Criteria for Evaluation and Application Methods Evaluation of Proposals: Projects should make direct contributions to conservation of individual species or habitats, conservation education, applied conservation biology or conservation policy. Scientific rigor and potential for application of results are paramount. Each proposal will be evaluated for its research design, feasibility and breadth of significance to the discipline of conservation biology. Preferences will be given to projects that have links to the zoo's animal collection. Evaluation of each proposal is based on its merit and quality relative to that of all other proposals under consideration. Funding requests should center on support for Latin American researchers, students and field assistants as well as logistical support for North American students. While field costs will be supported at reasonable levels, the fund does not usually support either salaries or the purchase of permanent equipment. Submission Deadline: All application materials must be postmarked by September 1. Late proposals are not considered and will be returned for resubmission at a later date.

How to Apply Send 15 copies of the proposal to: Lincoln Park Zoo Scott Neotropic Fund Director of Conservation and Science 2001 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614-3895 U.S.A. Each Proposal Should Contain: · A title page with the applicant's name, complete address, institutional affiliation, status or job title, degree being sought or highest degree obtained, tax identification or social security number, nationality, telephone number, fax number and electronic mail address. · Literature cited · A one-page non-technical summary of the project, stating the purpose, objectives, procedures, anticipated results, feasibility and the project's overall significance to conservation in Latin America. Include the project title, applicant's name, institutional affiliation and status/title at the top of the page; the desired starting date, total project budget and amount requested from the Lincoln Park Zoo Scott Neotropic Fund at the bottom of the page. · A brief introduction of the project, explaining the rationale for the project, hypotheses, anticipated results and the project's overall significance to conservation in Latin America. · A narrative section, defining the project's specific goals and objectives, the bases for development of hypotheses, and specific applications of the results to conservation and/or conservation biology in Latin America. Include descriptions and justifications of study design, providing 1) sample sizes, 2) statistical analysis, 3) duration of study, 4) general methodology, 5) appropriateness of methods, 6) feasibility of attaining goals with proposed methodology, and 7) plans for implementation of results into conservation action or policy. · A materials and methods section, detailing 1) use and contact with animals, 2) details of unique or complicated data collection methods, 3) Lincoln Park Zoo staff involvement with the project, if applicable, and 4) names and addresses of all students, collaborators and academic sponsors. · A schedule for the project, including 1) the project's initiation date, 2) timetables for data collection and analyzes, 3) completion date for the project, and 4) anticipated date for receipt of a master's or doctorate degree, if applicable. · A summary operating budget for the entire project, exclusive of funds requested from the Lincoln Park Zoo Scott Neotropic Fund. · A detailed budget, including justification for each budgetary category for the amount requested from the Lincoln Park Zoo Scott Neotropic Fund. Identify costs associated with food, lodging, airfare, car rental, fuel, stipends, supplies and permanent equipment.   The following supporting materials also are required as part of the application: · Proof that all necessary permits, such as visas and research permits, have been or can be obtained for the desired time period. · A two-page curriculum vitae or résumé for each of the principal investigators. · At least two letters of recommendation by conservation biologists familiar with both the proposal and applicant(s). The entire proposal, excluding figures, tables and curriculum vitae, should not exceed 15 single-spaced, typewritten pages at 12 characters per inch.