The call for applications is open for the Travel Enrichment Award. See eligibility requirements and criteria below or click here. Please feel free to distribute to other CWSS/SCM members not in the list, or people that will soon become members. You need to be a CWSS graduate student member to apply.
CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Award description:
The CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Award(s) will provide CWSS/SCM graduate student recipients with a five-day, four-night educational experience of their choosing as described by each participating host (table below). The award will broaden the recipient’s exposure to weed science beyond their educational institution and provide the opportunity to experience weed science in a different province, research program, and/or organization. Each of three awards will consist of $5000 CAD to cover expenses related to the travel enrichment experience.
The objectives of the CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Award(s) are:
- To provide CWSS/SCM graduate students with the opportunity to participate in a five-day, four-night educational experience with weed science professionals in a different province than that of their educational institution.
- To enhance the exposure of CWSS/SCM graduate students to different research programs, farming systems, and/or organizations.
- To develop and encourage networking opportunities between CWSS/SCM graduate students and weed science professionals.
Eligibility requirements:
Applicants must:
- Be a graduate (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) student attending a Canadian university with good academic standing, or a Canadian citizen graduate student (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) attending an international university with good academic standing.
- Be enrolled in a graduate student program with a thesis topic related to weed science.
- Be a registered member of the CWSS/SCM at the time of application.
Note: Awardees might be asked to summarize the travel enrichment experience in a 10–12 minute presentation (Specifics will be provided directly to each recipient).
Applications must include:
A completed application form (see below for an example or click here for downloading the form), including:
- Cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in weed science and the travel enrichment experience (max 1 page).
- Brief CV summary highlighting recent relevant experience (max 1 page).
- Graduate and undergraduate academic transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable).
- Two letters of support, one of which must be from the applicant’s graduate advisor (max 1 page).
Potential hosts:
| HOST | INSTITUTION | LOCATION | EXPERIENCE |
| Dr. Isabelle Aicklen | University of Guelph | Ridgetown, ON | The student will learn about applied weed management and greenhouse research in agronomic crops (corn, soybean, dry beans, cereals, winter canola). There would be the opportunity to connect with growers, retail, private industry, and other groups in the area. |
| Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill | Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | Charlottetown, PEI | Our lab takes an ecological approach to weed management in the unique cropping systems of Atlantic Canada. Topics include horticulture crops, weed biology, weed ecology, plant-plant and plant-soil interactions, cover crops, invasive species, and seedbank management. |
| Dr. Dilshan Benaragama | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg, MB | The Digital Agronomy and Weeds Lab (DAWL) at the University of Manitoba, led by Dr. Benaragama, is working on integrating UAV remote sensing technologies, computer vision technologies, and AI to find data-driven weed management solutions. The key research projects involve developing data-driven weed management decision-making tools and developing tools and strategies for precision weed management using drones and ground sprayers. |
CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Application Form:
Send all applications in a single .pdf document to the CWSS/SCM Scholarships and Awards Chair, Cody Chytyk (cwss.scm.assistant@gmail.com) by October 19, 2025. On the subject field please place your full name followed by: application to the CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Award.
1. Applicant Name: ______________________________________________
2. Selection of Host for the CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience
First Choice: ___________________________________________
Second Choice: ________________________________________
Third Choice: __________________________________________
3. Cover Letter (max 1 page):
4. CV Summary (max 1 page):
5. Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Transcripts: (unofficial copies are acceptable)
6. Two letters of support (max 1 page, each) – these letters are to be sent directly from the two references to the email above, so they will not be part of your pdf document. Please indicate to your references they should place your full name and “CWSS/SCM Travel Enrichment Experience Award support letter” as subject in the email.