Africa Section Communications/Mentoring Program Interest
The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Africa Section launched the Africa Section Communications/Mentoring Program (funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) at the 2007 International Congress for Conservation Biology, Port Elizabeth, South Africa during the Africa Section AGM. The program goal is to increase the capacity of African student conservation biologists to publish and disseminate their research in international peer-reviewed journals and establish careers in conservation biology for more young African scientists, especially women. Please see the below for more information and application links..
We encourage you to fill the interest form (Word format or pdf format) if you are interested in being a mentor or mentee. Please note that SCB membership is not a requirement for either mentor or mentee; however, preference will be given to SCB members.
Applications will be accepted on a continuing basis. Mentoring matches will endure until DECEMBER; please take note of this when choosing your SPECIFIC task(s). Please note that we can accomodate only 5 pairs of mentor-mentee. Women are strongly encouraged to participate in the program.
Please send interest forms to sawoyemi@gmail.com.
Kind regards,
Stephen Awoyemi
Assistant Program Administrator
Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Africa Section Communications/Mentoring Program
URL: http://www.conbio.org/africa
Mentorship Details:
*Mentors must be holders of a PhD degree or PhD students/conservation professionals with a track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals. They must also have organizational/institutional affiliation with a history or track record of working in Africa./p>
*Mentees may be students or young professionals new at manuscript, proposal or abstract writing or young women who in addition to the aforementioned have other special needs. They should be graduate students or young professionals of African origin and may based anywhere in the world, but their work will be on topics directly applicable to current Africa conservation issues applicable in particular to the Albertine Rift region. Organizational/institutional/academic affiliation is essential. Mentees must be interested in having a mentor, have regular access to computers and internet access, and be able to express themselves through online communication. SCB membership is not a requirement for either mentor or mentee; however, preference will be given to SCB members.
The SCB Africa Section Communications/Mentoring Program funded by the MacArthur Foundation was created to support the increase in publication access for and contribution of African conservation biologists to recognized peer-reviewed journals.
This initiative should expand the pipeline of seasoned African conservation biologists and foster the development of young aspiring professionals in conservation biology. The program will take place mostly within the conduit of the internet across geographical boundaries within Africa and beyond.
What is the program goal?
The program goal is to increase the capacity of African student conservation biologists to publish and disseminate their research in international peer-reviewed journals and to establish careers in conservation biology for more young African scientists, especially women.
Who needs the program?
The program is targeted at African students or conservation biologists new at manuscript, proposal or abstract writing. This is with a view to facilitate the publication and dissemination of research and reports by African conservation biologists. Special needs by African women conservation biologists will also be addressed; i.e. beyond the aforementioned needs, young African women will upon request be mentored on life skills development, career exploration and academic success in a supportive psychological environment.
Who will participate in the program?
The program is open to SCB Africa section members, with a focus on the Albertine Rift nations.
What are the types of mentoring programs that would take place?
The traditional one-one e-mentoring will be the fundamental type of mentoring that will take place. This will be complemented by an e-forum; a web-based discussion group to facilitate group mentoring mediated by a designated member of the Africa section.
What would the program accomplish and what outcomes will result?
Overall Program: Increased capacity of African student conservation biologists to publish and disseminate their research in international peer-reviewed journals and established careers in conservation biology for more young African women.
Mentor: Expand their own network of professionals and students working in Africa, continuity with their own research, sense of satisfaction, increased value as a knowledgeable person, and new skills and fresh perspectives acquisition.
Mentee: Direction (supervision) in achieving research goals, which include: published papers, approved grant proposals, new skills acquisition and fresh perspectives, increased confidence, educational/career advancement etc.
How will the program work?
The program coordinator will match the mentee with a mentor. If no mentors are available immediately, according to the mentees preferences, s/he may be provided with the profiles of mentors most close to her preferences so s/he makes her choice. The program coordinator will check that the mentor is available. Once the mentor's availability is confirmed, the e-mentoring relationship is facilitated immediately. Mentor and mentee can view each others' profiles provided by the program coordinator. The match process will be bi-directional, taking into account not only the mentee's preferences for a mentor, but also the mentor's preferences in a mentee.
As the case may be, mentors will guide mentees electronically through manuscript exchange for editing and review. Mentees as authors, will be assisted by the program with access to publication resources, and may be eligible to request partial financial support in the publishing process by supporting publishers' fees and translation fees. However we would encourage asking for a fee waiver from publishers or selecting journals that don't request payments (e.g. Biological Conservation, British Ecological Society journals, etc).
Mentoring matches will endure for as long 6 months and mentoring pairs will send a minimum of one e-mail per week.
Download the interest form (Word format or pdf format) here and please send completed forms to sawoyemi@gmail.com.
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