Charles H. Turner Award
Beginning in 2002, the Animal Behavior Society created the Charles H. Turner Program for undergraduate participation at the annual Society meetings. This program, previously funded by an NSF grant but now supported entirely by the Animal Behavior Society, is a travel grant that supports the goals of increasing the diversity of our membership. Selected Turner Program Fellows will receive support to travel to the Annual Conference. They will participate in a one-day workshop structured to integrate students into both the meeting experience and the broader community of the Animal Behavior Society.
Charles Turner was one of the very first African-American researchers in animal behavior. Among other things, his research focused on insect sensory biology and task learning. By naming the undergraduate program after him, the ABS Diversity Committee emphasizes its goal to increase the diversity of its membership by encouraging researchers of all ages, levels, and ethnic groups to participate in the annual meetings.
Applicants for the Turner award may be at any stage of their undergraduate career (not secondary school) or recently graduated, but may not have finished their undergraduate degree earlier than the end of the fall semester prior to the annual meeting covered by the award. Turner Awardees who have completed research projects of the quality to produce a poster are encouraged to enter the research in the Genesis Award competition, but poster presentation is not required for selection for the Turner Award. As part of the application process you will be asked to have one individual familiar with your academic or research work submit responses to a recommendation form by the application deadline. The link to submit the recommendation will be sent directly from the ABS to the person you list in your application once the completed application is submitted.
This year's Charles H. Turner Program will engage students in professional development activities, cohort building, and identity tasks that will celebrate the uniqueness of "Being a Turner.” Selectees will work one-on-one with mentors and facilitators, in cohorts of their peers, and in individual reflection to understand how graduate education and membership in the Animal Behavior Society may become part of their professional trajectory. Conference registration, airfare, ground transportation, hotel/lodging, and some meals will be provided for selectees.
Students who are members of groups traditionally under-represented in the sciences are particularly urged to apply (including but not limited to students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, ability/disability status, gender diversity, etc.).
Applications will be accepted through the ABS Online Membership System once it opens. You will be asked to create an ABS account if you are not already a member. Note that ABS membership is free for your first year as an undergraduate ABS member. If you are not already an ABS member, and are an undergraduate student, please email [email protected] with your student ID and current transcript. Once you are in to the ABS Online Conference and Membership System page, click on the link for "Turner Award Submission". You can then follow the instructions to apply to the program.
The Turner Program is managed by the Animal Behavior Society Diversity Committee and with generous funding by the The Animal Behavior Society. Please contact us if you would like to make a donation: [email protected]
Submission Deadline date: March 21, 2025
Learn more about Charles Turner
- Dr. Charles Abramson's website summary
- "Bug Watching with Charles Henry Turner" (a children's book)
