The Ecology Fund supports the Odum School’s greatest needs, providing flexible resources that enhance the student experience, advance research and strengthen our community. Gifts fund student organizations, research opportunities, awards and celebrations, facility improvements and the Dean’s highest priorities, ensuring the school can respond to emerging opportunities. All areas of ecological study are enhanced by this fund.

The Ecology Student Well-Being Scholarships provide emergency assistance to both undergraduate and graduate students facing unexpected financial hardships that may affect their ability to succeed at the Odum School. Established by Interim Dean Sonia Altizer in 2023, gifts help cover urgent needs such as medical expenses, temporary housing, meals and other essential costs, ensuring students can remain focused on their education during challenging times. Distribution is managed by UGA Student Care and Outreach..

Odum Greenlight Scholarships empower both undergraduate and graduate students to turn curiosity into action through fieldwork, study away, nonprofit internships and leadership development. Gifts help remove financial barriers to experiential learning, enabling future ecologists to develop high-demand skills and prepare for meaningful careers. 

Odum Opportunity Scholarships open the door to a promising future. Gifts to this fund expand access to an Odum School education by providing scholarships for undergraduate students with demonstrated need.

The Coastal Georgia Marine Ecology Fund supports immersive learning for both undergraduate and graduate students participating in research and field work on the Georgia coast.

In memory of Odum School graduate student John Spencer, this fund strengthens the Odum School and Jones Center at Ichauway partnership by removing financial barriers to graduate student research in Southwest Georgia. John Spencer Fellowships honor John’s passion for nature by developing a pipeline of future ecologists trained to conserve Georgia’s longleaf pine ecosystems and associated wildlife, water resources and wetlands.

The River Basin Center Fund advances research and partnerships that connect freshwater science to management and policy. Gifts support graduate student research grants and interdisciplinary efforts to understand and protect the rivers, streams, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems that sustain communities, economies and biodiversity. River Basin Center scientists and students address water challenges at local, regional and global scales. This fund helps transform water science into practical solutions for people and the environment.

The Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases Fund supports research and collaboration at the intersection of ecology and health. Gifts advance studies of parasites, disease transmission and emerging health threats, helping ecologists better understand how diseases move through communities, wildlife and ecosystems. The CEID combines ecology, forecasting and data science, to develop solutions that strengthen conservation, improve animal and human health. This fund helps enhance preparedness for future outbreaks and pandemics. 

The Ecology of the Energy Transition initiative promotes interdisciplinary research and student training that apply ecological science to today’s energy challenges. With a focus on agrivoltaics, gifts to this fund advance work exploring how energy systems, land use, agriculture and biodiversity are interconnected.

The Sustainability Leadership Fund expands applied learning and interdisciplinary opportunities grounded in the ecological thinking of the school’s namesake, Eugene Odum. Gifts support hands-on experiences that help students understand the interconnected systems of nature, water, energy, health and human communities, and apply that knowledge to the sustainability challenges of today.

The EcoReach Fund sustains the Odum School’s premier student public service club, EcoReach. The program connects Odum School ecologists to K-12 classrooms. Activities enhance science programs and raise awareness for environmental issues while providing service-learning experiences for future ecological leaders.

The Pollinator Project Fund supports interdisciplinary efforts to translate pollinator research and promote the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems. Gifts provide research grants and travel for students and faculty studying honey bees, native bees and agroecology.

Bulldogs for Bats supports interdisciplinary research and public service focused on conserving Georgia’s native bat species. Gifts advance infectious disease research and public education about bat habitats, safety and ecological importance.