American Cetacean Society - SF Bay Research Grant Announcement https://www.acs-sfbay.org/research-grant-application *APPLICATION WINDOW: DECEMBER 10, 2025 – FEBRUARY 15, 2026* *AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT: MARCH 2026* *The San Francisco Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society is pleased to announce the 2025 research grant of $2500 [in honor of marine biologist Isidore Szczepaniak]. We are seeking proposals for research on cetaceans on the following geographic area and topics:* *Area of interest*: The California Current Ecosystem and adjacent waters of San Francisco Bay. Marine Protected Areas included in this scope and of special interest are The Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries. *Key Topics of Interest*: Research on the behavior, biology, and distribution of one or more cetacean species living in, migrating through, or dependent on the Area of Interest for biologically important needs such as foraging, mating, calving, or raising young. Proposals can also include topics related to conservation of any species or groups of species being impacted by anthropogenic threats such as ship strike, entanglement, noise, or pollution. Work involving federally Endangered, Threatened, or Depleted species is welcome. A conservation nexus for any proposed work is encouraged but not required as is research involving cetaceans of the Area of Interest and climate change. Research involved that involves museum based studies, reviews and analysis of information in existing databases, and stranded animal studies are also encouraged as they were of special interest to Isidore "Izzy" Szczepaniak. Funding can be used for salaries, equipment, consumable supplies, laboratory supplies and costs, boat fuel and rental, publication and conference fees, software, institutional overhead for any listed expense and travel. Please feel free to contact us if you have any question about allowable expenditures you would like to include in your proposal. -- Susan Hopp, ACS Chapter Board Member / Speaker Program Development https://www.acs-sfbay.org/events *"What we're doing to the oceans, we are doing to ourselves... we need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it. Because they do."* Sylvia Earle