Giving
Giving to our general fund supports many activities in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department including graduate student scholarships, summer research support, awards recognizing achievement, special initiatives and incentives to attract the very best students.
Give to EEBGive to the Henry S. Fitch Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Through a generous donation from Biology alumnus Jim Mason, the Henry S. Fitch Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship has been established to support students pursuing studies in the fields of ecology and evolution. The scholarship was inspired by the dedication that Dr. Fitch showed to student learning in the classroom and in the field. He was well known for instilling in students an appreciation and enthusiasm for the diversity of organisms found locally, for example at the 590-acre Fitch Natural History Reserve north of Lawrence, and globally. Dr. Fitch (1909-2009) was a KU professor with a research focus in Herpetology from 1948 to 1980. This scholarship gift is a wonderful tribute to his life and passions. It will contribute to the continued education of natural history enthusiasts following in the traditions established by Dr. Fitch.
Give to the Val and Marilyn Smith Graduate Student Support Fund
Through a generous donation from Dr. Val and Marilyn Smith, this fund honors Val’s immense commitment to graduate student training and mentoring. Dr. Val Smith (1950-2016), and professor with the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, helped bolster KU’s reputation in the sciences and contributed significantly to his field during his 23 years at KU. However, Smith’s journey with KU didn’t begin in 1993 as a faculty member. It began almost immediately as a young man when he earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry and met his wife of 43 years, Marilyn, right here on campus. Smith leaves behind a scientific legacy of many papers on aquatic ecology, biofuels and the ecology of infectious diseases. The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography recognized his paper on the influence of nitrogen and phosphorus ratios on the proliferation of blue-green algae as one of the most influential in the field of aquatic science during the 20th century. He also was involved in a major effort to develop algal biofuels as part of KU’s multidisciplinary Feedstock to Tailpipe Initiative. Donations to this fund provide support for graduate students, such as graduate fellowships, travel to national conferences, summer stipends, support for research projects, field work and much more. It continues to honor Val’s commitment to teaching by enabling students to concentrate on their research endeavors.
Give to the Field Science Education Support Fund
Maintaining active field courses at KU is imperative to ensuring a hands-on, immersive experience for our students. The Field Science Education Support Fund was established to do just that. Donations help fund competitive graduate student travel awards as well as our award-winning science-based outreach in Kansas communities. Research support and science outreach programming are at the heart of our mission in EEB. To succeed in our mission, it’s essential we take our students outside and into the field, providing them with firsthand experiences and a trajectory for growth as young researchers and scientists. This fund ensures our students receive those opportunities, from outdoor education and engagement with the community, to interactions with secondary school science and math teachers, support for field research and travel for unique research opportunities. Please consider donating to help mold the foundation of our students’ research literacy and experiences.
