Contact: J. C. Varekamp Telephone: 860-685-2248 jvarekamp@wesleyan.edu

The Wesleyan University Mellon Summer Environmental Studies Research Program provides fellowships ($3300.- for a nine week stipend) for undergraduate students that enable them to carry out summer research on environmental topics. For the summer of 2006 there are 6 Mellon Fellowships available to work with faculty mentors in the sciences, SiSP, Economics or Government on topics dealing with Environmental Issues. An application form should be sent to Johan C. Varekamp, Mellon Coordinator, E&ES before 15 April.

The core of the Mellon Summer Program consists of fellows who do research with their research advisors, but there are also several programmatic activities throughout the summer. These activities will run in parallel with the Hughes Summer Program in the Life Sciences, and consist of workshops in presentation skills, weekly seminars, and several shared social events. The program will end with a joint Hughes-Mellon poster session in the lobby of the Science Tower on Friday August 4, where the fellows can share the results of their summer research projects. The Mellon Summer Research program will formally run from June 5 through August 4 (9 weeks). Part-time summer fellowships are possible, and should be evaluated in consultation with the research advisor and the Mellon coordinator (Johan C. Varekamp). Most if not all of the research should be campus-based.

The program starts with a joint picnic with Hughes Fellows (date tba) on the Science Tower patio. This is followed by an orientation meeting with information and sign-up for the Hughes workshops.  A meeting on safety issues is held that same week in 84 Hall-Atwater. Lunch will be provided. All Hughes and Mellon Fellows are required to attend these meetings.

The workshops in presentation and writing skills will take place on Monday afternoon, and each Mellon fellow should attend some of these, after consultation with her/his faculty mentor.   The 2006 Mellon fellows will present their work in  poster sessions on August 4.  Fellows are asked to attend the weekly seminars , each Wednesday at noon (until 1.15 pm) in 107 Shanklin, with some light munchies provided.

The first formal Mellon Fellow meeting/lunch will be on June 5, Monday, at noon in 409 Exley Science Center. This event is most likely preceded by a meeting of the fellows with their individual advisors, because all fellows must submit an abstract describing their planned summer research.

E&ES students perform research in field settings that range from cruises on Long Island Sound to volcanoes in Argentina, as well as tropical forests and rivers, desert terrain, and other remote locations.