The Science Collaborative works in close partnership with the NERRS and provides opportunities that support reserve staff at different scales and stages in collaborative science. The following grant and learning opportunities are available to the reserves and their partners to advance collaborative science for coastal health and resilience.
| Professional Learning: Getting Started with Collaborative Science | Reserve Capacity Building Grants | Understanding Impact Initiative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Learning and strengthening skills at the earliest stages of CS with a cohort | Advancing reserve CS project ideas towards the development of a future proposal | Advancing capacity to capture and explain impacts while exploring them in prior CS projects |
| Who | 1 participant per reserve | 1 grant per reserve | 2 individuals per project; at least 1 reserve staff member |
| Funding | $1,500 / participant | $15,000 / reserve | $10,000 / project |
| Duration | March - December 2026 | 1 year | March - December 2026 |
| Key Dates | Registration due: February 20, 2026 | Applications due:
| Applications due: February 27, 2026 |
| Anticipated Impact | Reserve staff strengthen skills needed to participate in collaborative science projects | Reserves are better positioned to develop collaborative science proposals | Participants strengthen their ability to capture, explain, and communicate collaborative science outcomes |
In this video, we explain the three opportunities available in 2026 at a high level and share answers to questions that may be top of mind as you consider whether an opportunity is right for you.