Фонд IWRS объявил о грантах до 2000 долларов для внедрения инноваций в преподавании биологии беспозвоночных

Deadline: 15-Nov-2026 The IWRS Teaching Innovation Award provides funding to instructors developing or implementing innovative teaching approaches that improve learning while promoting the 3Rs—replacement, reduction, and refinement in the use of invertebrates. Awards provide up to US$2,000 for projects requiring equipment or materials and up to US$1,000 for other teaching innovations, with applications open internationally subject to sanctions-related restrictions. What Is the IWRS Teaching Innovation Award? The IWRS Teaching Innovation Award supports educators who want to improve how invertebrate biology, animal welfare science, and veterinary medicine are taught. The programme focuses on teaching methods that reduce potential harm to invertebrates while maintaining or improving educational quality. The award encourages instructors to reconsider traditional teaching practices involving live or preserved specimens and explore alternatives that are more consistent with modern animal welfare principles. Supported innovations can include: - Digital alternatives to live or killed specimens. - Models and simulations. - Reducing the number of invertebrates used in practical teaching. - Refining laboratory or field procedures to minimise distress. - New curricula addressing invertebrate welfare and sentience. - Innovative approaches to teaching insect and invertebrate biology. - Educational tools that incorporate the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement. What Are the 3Rs in Invertebrate Teaching? The 3Rs are three principles used to promote more responsible approaches to the use of animals in research and education. Replacement Replacement means using alternatives instead of live or killed animals wherever an effective educational alternative exists. Examples include: - Digital simulations. - Virtual specimens. - Anatomical models. - Videos and interactive resources. - Computer-based practical exercises. Reduction Reduction means using fewer animals while still achieving the intended learning objectives. An instructor could, for example, redesign a practical exercise so that students work with fewer specimens without compromising the educational outcome. Refinement Refinement means modifying teaching procedures to minimise distress, discomfort, or other negative welfare impacts. The IWRS award encourages educators to apply these principles specifically to the teaching of invertebrate biology and related subjects. What Types of Teaching Innovations Are Supported? Priority is given to innovations addressing teaching practices that have significant potential welfare implications. Examples include: - Replacing live specimens with digital learning tools. - Replacing killed specimens with physical or virtual models. - Reducing specimen numbers in laboratory classes. - Refining field exercises to reduce disturbance. - Developing new welfare-focused teaching modules. - Introducing lessons on invertebrate sentience. - Creating curriculum resources for animal welfare science. - Developing teaching approaches relevant to veterinary education. - Implementing new tools that can be shared with other educators. The proposed innovation should have a clear educational purpose and demonstrate how it can improve teaching while addressing welfare concerns. How Much Funding Is Available? The award provides different funding levels depending on the nature of the proposal. - Up to US$2,000: For approaches requiring equipment or other materials. - Up to US$1,000: For other teaching innovation proposals. Funding can support costs associated with curriculum development and implementation. Eligible expenses may include: - Teaching tools. - Educational materials. - Equipment. - Curriculum development. - Implementation costs. - Stipends. - Other directly related expenses. Applicants should ensure that their proposed budget is proportionate to the scope of the teaching innovation. Who Is Eligible? The award is intended for instructors teaching content related to insect or invertebrate biology. Eligible applicants may teach in settings such as: - Universities and colleges. - Educational institutions. - Scientific societies. - Museums. - Field-training courses. - Similar educational environments. Applicants can come from any discipline, country, or institution, provided they meet the programme’s requirements. However, applicants from jurisdictions subject to applicable United Nations or United States trade restrictions or sanctions are excluded. IWRS staff and members of the IWRS Advisory Group are also not eligible to apply. Why Does the Award Matter? Traditional teaching methods can sometimes involve the collection, handling, killing, or use of invertebrates in ways that raise welfare concerns. The IWRS Teaching Innovation Award encourages educators to find practical alternatives. This matters because teaching innovations can potentially: - Reduce the number of invertebrates used in education. - Minimise unnecessary harm. - Encourage greater consideration of invertebrate welfare. - Introduce students to emerging approaches in animal welfare science. - Improve consistency with the 3Rs. - Create reusable educational resources. - Encourage other instructors to adopt successful approaches. The programme therefore connects educational innovation with animal welfare and responsible teaching practices. How to Apply Applicants should develop a proposal that clearly explains the educational problem, proposed innovation, welfare implications, and expected learning benefits. 1. Identify a Teaching Practice Start by identifying a current teaching activity involving invertebrates that could be replaced, reduced, or refined. Explain why the existing approach presents a welfare concern or an opportunity for improvement. 2. Describe the Innovation Clearly explain what you plan to change. For example, the proposal could introduce: - A digital replacement for live specimens. - A model-based practical. - A revised field exercise. - A reduced-specimen laboratory activity. - A new welfare and sentience curriculum module. 