Last reviewed September 2, 2026
The Count of Krigsvold Fellowship is an annual $1,000 grant for graduate research in climate change and global conservation. The Count sponsors the award in partnership with the Grand Duchy of Westarctica.
The Fellowship is global rather than polar-only. Climate and conservation problems connect ice sheets, forests, oceans, institutions, biodiversity, and human communities. Projects are judged on the rigor of the research and the importance of the environmental problem they address.
Who may apply
The program is open to master’s and doctoral students worldwide. Exact eligibility, application materials, dates, and recipient responsibilities are published on the official application page. That page controls if its current terms differ from a summary here.
Applicants ordinarily provide a cover letter, a concise research proposal, and a curriculum vitae. The program favors work that combines a defensible method with a clear account of why the result will matter.
What the award supports
The grant is intended to help a graduate researcher carry out the proposed work. The project may address climate change, conservation, biodiversity, restoration, environmental governance, or a closely related field. Geography and discipline are open; scientific and practical seriousness are not.
The award does not make a Fellow an employee, agent, or spokesperson of the Count. Fellows retain responsibility for their research and their views.
Fellows
- Ria Raut, 2026: sapling recruitment and forest recovery in logged and unlogged forests in Sabah, Borneo.
- Sheherazade, 2025: decentralized forest governance and biocultural stewardship in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
See Meet the Fellows for full profiles and the Annual Record for cumulative awards.
Applications
Application timing changes from year to year. Consult Westarctica’s Fellowship page for the next cycle rather than relying on an old announcement. Questions about Krigsvold’s sponsorship may be sent to count@krigsvold.org.