The "Humboldt-Bonpland Foundation for Biological Sciences" was established by Prof Dr Hermann Heilmeier (Biology / Ecology working group, Institute of Biosciences at Freiberg University of Mining and Technology) as a sub-foundation of the Günter Heinisch Foundation "Geoscientific Collections" in the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg in 2023.
It was named after the most important graduate of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and "first ecologist", Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), and Humboldt's botanist and travelling companion on his trip to America, Aimé Jacques Alexandre Bonpland (1773-1858).
The purpose of the foundation is to promote teaching and research in the field of organismic biology (recent organismic biology and ecology as well as palaeontology) at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
Funding guidelines
The purpose of the foundation is to be achieved in particular through the following funding opportunities:
- Scholarships for the preparation of Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral theses (material and travel allowances),
- Prizes for outstanding Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral theses,
- organisation of symposia, grants for conference participation.
Applications to the foundation can be submitted by the students themselves and their supervisors. Scholarship applications (including grants for conference participation) and applications for prizes (proposed by university lecturers) are decided by an awards committee on the basis of academic achievements and letters of recommendation. The organisation of symposia in the field of organismic biology is also to be supported, for example through grants for speakers.
Application for scholarships and grants for conference participation and the organisation of symposia:
Application deadline: 31 January of each calendar year
The review process is completed by 30 June of the respective calendar year at the latest.
Structure of the application (if applicable):
1. general information:
- Applicant, institution
- Topic, planned period for project realisation
- Abstract
2. scientific basis
2.1 Current state of research
2.2 Own preliminary work, if applicable
2.3 Literature
3 Objectives
3.1 Questions / hypotheses
3.2 Work programme with timetable
4 Funds applied for
4.1 Small equipment and consumables
4.2 Travelling expenses
4.3 Other costs
5. curriculum vitae, list of publications if applicable
6. attachments (cost estimates, certificates if applicable, etc.)
The application should not exceed five pages (without attachments). It should be sent in electronic form (pdf file) to the following address: heilmei@ioez.tu-freiberg.de
Obligations for scholarship holders
By accepting the scholarship, scholarship holders undertake to fulfil the following obligations:
1. report within one year or publication (in internationally peer-reviewed journal or in Freiberg Ecology Online, https://tu-freiberg.de/fakultaet2/bio/biologie-oekologie/feco-freiberg-ecology-online) within two years after completion of the work
2. contribution to the Foundation's website (abstract with images) and ACAMONTA (approx. 2 manuscript pages including images, electronic transmission to acamonta@tu-freiberg.de)
3. settlement of the scholarship (with receipts)