Each year, the Blomidon Naturalists Society awards the Merritt Gibson Natural History and Environmental Award to a full-time honours or graduate Acadia University student, in the Departments of Biology or Earth and Environmental Science. This scholarship serves to support aspiring naturalists in their endeavours to understand and protect the environment.

Blomidon Naturalists Society is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within our community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Candidates who belong to equity-deserving groups are particularly encouraged to apply; including women, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities and other equity-deserving individuals. Candidates who identify as being from any of these groups are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify in their application materials. 

The student must show a strong academic record and a research interest in natural history, the environment, and/or conservation.

We are now accepting applications for the year 2023! Click on the link below for full details and how to apply. The deadline is end of the day April 22nd. https://forms.gle/ETzMdLtrWcSCrWnv7

Any questions, please email coordinator@blomidonnaturalists.ca.

Past Recipients & Research

2022: Luca Voscort

Effects of imidacloprid basal bark sprays for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) control on native pollinator communities in old eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests in southwest Nova Scotia, Canada (Masters project)

2020: Victoria Ivey
2019: Riley Scanlan
Locating old growth forests in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia with a review of forest management and legislation
2018: (1) Rebecca Dodge and (2) Makenzie O’Quinn
(1) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in ex situ populations of Eastern Mountain Avens, Geum peckii Pursh (Rosaceae) from Nova Scotia, Canada
(2) Mu Na Kesinukutiwek: engaging the ‘Sick Indian’ with perspectives of Mi’kmaq on healing and sickness.
2017: (1) Michael Adams and (2) Carter Feltham
(1) Application of a multi-hydrophone drifter and porpoise detection software for monitoring Atlantic harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) activity in and near Minas Passage
(2)
2016: (1) Tyler d’Entremont and (2) Sarah Fancy
(1) Examining Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Spartina patens Aiton and Spartina alterniflora Loisel in the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia
(2) Investigations of ex situ strategies for the conservation of Geum peckii (Eastern Mountain Avens)