The Program |

Discover Your Conservation Praxis

The goal of the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Washington is to promote biocultural conservation – a broad endeavor to preserve the integrity of communities, their interdependent members (both humans and other species), and the ecosystems in which they reside. In DDCSP@UW, we center equity and inclusion in nature conservation by applying critical analysis to human interactions with lands, waters, and other species, and by being responsive to the needs and values of all communities. This program integrates multiple academic disciplines and ways of knowing, from a variety of conservation practitioners, to support scholars in finding a conservation practice and career path that is right for them.

The environmental movement has a white face in America due to its traditional disinterest in issues – social justice, civil rights, economic development – that directly impact the daily lives of communities of color.

Chattulani 2008

Final Year of DDCSP

Dear Partners and Supporters,

It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that we write to inform you all that after 10 years, the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) at the University of Washington has accepted the last cohort in 2023 and will close, along with the other two remaining DDCS Programs, after the current scholars finish the program after their summer internships in 2024. Over the last several years, the Environment Program at the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) has sought to advance racial equity in the conservation field through grantmaking to support Indigenous-led conservation and BIPOC-led coalitions and organizations and will double that investment moving forward. As part of this shift in strategic funding, DDF has made the difficult decision to wind down all the DDCSP programs, to end in 2025, after the current cohorts complete their two-year program. The Environment Program staff are proud of this program and extend their appreciation to the staff and partners of the five programs (University of Washington, Collaborative, Northern Arizona University, UC Santa Cruz, and University of Michigan).

While we are saddened by this decision, we are thankful to have worked with the 175 alumni from the UW program and inspired by the success of the five Conservation Scholars Programs nationwide and our community of 740 alumni. Over the last 10 years they have demonstrated strong commitment toward realizing their vision of a more just, equitable, inclusive, and thriving conservation movement. It has been a privilege to be a part of this program, and our work would not have been possible without the support of the people who every year joined us as invited speakers, site hosts, mentors, and advisors. We are grateful to you for being part of the DDCSP family, and for all the ways you have contributed to this program and supported the scholars during a pivotal time in their professional and personal growth. Scholars describe this program is “transformational” and you have been integral to that transformation. We cannot thank you enough.

And we are not at the end yet: DDF has committed to supporting the 2023 cohorts through their internships next summer. We are looking forward to the next, and final, summer internship program, and all the beauty, joy, and learning it will bring. If you are interested in participating as an internship mentor in 2024, please reach out to Melissa (mmmark@uw.edu) or Martha (groom@uw.edu).We will solicit internship project proposals in December and hold a prospective mentor information session January 5th.

The people who have participated in DDCSP are a committed and creative community and we have no doubt that we will continue to find ways to connect and catalyze the change we want to see in the world as individuals and as a collective. If there are ways in which we can assist with making connections, or if you have any questions or curiosities, please let us know.

With Gratitude,

The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Washington

First Summer

Summer Immersion

In our first summer, we critically analyze the intersections of biodiversity conservation, cultural identities, and environmental justice.

Engage with conservation practice across a range of ecological and cultural landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The first summer is designed to expose scholars to a wide range of conservation issues, the complex physical and cultural landscapes that conservation solutions emerge from, and work together to untangle the societal frameworks and forces that drive conservation.

Scholars receive a stipend of $4,600 and food/transportation costs covered by program.

View Summer Immersion

Academic Year

Scholars will participate in monthly activities designed to develop professional and transferable skills in preparation for the second summer internships and beyond.

Second Summer

Applied Internship Experiences

The second summer is an opportunity for scholars to deepen skills, knowledge, and networks within conservation practice.

Design and implement a collaborative internship project with conservation professionals. The second summer is designed to build upon the analysis of the first summer, explore career pathways, and cultivate a community of practice. Concurrent with their internships, scholars also engage in DDCSP@UW programming that aims to strengthen individual and collective agency for change.

Scholars receive a stipend of $4,600 and food/transportation costs covered by program.

View Applied Internship Experiences