Nature Saskatchewan is pleased to offer two graduate student scholarships aimed at students in the fields of biology, ecology, wildlife management, environmental education, and environmental studies, including social sciences applied to the advancement of conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
The Robert W. Nero Memorial Scholarship
The Robert W. Nero Memorial Scholarship, in the amount of $3,000, will be awarded in 2027 to support a graduate student attending a post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan. This scholarship is aimed at students in the fields of biology, ecology, wildlife management, environmental education, and environmental studies, including social sciences applied to the advancement of conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
The Robert W. Nero Memorial Scholarship was established to honour the profound impact that mentorship, curiosity, and opportunity can have on a young person's life. Inspired by a lifelong passion for birds and natural history, and by the guidance and encouragement of Dr. Bob Nero, the scholarship recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of naturalists, conservationists, and scientists.
Reflecting on his generous contribution, Ross Lein shared that the scholarship is both a tribute to an influential mentor and a way of giving back to Nature Saskatchewan (formerly the Saskatchewan Natural History Society), an organization that played a pivotal role in shaping his career and lifelong commitment to ornithology and conservation. Made possible through Dr. Lein's generosity, the scholarship will help inspire and support graduate students pursuing studies in natural history, conservation, and related fields for years to come.
The scholarship is granted to students whose studies align with the goals of Nature Saskatchewan: to promote appreciation and understanding of our natural environment, as well as to support research aimed at protecting and conserving natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. Our organization is committed to the sustainable use of Saskatchewan's natural heritage, ensuring the survival of all native species and representative natural areas, while maintaining healthy and diverse wildlife populations throughout the province. We strive to educate and stimulate research that enhances knowledge of all aspects of the natural world, with a special emphasis on research that addresses current conservation challenges.
The Robert W. Nero Memorial Scholarship was established through the generous contributions of Dr. M. Ross Lein as a way of recognizing the influence and impacts of his mentor, Robert W. Nero, and the Saskatchewan Natural History Society (Nature Saskatchewan), both of which helped shape Dr. Lein's career and life path. Robert W. (Bob) Nero (1922-2023) arrived in Saskatchewan in July 1955, fresh from the completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, to take up the position of Assistant Director of the new Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History (now the Royal Saskatchewan Museum). In October 1955 the Museum hosted the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Natural History Society (now Nature Saskatchewan). At that meeting Bob met many of the province's ornithologists, birders, and naturalists, beginning a long and productive association with the Society. He served the Society as Vice-President and President (1957-1961) and Director (1963-1968), and as Editor and Associate Editor of Blue Jay (1963-1976). His contributions to the Society were recognized when he was made a Fellow, twice, in 1988 and in 1999. He was also the recipient of the SNHS Conservation Award (1981) and the Cliff Shaw Memorial Award (1984) for his studies of the Great Gray Owl in Manitoba. Bob left the Museum in 1961 to join the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus (later the University of Regina). In 1966 he moved to Winnipeg to become Chief of the Natural History Division of the new Manitoba Museum of Natural History. He joined the Manitoba government in 1970 and worked in the Conservation Extension Division and as a Wetlands Development Specialist and Nongame Wildlife Specialist in the Wildlife Branch until his retirement in 1991. Throughout his life and his moves, Bob remained a strong supporter of the S.N.H.S and Nature Saskatchewan. Between 1956 and 2014 he published more than 200 papers, notes, reviews, and poems in Blue Jay. He also authored three of the Society's Special Publications (Birds of the Lake Athabasca Region, Saskatchewan, No.5, 1963; The Birds of Northeastern Saskatchewan, No. 6, 1967; and Birds of Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan, No 7, 1971). Bob offered encouragement and support to naturalists, birders, and ornithologists during his years in Saskatchewan. This was especially true for a group of teenaged birders from small towns who met him through the Society. He involved Gary Anweiler (Melville), Glen Fox (Kindersley), Ross Lein (Estevan), Bohdan Pylypek (Yellow Creek), and Spencer Sealy (North Battleford) in his ornithological surveys of northeastern Saskatchewan and Moose Mountain. All of them went on to pursue careers in biology. Interested readers can access a more extensive biographical account of Bob Nero in Blue Jay Vol.81, No 3, Fall 2923. Please include the following documents: Application Deadline: December 31, 2026 Please submit your completed application to the Scholarship Committee: info@naturesask.ca - or - Nature Saskatchewan
Winner Announced: January 31, 2027
206-1860 Lorne Street
Regina, SK S4P 2L7
The Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Scholarship
The Nature Saskatchewan Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Scholarship, in the amount of $3,000, will be awarded in 2027 to support a graduate student attending a post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan. This scholarship is aimed at students in the fields of biology, ecology, wildlife management, environmental education, and environmental studies, including social sciences applied to the advancement of conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
The scholarship is granted to students whose studies align with the goals of Nature Saskatchewan: to promote appreciation and understanding of our natural environment, as well as to support research aimed at protecting and conserving natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. Our organization is committed to the sustainable use of Saskatchewan's natural heritage, ensuring the survival of all native species and representative natural areas, while maintaining healthy and diverse wildlife populations throughout the province. We strive to educate and stimulate research that enhances knowledge of all aspects of the natural world, with a special emphasis on research that addresses current conservation challenges.
In 2011 our Graduate Student Scholarship was renamed in honor of Margaret Skeel, the retiring manager of Nature Saskatchewan. This name change recognizes her outstanding contribution to the organization from 1997 to 2011. Margaret expanded Nature Saskatchewan programs from the initial Operation Burrowing Owl to an array of successful landowner stewardship programs. She also initiated programs in other education and conservation areas and established partnerships on the national as well as the international level. Since Nature Saskatchewan assumed management of Last Mountain Bird Observatory in 2008, Margaret was involved in building support and programming there. Her managerial skill and exceptional grant writing ability provided the basis for these programs, many of which continue today. The renamed scholarship also recognizes that, to develop and deliver these programs, Margaret annually hired and mentored numerous university students beginning their careers in the biological sciences. Please include the following documents: Application Deadline: December 31, 2026 Please submit your completed application to the Scholarship Committee: info@naturesask.ca - or - Nature Saskatchewan
Winner Announced: January 31, 2027
206-1860 Lorne Street
Regina, SK S4P 2L7
Funds from either the Robert W. Nero Memorial Scholarship or the Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Scholarship must be applied to tuition and related costs at the designated institution. For more information, please contact our office via email or by phone at 306-780-9273 (in Regina) or 1-800-667-4668.