About
Protecting Acadia National Park in today’s rapidly changing world demands high-quality, forward-looking research, greater access to and engagement with science, communication skills, and increased relevance within and beyond the park.
Through the Acadia Science Fellowship, Schoodic Institute supports a new generation of talented scientists doing innovative, management-relevant research; telling stories of park science that inform, inspire, and reach new audiences; and engage the public in ways that stimulate learning, curiosity, and connection to Acadia and national parks more broadly.
Apply
The deadline for proposals was October 30, 2025.
A webinar overview of the fellowship, the application process, and park research priorities was held on Thursday, September 11.
Please contact asfellow@schoodicinstitute.org with questions about the fellowship or application process.
Support
The Acadia Science Fellowship is a partnership between Schoodic Institute and the National Park Service with support from the David Evans Shaw Family Foundation and the Sibley-Saltonstall Family Foundation as well as individual donors.
Origin
The Acadia Science Fellowship builds on the success of Second Century Stewardship, which enabled twenty early-career researchers to conduct research in Acadia National Park, helping to guide management actions in the park, and supported science communication and citizen science training across the National Park System and celebrated the stories of science in parks between 2016-2023.
Second Century Stewardship was launched on June 25, 2016, when David Shaw announced a $1 million gift to set in motion a vision of the next century’s legacy for America’s national parks. It was a collaboration of Schoodic Institute, National Park Service, National Park Foundation, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the David Evans Shaw Family Foundation. For nearly a decade, the initiative advanced critical science in Acadia and it continues to inspire audiences of all ages by inviting visitors and others to engage with science in parks.
Current & Previous Fellows
- Colby Bosley-Smith, doctoral student at the University of Maine: Tracking Understory Conditions to Predict Forest Futures (2025)
- Veronica Winter, doctoral student at The Pennsylvania State University: Making National Songbird Data Local (2025)
- Peter Howe, University of Maine: Exploring Landscape Change in Acadia with Historical Aerial Imagery and Modern Photogrammetry (2024)
- Marisa Monroe, University of Maine: Informing Management of Amphibian Road Crossings in Acadia National Park (2024)
Meet the twenty fellows supported through Second Century Stewardship (2016-2023) here.