Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

Education & Leadership Programs

Main content start

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment is developing global leadership by focusing on skills, knowledge and networks to move ideas into action and support informed decision-making.

This unique strategic approach provides current and emerging leaders – students, scientists and decision-makers – with leadership and communications skills and methods for applying those skills for the greatest impact. The Stanford Woods Institute helps public- and private-sector leaders better understand and use science and innovation to address complex cross-cutting environmental issues, increasing the role of science in decision-making and improving problem-solving for better environmental policies and management practices.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment offers graduate and undergraduate students education and support to advance their research and maximize its impact. Through a variety of training and mentorship programs focused on skills, knowledge and networks, we give students the communications and leadership skills to become global leaders in their fields. Through grants and stipends, we help young researchers move ideas into action.

First Nations' Futures Institute

This fellowship program for young indigenous leaders focuses on building First Nations’ capacity by developing values-based leadership and integrated asset / resource management solutions.

More Information

Forum for Undergraduate Environmental Leadership (FUEL)

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment seeks to advance environmental leadership among Stanford undergraduates and co-terminal students by providing a forum in which a select group of students can meet and network with emerging leaders and seasoned professionals in both the private and public sectors.

More Information

Mel Lane Student Grants Program

Farming Hope, Mel Lane 2017

This program offers grants for Stanford student-driven-and-managed environmental projects that make a measureable impact on sustainability issues through action or applied academic research. Preference is given to projects that focus on environmental sustainability within one of the following topic areas: climate, ecosystem services & conservation, environmental health, environmental justice & equity, food security, freshwater, oceans, and sustainable development generally. We will also consider other areas within climate and sustainability.

More Information

Mentoring Undergraduates in Interdisciplinary Research (MUIR)

MUIR provides stipends to full- and part-time Stanford undergraduate students to conduct interdisciplinary environmental research during the summer. Faculty are welcome to apply on behalf of undergraduates at all levels and from all departments. Students wishing to initiate a project need to approach a faculty member who is willing to apply on the student's behalf.

More Information

Rising Environmental Leaders Program (RELP)

This program helps graduate students and postdoctoral scholars hone their leadership and communications skills to maximize the impact of their research. Professional development opportunities include introductions to global leaders from government, NGOs, think tanks and businesses.

More Information

Stanford Environment and Policy Internships (EPIC)

Stanford Woods Institute identifies leading not-for-profit organizations, and key state and municipal agencies who are addressing pressing environmental issues to create exciting summer fellowship placement opportunities for Stanford undergraduates. The EPIC program has opportunities locally in the Bay Area and throughout California as well as nationwide.

More Information

Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowships (SIGF)

This program awards three-year fellowships to outstanding Stanford doctoral students engaged in interdisciplinary research. It is a competitive university-wide program overseen and administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education. Examples of potential research include interdisciplinary initiatives in bio-x, biomedical research and biosciences, international studies, creativity and the arts, K-12 education and environment, energy and sustainability.

More Information