BOTANY 2025 - Hardship Awards

Recent changes enacted by the US government have had an adverse effect on scientific funding and infrastructure. Some have lost jobs or their funding to travel to meetings is suddenly uncertain or unavailable. In addition, others may have caregiver duties that make it difficult to travel and attend conferences.

The BSA wants to make our conference as accessible as possible to those experiencing hardship due to these or other factors. BSA is offering a limited number of Hardship Travel Awards to support attendance at BOTANY 2025 – Botany without Barriers, held July 26-30, 2025, in Palm Springs, California.

These awards are intended to help cover costs including transportation, lodging, and conference registration. Awards may also cover caregiver costs for a dependent. Award amounts will be determined based on financial need as well as benefit of attendance to the applicant as expressed in their application. Funding will be distributed as equitably as possible to assist the greatest number of applicants. Awards will range between $500-$1500.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be current BSA Professional, Community College, PostDoc or Affiliate members and must present a talk or poster at the conference. Graduate students are not eligible for this award. As part of the award application, applicants must submit a CV as one PDF file and a combined PDF containing their Statement of Need (300-word limit) and Itemized Budget Request.

Funds will be disbursed on-site during the event with the presentation of receipts. To learn more about this award, click here.