Washington, D.C. --- The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program has been developing leaders in the field of conservation science since 1997. The scholarship program is a collaboration among Canon U.S.A., Inc. (Canon); the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); and the National Park Service (NPS). A recently released report: Training the Next Generation of Conservation Scientists provides details about the status and many accomplishments of Canon National Parks Science Scholars. These include: · 53 of 54 Canon Scholars have graduated or are on schedule to graduate within three years · Canon Scholars come from 7 countries and 42 universities; 66% are women · Canon Scholars have conducted or are doing research in 69 national parks · Over 215 scientific articles have been authored or co-authored by Canon Scholars · Canon Scholars are working as tenure-track professors, post-doc scientists, park managers, environmental organization professionals, and government scientists

The classes of 2002-2003 are finishing their studies, the class of 2004 is just beginning their work, and the class of 2005 will be selected and awarded early this fall, 2005. As their projects are completed, National Park managers will be able to use the findings generated by these Canon Scholars to help them develop more effective conservation strategies.

“The extensive and valuable research information provided for our park managers through the Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program is truly wonderful,” said National Park Service Director Fran Mainella. “I am very happy that this report shows just how vital the Canon National Parks Science Scholars research is to the preservation and understanding of national park resources. This partnership, consisting of students, universities, Canon U.S.A., Inc., the AAAS, and the NPS has gone a long way in expanding the role of science in conserving national parks.”

The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program’s goal is to encourage the best and brightest graduate students in all relevant disciplines to conduct research important to the future of national parks. Established in 1997 by Canon, the AAAS, and the National Park Service in an effort to advance the role of science in managing the national parks, the program attracts the best doctoral students to conduct research in national parks. The program

(more) expanded internationally in 2002 to include the United States, Canada, Mexico, the countries of Central and South America, and the countries of the Caribbean.

The expanded program annually awards eight individual scholarships (each worth $78,000 over three years) to Ph.D. students from throughout the Americas. Scholars are selected from the disciplines of biological sciences, physical sciences, social/cultural sciences, and technology innovation in support of conservation science. A panel of international scientists is convened by the AAAS to review student proposals and select the award winners. The scholarships provide these students with resources to conduct research critical to conserving the national parks of the Americas.

Canon’s commitment to the Canon National Parks Science Scholars program now totals more than $5.5 million. Since 1990, the company’s environmental philanthropy has exceeded $30 million, establishing Canon as one of the largest corporate supporters of environmental education and conservation. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Canon is a global leader in sustainable development and is committed to the protection of the global environment. For more information about Canon U.S.A., Inc., reporters are invited to contact Mike Virgintino, (516) 328-4926, mvirgintino@cusa.canon.com. 

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science (www.sciencemag.org).  AAAS was founded in 1848, and serves some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of one million. The non-profit AAAS (www.aaas.org) is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education; and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org,  the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS. For more information about AAAS, reporters are invited to contact Ginger Pinholster, 202-326-6421, gpinhols@aaas.org. 

The National Park Service’s mission statement is to preserve roughly 83 million acres in 388 national parks for the enjoyment of future generations. Their duty is honorable, extraordinary, complex, and technical. The variety, scope, and size of the parks managed by the NPS require scientific knowledge and expertise in biodiversity and natural resource management. The research conducted by the Canon Scholars contributes to this scientific knowledge in national parks across the Americas.

For more information about the report or the program contact Dr. Gary Machlis, Program Coordinator, Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MIB-3130, Washington, D.C. 20240; telephone: (202) 208-5391; or email: gmachlis@uidaho.edu. 

The special report, Training the Next Generation of Conservation Scientists, can be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/csp_report/index.html