Field Inclusive Names 2026 Research Grant Recipient
February 24, 2026 | FIELD INCLUSIVE
For immediate release
Contact: Field Inclusive; info@fieldinclusive.org
Mel Baldino (she/they) is the recipient of a 2026 Field Inclusive (FI) Research Grant.
This research grant, in the amount of $500, helps to support applicants who participate in natural science field work. Grants can be used towards equipment purchases, field housing, transportation, or technician salary. This year’s grant was sponsored by New Hope Bird Alliance.
Mel Baldino (she/they) is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley in the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management department. Her passion for exploring and protecting natural systems began in childhood, where she spent her time surrounded by commercial fishermen and community members that relied on their island home for their livelihood. Over the past 10 years as a field ecologist, their research focuses have expanded to conservation, restoration, and management of ecosystems ranging from tropical cloud forests and high desert rangeland to agricultural fields and coastal wetlands. As she has traversed rugged terrain in hopes of better understanding threatened spaces, she has fought to increase accessibility and inclusion in scientific research and education. Now, as a member of Dr. Iryna Dronova’s lab, she studies the impacts of carbon sequestration focused wetland restoration on other aspects of the wetland health and function. Using field surveys, drone flights, audio recordings, and satellite imagery, they investigate avian biodiversity, environmental heterogeneity, succession, and productivity in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. She is passionate about creating inclusive and safe teaching and fieldwork experiences for undergraduates and professional scientists.
“Baldino’s application was compelling and set the bar high, and fit the mission and goals of Field Inclusive perfectly due to their involvement in creating field safety resources and their efforts to promote a culture of safety within their university” says Lauren D. Pharr, co-founder and Field Inclusive CFO. “
Field Inclusive plans to open the next call for applications in October of 2026.
Read more about the research grants.
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