ACA Research Grants

Eligibility

Anyone qualified to conduct high-quality research (with the appropriate insurance) can apply if they have a suitable research project, with the exception of Federal or Provincial Government employees and ACA staff. Graduate students are eligible to apply. Graduate students can also apply directly to the ACA Grants in Biodiversity; this is often a better option for graduate student projects, due to the level of competition in the ACA Research Grants. Graduate students must provide proof of acceptance in a graduate program including date of entry.

Summary

The ACA Grants Program aims to aid Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) in the delivery of its mission. Grants made to partners are intended to enhance and supplement ACA activities. ACA Research Grants fund high-quality research projects on wildlife, fish and habitat which inform the effective management of wildlife, and fish populations, and their habitat in Alberta.

All applicants to the ACA Research Grants should be aware that this grant is fully funded by the hunters and anglers of Alberta. All proposals should be able to demonstrate how the proposed project will aid ACA in meeting its mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing wildlife, fish, and habitat for all Albertans to enjoy, value, and use. To help direct potential applicants the following list of priority areas has been developed. While the ACA Research Grants will accept applications that do not relate to these suggested areas, projects that address one or more of these priority areas will have a higher probability of being funded than those that do not.

A. Research activities specifically listed on provincial recovery plans for Alberta¿s Endangered species (to be done in cooperation with recovery teams). (See: www.alberta.ca/species-at-risk-resources.aspx).
B. Evaluate the impacts of non-native species on the persistence of native species.
C. Develop and validate inventory tools to determine the relative density and range of wildlife and fish species using innovative detection technologies (e.g., DNA/eDNA, camera traps, and drones).
D. Evaluate the effect of agricultural runoff, pesticides, herbicides, or pharmaceuticals on fish or wildlife species¿ food availability and/or quality in landscapes.
E. Evaluate the effect of recreational access (mode, timing, and duration) on wildlife and fish populations, and habitat.
F. Investigate methods to reduce the spread and/or impact of wildlife- or fish-related diseases.
G. Evaluate the impact of various harvest management regimes on fish or wildlife genetics or demography (e.g., fish size limits, and three-point or larger elk requirements).
H. Support social science stdies of hunting and angling related to demography, attitudes, norms, and practices.
I. Evaluate the effect of biological solutions of carbon sequestration on grasslands and treed lands.
J. Evaluate approaches for improving the abundance of pollinators in agricultural landscapes.
K. Work toward clarifying status of formally designated data deficient species.
L. Demonstrate the efficacy of alternative wetland restoration and mitigation techniques.

Download the ACA Research Grant application form here: 

https://www.ab-conservation.com/grants-program/aca-research-grants/applicant-information/

Complete the Application Form, noting the following:
- Ensure that all sections of the application are complete, clear, and thorough. The format provided must be used. Additional guidance on filling in the application form is provided in Section 5.
- Do not append supporting documents, as these are not used in the review process.
- There is a maximum page limit of 14 pages for ACA Research Grant applications (excluding the cover page and privacy legislation signature page). Please use a legible font size, i.e., nothing smaller than Arial size 11.

Submit your application by e-mailing it to ACA (amy.mackinven@ab-conservation.com) between November 1, 2026 and December 1, 2026 before the deadline Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 4:30pm MDT. 

Funding decisions will be announced to applicants by email by March 31, 2027.

Project activities for 2027-28 grants, must take place between April 1, 2027 and March 31, 2029.

Overhead

Application deadlines

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application