3. Explain the 3Rs Impact Demonstrate whether the innovation contributes to: - Replacement - Reduction - Refinement Explain specifically how the proposed approach will change the use or treatment of invertebrates. 4. Demonstrate Educational Value The proposal should also explain how students will benefit. Consider describing: - Learning objectives. - Student activities. - Expected learning outcomes. - Assessment methods. - Improvements compared with the existing teaching approach. 5. Prepare the Budget Applicants seeking up to US$2,000 should explain why equipment or materials are necessary. Other proposals can request up to US$1,000. The budget should be realistic and directly connected to implementing the proposed teaching innovation. 6. Explain Dissemination Potential Applications are assessed partly on their potential for broad dissemination and practical application. Applicants should therefore explain how the approach could be shared with: - Other instructors. - Educational institutions. - Scientific societies. - Museums. - Veterinary educators. - Invertebrate biology educators. A solution that can be replicated in other teaching environments may have greater potential impact. How Applications Are Assessed Proposals are assessed against several criteria. Eligibility The applicant and proposed activity must satisfy the programme’s eligibility requirements. Commonality and Welfare Impact The award considers whether the teaching practice is commonly used and whether changing it could meaningfully improve invertebrate welfare. Feasibility Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed innovation can realistically be developed and implemented with the requested funding. Educational Value The proposal should show that the innovation will support meaningful learning outcomes rather than simply replacing an existing activity without educational justification. Dissemination and Practical Application Reviewers consider whether the approach could be adopted or adapted by other educators. Common Mistakes to Avoid Applicants can strengthen their proposals by avoiding several common weaknesses. - Focusing only on animal welfare: Explain both the welfare benefits and educational value. - Not explaining the 3Rs: Clearly identify whether the project involves replacement, reduction, refinement, or a combination. - Providing an unclear innovation: Describe exactly what will change in the teaching activity. - Weak feasibility evidence: Show that the proposed approach can realistically be implemented. - Unclear budget: Link every major cost to curriculum development or implementation. - Ignoring dissemination: Explain how successful resources or methods could be shared. - Using vague outcomes: Define what students will learn and how success will be evaluated. Reporting Requirement Successful applicants must submit a brief report within 60 days after teaching has been completed. Applicants should therefore maintain records throughout implementation, including information about: - Activities completed. - Teaching outcomes. - Student engagement. - 3Rs and welfare improvements. - Challenges encountered. - Lessons learned. - Potential future applications. This information can help demonstrate the practical impact of the funded innovation. Key Facts at a Glance - Award: IWRS Teaching Innovation Award - Focus: Innovative, 3Rs-compliant teaching - Main fields: Invertebrate biology, animal welfare science, veterinary medicine - Maximum award: US$2,000 for projects requiring equipment/materials - Other proposals: Up to US$1,000 - Eligible applicants: Instructors teaching insect or invertebrate biology - Geographic scope: International, subject to sanctions restrictions - Key principles: Replacement, reduction, refinement - Assessment: Eligibility, welfare impact, feasibility, educational value, dissemination potential - Reporting: Brief report within 60 days after teaching is completed Frequently Asked Questions What is the IWRS Teaching Innovation Award? It is a small grant programme supporting instructors who develop or implement innovative teaching approaches that improve education while reducing potential harm to invertebrates. How much funding can applicants receive? Applicants can receive up to US$2,000 for approaches requiring equipment or other materials, while other proposals can receive up to US$1,000. What does 3Rs-compliant teaching mean? It refers to applying the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement to minimise the use and potential harm of invertebrates in educational activities. Who can apply? Instructors teaching insect or invertebrate biology in educational institutions, scientific societies, museums, field-training courses, or similar educational settings can apply, subject to the programme’s eligibility requirements. Can applicants be based outside the United States? Yes. The award is open to applicants from different countries and disciplines, except applicants in jurisdictions subject to applicable United Nations or United States trade restrictions or sanctions. What kinds of projects are most relevant? Projects that replace live or killed specimens, reduce the number of invertebrates used in teaching, refine procedures to minimise distress, or introduce curriculum addressing invertebrate welfare and sentience are particularly relevant. Is a report required after receiving the award? Yes. Successful applicants must submit a brief report within 60 days after the teaching activity is completed. Conclusion The IWRS Teaching Innovation Award offers targeted financial support for educators seeking to make invertebrate biology and related teaching more innovative and welfare-conscious. By supporting replacement, reduction, and refinement, the award encourages practical alternatives to traditional teaching methods while maintaining strong educational outcomes. Educators with a feasible teaching innovation should focus their application on four core points: the welfare problem, the proposed 3Rs-based solution, the educational benefit, and the potential for wider adoption. For more information, visit Insect Welfare Research Society.