Awards Supporting the Future of Lepidoptera Conservation
The Xerces Society offers annual awards to support students pursuing educational research in Lepidoptera conservation. We're investing in the future of our planet and our field by sponsoring the next generation of butterfly and moth conservationists through these grants.
The Xerces Society typically grants two awards to support students pursuing education and research into Lepidoptera conservation. Award amounts are determined annually, and the application period opens in the autumn.
One recent awardee’s research investigated the effects of pesticides used in cattle medications on Lepidoptera that feed on plants found in livestock pastures.
Another recent awardee focused on how moths like this Virginia ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) can benefit from strategies that provide resources for pollinators in urban areas.
The Xerces Society's roots are in butterfly conservation, before we expanded to invertebrates overall.
Lepidoptera conservation research can focus on any element of these important animals.
The Xerces Society is now accepting applications for two awards to support students pursuing education and research into Lepidoptera conservation. This year there will be two awards of $5,000 each, along with two ‘honorable mention’ awards. The application period is currently open through December 1, 2026. Full instructions are available here.
Submission Requirements
The DeWind Awards are given to students who are engaged in studies and research leading to a university degree related to Lepidoptera conservation and who intend to continue to work in this field. All proposals must be written by the student researcher. Proposed research should have a clear connection to Lepidoptera conservation and must be completed within one year from receiving funds. Applicants may be graduate or undergraduate students; however, please note that all but one awardee, to date, have been pursuing graduate research. Applications from countries outside the United States will be considered but must be written in English and international applicant work cannot involve work in the United States.
Submission Deadline for 2026 Awards
The submission deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST. Award winners will be announced by March 15, 2027, with initial award payments received by recipients by June 2027.
Instructions for Submitting the Proposal
All proposals must be submitted by email to [email protected]. Download the complete instructions for writing and submitting a proposal.
Joan DeWind Scholarship Application Instructions
Joan Mosenthal DeWind was a pioneering member of the Xerces Society. A psychiatric social worker by profession, she was also an avid butterfly gardener and an accomplished amateur lepidopterist. Her contributions of time, organizational expertise, and financial support were essential to the early growth and success of the Xerces Society, and helped found a robust organization that continued to expand in the decades since and become a conservation leader. Joan also had a keen interest in young people, supporting what became the Young Entomologists’ Society. In Joan’s memory, Bill DeWind established this student research endowment fund. The Xerces Society administers two awards each year for research into Lepidoptera conservation.
