The Save Our Seas Foundation funds and supports marine and ocean research, conservation, and education projects worldwide. Projects have to focus on charismatic threatened wildlife and their habitats, with a particular concern for marine chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, skates, sawfishes, and chimaeras). The usual project duration is limited to three years with a grant average of US$25 thousand per year. The next application period (Stage I) is 13 May 2026. Keystone Grants
individuals
L’Oréal-UNESCO — Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa
The Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO invite applications for the For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme to support young women researchers across the region. This program is open to female PhD students and post-doctoral researchers who are citizens of one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries and are conducting research there. Eligible fields include formal and life sciences, environmental and physical sciences, and engineering and technological sciences. The program will award 30 grants of €10 thousand to doctoral students and eight grants of €15 thousand to post-doctoral researchers, alongside leadership and communication training. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2026. Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa
Morris Animal Foundation — Veterinary Student Scholar Program
The Morris Animal Foundation supports research on animal health and welfare, including wildlife/exotics. The Foundation provides veterinary students with the opportunity to become involved in mentored research that advances the health and/or welfare of companion animals and wildlife exotics. The Veterinary Student Scholars program awards stipends up to US$5 thousand to veterinary students. The program is open to currently enrolled veterinary students from all around the world. Applications are due 20 May 2026. Veterinary Student Scholar Program
Fondation Yves Rocher — Photography Award, Environment and the Planet 2026
The Yves Rocher Foundation’s Photography Award is awarded to a professional photographer who wishes to make a journalistic study of issues relating to the environment, humanity’s relationship with the planet, or the core challenges to sustainability. Eligibility extends to professional photojournalists who can write and speak in French or English. The winner will receive an award of €8 thousand. The closing date for applications is 20 May 2026. Prix Photo
UNESCO — Visual Storytelling Competition
UNESCO invites young people to participate in a visual storytelling competition “Capture the Future: Global Youth Storytelling Initiative for People and Nature”. The program seeks original photography and video submissions from individuals aged 18 to 35 from all countries. Participants should submit visual stories about the relationship between people and nature in UNESCO biosphere reserves. All winners will receive a smartphone designed for high-quality photography and an invitation to join an intensive visual storytelling training camp. The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2026. Know more
MDPI — Water Young Investigator Award
The journal Water invites nominations for the Young Investigator Award to recognize outstanding achievements by early-career researchers in water science, technology, management, and governance. To be eligible, nominees must have received their PhD no more than 10 years prior to 30 June 2026 and must be nominated by two established senior scientists. The first-prize winner receives CHF 2,000, while the second-prize winner receives CHF 1,500. The award is open to researchers worldwide who have made significant contributions to the field through groundbreaking research. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2026. More
Global Humane Society — International Prize for Species Conservation
The Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation honors exceptional conservation scientists who have made significant contributions to combating biodiversity loss and advancing species protection. The recipient will receive an unrestricted grant of US$80 thousand, participate in a global media campaign, and be recognized at an award ceremony. Applicants must be conservation scientists who have made demonstrable, long-term impacts in preserving ecosystems and species. The application deadline is 01 June 2026. Prize for Species Conservation
Stiftung Entrepreneurship — Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2026
The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) invites entrepreneurs from all around the world to submit innovative answers and ideas to solve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Young entrepreneurs (age 15-35) submit their ideas and projects in the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship category. Entrepreneurs over 30 years apply to the Adult Citizen Entrepreneurship category. The winners receive a certificate and international recognition. The deadline for entries is 05 June 2026. About the competition
Leakey Foundation — Research on Primates
The Leakey Foundation funds research related to human origins. This includes research on primate biology, ecology, and behavior. The majority of research grants awarded to doctoral students range from US$3 thousand to US$20 thousand. Larger projects by senior scientists and post-doctoral students may be funded up to US$30 thousand. There are no citizenship restrictions. The next application deadline is 15 July 2026. Find out more
American Association for the Advancement of Science — Science and SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists 2026
The SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists rewards outstanding early-career researchers. The prize is awarded annually to four young scientists for research performed while they were graduate students in the fields of cell and molecular biology, genomics, proteomics and systems biology, ecology and evolution, or molecular medicine. Applicants must have been awarded their PhD between 01 January 2023 and 31 December 2024. The grand prize winner receives US$30 thousand, and each of the three category winners receives US$10 thousand. Additionally, the grand prize-winning essay is published in Science, and the category winners’ essays are published online.The deadline for entries is 15 July 2026. SciLifeLab Prize