Geraldine Knight Scott Traveling Scholarship
PURPOSE
This award was established by Geraldine Knight Scott, one of the earliest graduates of the LAEP department, to provide funds for outstanding students to pursue significant travel after graduation.
The objective of the fellowship is to provide sufficient funds to an outstanding student of the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of California at Berkeley, for significant travel after graduation. The concept of significant travel does not imply geographical extent, but a clear travel objective is essential, and preferably should include at least one cultural milieu different than that of the Fellow. This cultural milieu typically is but need not be outside the United States.
The amount of the award will be substantial enough, in the words of the benefactress, to be “sufficient in itself to provide for a modest living and travel expense” for approximately six months. As expressed in the fund's terms, “it is the donor’s aim ... that selected students may, early in their careers, have the opportunity to travel, observe, and study.”
FUND BACKGROUND
Geraldine Scott's experiences as a student and the value of her travels in Europe thereafter are documented in her oral history (located in the CED Library). For twenty‐two months, Mrs. Scott traveled, often alone, “the better to see and record” through the cities, small towns, and landscapes of Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. She measured the great gardens and urban spaces, visited museums to see classic paintings, sculptures and investigated the new ideas in art and architecture. Above all, Mrs. Scott experienced the expression of culture and the sense of place. Throughout her life, with her husband, Mellier Scott, planner and author, Mrs. Scott traveled widely in Europe, South America, and Asia, finding value in what she saw in a particular place and in understanding why it looked the way it did. The adaptation of site, public place design, house and garden form, etc. helped clarify for Mrs. Scott what she should be doing in her own culture and in her professional practice.
SUMMARY OF APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- A brief statement indicating that all degree requirements (including thesis/professional project or comp exam studio for graduate students);
- An unofficial UC Berkeley transcript of academic work to date (obtained from Cal Central);
- Portfolio containing examples of course work undertaken at Berkeley. These may be design and graphic works, research papers, or other evidence of creativity and academic interests. All submission should be in an 8‐1/2” X 11” folder (vertical format). If group projects are included, the applicant’s contribution must be clearly identified;
- A four‐page essay (8‐1/2” X 11”, single spaced) describing the applicant’s intent as to use of the fellowship and the objective of proposed travel. Applicant must have developed a research topic or model/theme for his/her travel. What is the research question and what does the applicant expect to learn? Applicant must have developed his/her sites (sites must be “doable” and related to study goals). This should include information on where the applicant will go and why; a research and literature review; and, a clear statement of how the research question will be answered; and
- A one‐page detailed budget. Budget amounts must have been substantiated by applicant by actual quotes for airline fares, rental car rates, lodging/hotels, etc. for proposed countries of travel. Budget should be attached to the four‐page essay. If the budget proposal exceeds the available funds from the Scott award, the applicant must identify personal or other sources of funding adequate to complete the intended travel project. Funding for individual 2023 Scott Traveling Fellowships can be anticipated in the range of $2,000 to $10,000.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
The ideal award recipient will have a (1) well developed plan of study around a clear research topic, appropriate method of observation, recording, and synthesis, (2) realistic travel plan appropriate to the project proposal, (3) discussion of relevant literature, and (4) list of deliverable products.
AWARD REQUIREMENTS
The ideal award recipient will have a (1) well developed plan of study around a clear research topic, appropriate method of observation, recording, and synthesis, (2) realistic travel plan appropriate to the project proposal, (3) discussion of relevant literature, and (4) list of deliverable products.