries. The National Biodiversity Data Centre serves as Ireland’s GBIF Node. The GBIF Science Committee will review the nominations received  and select winners of the Young Researchers Awards.

Relevance to Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

The over-riding criteria for this award is that proposals must outline how their research is relevant to, and utilises GBIF-mediated data. The research proposal must, as a minimum:

  1. Outline the research question the study addresses.
  2. Demonstrate how the research study incorporates data mobilised through the GBIF data portal. Students with questions about GBIF-enabled data should work with academic advisors, the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the GBIF Secretariat or members of the Science Committee to increase their understanding.
  3. The scope and methodologies used in the study, including relevant literature and timetable.
  4. If relevant, the application should include a description or an excerpt from a data management plan that outlines how data related to the research is published or will be prepared for publication through the GBIF network to GBIF.org.

The full Award Nomination Packet requirements are available from the link: 2019 Young Researchers Award.

Submission process and deadlines

Students interested in being nominated must submit their applications to Dr. Liam Lysaght, Head of Delegation for Ireland by 17:00hrs on Friday 3rd May, 2019. One of the roles of the Head of Delegation is to review all the application received to ensure they are complete and that they meet the criteria of the Award, before being forwarded to the GBIF Secretariat.  As each Voting Participant can only submit a maximum of two nominations under the award, if more applications are received the Head of Delegation will review all applications and prioritise which is considered to best meet the criteria of the Award. Applications should be emailed to llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie by Friday, 3rd May, 2019 @17:00hrs.

The selection criteria

The criteria for the awards include:

  • Originality and innovation
  • Use of and strategic significance for data accessed through GBIF
  • Measurable effectiveness and impact in advancing biodiversity informatics and/or the conservation of biological diversity

Proposals that are not selected may be updated and resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years.

More information

To find out more information about the Award, and full details of how to submit an application, visit the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 2019 Young Researchers Award page.

To find out more information about the Award, and full details of how to submit an application, visit the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) 2019 Young Researchers Award page.