The GCA Desert Studies Award
Award was established in 2006 by the Garden Club of America to
further botany, environmental science, horticulture, and landscape design relating to the
arid landscape. This award is currently administered by the Desert Botanical Garden,
although candidates can apply for internships at any botanical garden or arboretum with a
focus on the arid landscape. While the award is open to undergraduate and graduate
students, to date mainly master or doctoral candidates have benefited.
Recently we have found that undergraduate students from many schools are eager for
work/study programs that provide skills and insight into various career possibilities. The
GCA Desert Studies Award will look to meet this challenge. Now preference will be given to
undergraduate applicants wishing to gain practical field experience—planning and design
for sustainability, rainwater harvesting and plant management, etc. – through structured
internships at various public botanical gardens and arboreta.
We suggest that students contact garden staff from a public garden or arboretum of their
choice to establish a project of interest to both the garden and the student. An internship
can then be created which will be funded by the award. We hope your garden will join with
us to encourage internship projects for arid land studies to meet this need.
In lieu of an internship, applicants can propose a research project beyond the usual course of study. However, internships will be given preference..
Information is attached and at the website :
http://www.dbg.org/scholarships
A flyer to inform students is also included.
If you have questions, please email: kzelov@dbg.org, tel: 480-481- 81