The NatureNet Science Fellows Program was a two-year fellowship from The Nature Conservancy designed for promising early-career scientists and engineers working at the intersection of conservation, climate, technology, economics and society. While the program is no longer accepting applications, its fellowship model, eligibility profile and previous research projects remain useful for researchers exploring conservation science opportunities.
NatureNet Science Fellows Program
The NatureNet Science Fellows Program was created by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to help develop a new generation of interdisciplinary conservation science leaders.
The programme connected academic research with practical conservation challenges, allowing fellows to work on research projects with direct applications to TNC priorities. The programme description emphasizes the need for conservation science that can address complex environmental challenges involving climate change, biodiversity, natural resources, food, water and energy.
Important update: The Nature Conservancy’s current programme page states that the NatureNet program is no longer taking applications.
For researchers researching past fellowship programmes, however, NatureNet provides an interesting example of how conservation organisations can combine academic expertise, field research and practical environmental problem-solving.
Background & Fellowship Description
The NatureNet fellowship was designed around the idea that environmental challenges require collaboration across scientific disciplines and closer connections between research and conservation practice.
The programme brought together areas such as ecology, biology and natural-resource management with disciplines including climatology, physics, economics, business, chemistry and engineering.
This interdisciplinary approach was intended to help researchers develop evidence-based solutions that could be tested and applied to real-world conservation problems.
The fellowship also provided a bridge between traditional academic career pathways and practical conservation work. Fellows could bring their specialist scientific expertise into projects designed to generate direct conservation impact.
Fellowship Duration and Mentorship
According to the programme information, NatureNet Science Fellows received two-year fellowships.
Each fellow was jointly mentored by:
- A TNC field practitioner
- A senior scholar from a university or accredited research institution
The research project was expected to have direct application to particular TNC priorities and goals.
This dual-mentorship model was an important feature because it connected academic research standards with practical conservation experience.
Rather than focusing exclusively on theoretical research, fellows had opportunities to test theories in the field and develop work with potential applications to conservation policy, management and implementation.
What Did NatureNet Fellows Work On?
The fellowship supported research covering a wide range of conservation and climate-related challenges.
Previous projects included research into:
- Climate change
- Clean energy
- Water management
- Sustainable agriculture
- Biodiversity
- Forest conservation
- Ocean conservation
- Natural infrastructure
- Sustainable energy
- Conservation technology
- Ecosystem services
- Land-use planning
The programme’s historical cohorts demonstrate the breadth of research supported.
For example, previous projects examined water funds, agricultural biodiversity, urban conservation, sustainable livestock grazing, energy infrastructure and nanotechnology for sustainable energy.
Later cohorts investigated issues including climate-smart agriculture, carbon storage, renewable energy technologies, rare-earth recycling, remote sensing and climate adaptation.
Ideal NatureNet Candidate
The programme described its ideal candidates as outstanding early-career scientists and engineers capable of combining academic research with real-world conservation applications.
Two characteristics were particularly emphasized.
First, candidates were expected to strengthen and expand their research capabilities while addressing problems at the intersection of climate, conservation, business, technology and people.
Second, candidates were expected to demonstrate a commitment to professional development, including training in areas such as science communication, working-group facilitation and leadership.
This makes the programme particularly relevant as a historical example for researchers interested in interdisciplinary environmental science.
Professional Development and Networking
NatureNet was not limited to research.
The programme also provided professional development and networking opportunities intended to help fellows establish long-term relationships with researchers, conservation practitioners and other professionals.
Fellows could potentially build connections beyond the fellowship itself through TNC’s networks and its relationships with universities and other institutions.
The programme also highlighted the organisation’s work across multiple levels of conservation, including science and research, community engagement and policy implementation.
Examples of Research Projects
The historical cohorts demonstrate how the fellowship translated scientific expertise into practical conservation questions.
One previous project explored how sustainable livestock grazing strategies could support pastoral livelihoods while improving environmental conservation in Kenya. Another investigated approaches for implementing energy infrastructure while minimizing impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Other fellows examined sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, water quality, renewable energy and nanotechnology-based approaches to clean water and energy.
The 2016 cohort placed a particularly strong emphasis on climate change. Projects included climate-smart agricultural planning, rare-earth recycling for clean-energy technologies, forest carbon storage and climate adaptation using remote sensing.
These examples demonstrate the programme’s emphasis on research that could potentially contribute to measurable environmental outcomes.
Conservation Science and Career Development
NatureNet’s model illustrates why interdisciplinary skills can be valuable for environmental researchers.
Modern conservation challenges frequently involve multiple dimensions simultaneously. A project dealing with climate resilience, for example, can require ecological knowledge alongside economics, technology, social science, policy analysis or data science.
The programme therefore sought researchers who could work across traditional disciplinary boundaries and translate scientific findings into practical conservation strategies.
For early-career researchers, experience connecting scientific research with implementation can also provide a foundation for careers in:
- Conservation science
- Environmental research
- Climate policy
- Sustainability
- Government agencies
- Academia
- International NGOs
- Environmental consulting
- Natural-resource management
The programme specifically noted that its professional development and networking could help fellows pursue careers at TNC, in academia, government agencies or other NGOs.
Is the NatureNet Science Fellowship Open Now?
No.
The current Nature Conservancy programme page explicitly states that the NatureNet program is no longer taking applications.
Therefore, applicants should not treat historical NatureNet fellowship information as an active 2026 application opportunity.
Researchers interested in similar opportunities can instead explore current conservation science fellowships, climate research programmes and environmental funding opportunities offered by universities, research institutions, NGOs and international organisations.
The Nature Conservancy page retains historical information about the fellowship, including previous cohorts, research projects, programme resources and contact information.
Why Researchers Should Watch for Similar Fellowships
Although NatureNet is no longer accepting applications, its structure provides useful guidance for researchers seeking comparable opportunities.
Strong conservation fellowships may look for candidates who can demonstrate:
- Strong research capabilities
- Interdisciplinary thinking
- A clearly defined environmental problem
- Practical applications for research findings
- Interest in climate or conservation
- Scientific communication skills
- Collaboration with practitioners
- Leadership potential
- Commitment to professional development
Researchers preparing for future opportunities should therefore consider developing both their academic profile and their ability to demonstrate how their research can contribute to real-world environmental outcomes.
Final Thoughts
The NatureNet Science Fellows Program represented an interdisciplinary approach to developing conservation scientists and engineers. Its two-year fellowship model combined academic mentorship, field-practitioner guidance, applied research, professional development and networking.
Its historical projects covered major environmental priorities ranging from climate change and sustainable agriculture to water management, biodiversity, clean energy and conservation technology.
However, applicants should be aware that NatureNet is currently closed to new applications. The programme page explicitly confirms that applications are no longer being accepted.
For TheGlobeNest readers, the programme is best presented as a past fellowship and a reference point for researchers looking for similar conservation science and climate research opportunities, rather than as an active fellowship for 2026.
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