About the Fellowship - Nepal Conservation Fellows

About the Fellowship

Nepal hosts exceptional biodiversity.  From the tops of the Himalayas to its subtropical lowlands, there is growing demand for applied researchers who are empowered to help tackle Nepal’s mounting conservation challenges.

Yet many emerging conservationists struggle to envision viable careers in this field, including because relevant support and opportunities are often limited. The Nepal Conservation Research Fellowship was launched in 2018 by volunteers at Greenhood Nepal and Lancaster University to provide our colleagues with the academic, professional and social support they need to build successful careers in conservation.

We focus on applied conservation science using a diverse social and natural science methods, in areas such as natural resource management, environmental policy, behavioural change, environmental education. Our community works through:

  • Lab Meetings: Fellows organise monthly lab meetings during which we share research ideas, discuss journal articles, and debate current global and domestic conservation topics.
  • Training: Fellows organise and participate in a range of training opportunities, including in research methods and professional skills such as GIS, statistical analysis, qualitative research methods, and project monitoring and evaluation.
  • Individual research projects: Each Fellow develops their own research project, with the support of their peers and international mentors.
  • International mentorship: Fellows are paired with mentors at universities overseas, aimed at developing long-term collaborations and providing career development advice.
  • Events & networking: Fellows participate in a range of conservation-related and networking events in Nepal. 
  • Support accessing international opportunities: Fellows receive support identifying and applying for opportunities overseas, with recent successes including Chevening Scholarships, acceptances to Masters programmes at Cambridge and Kent Universities, and international conferences.