Climate Action Training and Summer Dissertation Fellowship, 2024-25

WUICAN (Wildland-Urban Interface Climate Action Network) is a two-year, multicampus initiative that brings together scholars in STEM, social sciences, humanities, and law with community partners to co-create knowledge and climate solutions that ensure a resilient relationship between society and wild landscapes. UCHRI is working with UC Irvine School of Humanities Communications to develop training opportunities for UC graduate students to build their climate communications skills in a locally embedded environmental justice framework.

This summer training and dissertation research opportunity is open to PhD students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences at the University of California. The program includes an eight-day intensive residential experience on the campus of UC Irvine (August 10-18, 2024) and a sequence of virtual workshops and research exchange opportunities (June-August, 2024). Each Summer Fellow will be paired with a WUICAN researcher or community partner, leading to the creation of a communications piece, such as an interview, profile, photo essay, digital story, piece of speculative fiction, or other creative work that reflects the knowledge, commitments, talents, and expertise of both partners. Housing for the residential training program is available for students who live outside the Irvine area.

Summer Intensive Training Program Schedule
Saturday, August 10: Arrival at UC Irvine (for students who require housing)
Sunday, August 11: Program orientation and grant-related social activities
Monday-Friday, August 12-16: On-campus workshops and off-campus site visits
Saturday, August 17: Final Presentations
Sunday, August 18: Departure of non-resident students

Eligible Applicants: UC humanities and humanistic social science PhD students in good standing who have advanced to candidacy
Maximum Award: Up to $7,000 in summer dissertation fellowship funding, as well as travel, lodging, and most meals for the Summer Intensive Training Program. Attendance and participation in the Summer Intensive Training Program, including remote workshops, is a requirement. Please note that the first $4,000 will be disbursed in the early summer and the remaining $3,000 will be transferred after the completion of the Summer Intensive Training Program.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Award Announced (Expected): March 2024
Funding Source: WUICAN and UCHRI/UCOP

Final awards for all of our grants are contingent upon available funding. Funding must be spent in accordance with all applicable UC rules and regulations.

Applications must be submitted online via Submittable by 11:59 PM (Pacific time) on the deadline date.

Application Details

Applicants must be UC humanities and humanistic social science PhD students in good standing who have advanced to candidacy. Applicants must apply online via Submittable. Required documents include:

• Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max)

• Short Biography (200 words max)

• Dissertation Title and Abstract (200 words max)

• Dissertation Description (1,000 words max)

• Optional sample of public humanities or public writing work 

Selection criteria

Successful applicants will demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Dissertation research related to environmental humanities, environmental justice, science, technology and society, or a related field

• Demonstrated interest in public humanities and public writing

• Skills in multimedia composition, photography, creative writing, or other adjacent areas of humanistic expression

For program-related questions, please contact grants@hri.uci.edu. Please include the name of the grant you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

For technical assistance, please contact Submittable at support@submittable.com.