(Photo: Grant Callegari)
In memory of Charles Brandt, Comox Valley Nature (the Comox Valley Naturalists Society) is pleased to offer a research grant of $5,000 for environmental research in both the sciences and the humanities. The grant is for one field season ($5,000) to support Honours or Master’s research, or for two field seasons (2 x $5,000) for PhD field research. Applicants must be in the research stage of a thesis-based Honours or Master’s programme or in a PhD research programme with exams completed.
Who was Charles Brandt?
Father Charles Brandt was a graduate of Cornell University who pioneered acoustic ornithology and went on to do important restoration and conservation work in northern areas of Vancouver Island. Accordingly, the grant is to fund Canadian students intending to do field research on the “North Island” which is generally defined as the area north of the Puntledge River, covering Coast Salish, Nu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw territories including both sides of the island to Cape Scott.
Eligibility
Candidates are to be Canadian, preferably studying in departments of Environmental Studies, Earth Sciences, Biology, Geography, Anthropology, Sociology or First Nations Studies at a Canadian University, or other field of study applicable to “environmental studies.” Canadians studying abroad in a field of Environmental Studies, or intending to transfer, are also encouraged to apply.
The candidate’s research cannot be primarily of interest to industry. Furthermore, the candidate must have a demonstrated commitment to the well-being of this planet. To be eligible for this grant, the candidate’s research must involve fundamental studies of the natural world (a non-exhaustive list of examples includes studies of population, species and community ecology, life history, migrations, biogeography, nature in arts and neuroscience and responses to the changing ecosystem). Studies undertaken from the perspective of anthropocentric uses of natural resources are not eligible for this award.
Application process
The inaugural call for grant proposals was issued in the fall of 2025 with the deadline for receipt of applications January 15, 2026 (extended to January 31). Grant applications are reviewed by the CVN Brandt Memorial Fund Committee designated by Comox Valley Nature. The committee may contact potential candidates and their supervisor after the first round of project evaluations for any necessary clarifications. Confirmation of the 2026 grant award will be issued by March 30, 2026.
The application form for the following year’s award will be made available on this website in the fall of the current year.
Expectations
The successful applicant is expected to liaise with the First Nations on whose territories research is to be conducted. They are also expected to submit a short report at the end of each field season and present a 30-minute webinar upon completion of their field season and thesis.
