NAMA Scholarships
Funding The Next Generation Of Mycological Scientists & Programs
MycoDAO is committed to nurturing the next generation of mycological scientists by providing annual scholarships to all 80 mycological societies affiliated with the North American Mycological Association (NAMA). These societies, comprising over 15,000 passionate amateur mycologists, are crucial hubs of fungal education, research, and community engagement.
Funding Mycology
Annual Scholarship Allocation
Distribute $2,000 in MYCO tokens annually to each of NAMA’s 80 affiliated societies, totaling $160,000 per year.
DAO-Driven Reviews
Conduct community-based evaluations to ensure each society aligns with MycoDAO's decentralized scientific mission.
Continuous Data Integration
Leverage digital tools like the Myco App for real-time reporting and tracking of scholarship outcomes and fungal research progress.
Overview
The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) is the leading umbrella organization connecting over 80 mycological societies across North America. With a membership base exceeding 15,000 dedicated amateur mycologists, NAMA promotes scientific research, education, and public awareness about fungi.
Many NAMA-affiliated societies, independently fund scholarships, awarding amounts often exceeding $1,000 annually to support local university students pursuing careers in mycology.
MycoDAO is partnering with the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), which connects over 15,000 amateur mycologists across 80 regional societies, to expand and enhance the impact of the existing scholarship initiatives such as the Dr. James W. Kimbrough Scholarship. Currently, NAMA provides scholarships like the Dr. James C. MacLennan Foray Travel Scholarship, distributing $9,000 among local and regional societies for attendees in need and $1,000 for subsidizing travel to NAMA events. MycoDAO will elevate this model by providing an annual scholarship of $2,000 to each of NAMA’s 80 affiliated societies, totaling $160,000 per year, after review for alignment with MycoDAO’s decentralized scientific vision.
By strategically funding these scholarships, MycoDAO aims to strengthen the educational pipeline for mycology, attracting talented students and securing the future of fungal science. This effort not only supports young scientists pursuing higher education at local universities but also integrates the vast network of passionate volunteers into the MycoDAO ecosystem. In doing so, MycoDAO aims to significantly enhance the research capacity, educational outreach, and community impact of the largest mycological volunteer network in North America.
Leveraging digital and crypto tools, such as the MYCO token, MycoDAO enhances transparency, incentivizes broader community participation, and creates new monetization pathways for educational and mycological research activities. By integrating blockchain-based governance and token rewards, MycoDAO aims to drive engagement, ensure efficient fund allocation, and foster a new generation of decentralized, collaborative fungal science.
Execution and Technologies
Blockchain-Based Scholarship Management
Utilize the MYCO token and blockchain smart contracts to transparently allocate and track scholarship funds across NAMA-affiliated societies.
Digital Community Integration
Implement decentralized voting and community engagement through digital platforms like Discord and the Myco App, enhancing participation among amateur mycologists.
Tokenized Incentive Systems
Provide MYCO token rewards for scholarship recipients who contribute valuable mycological research data, reinforcing a cycle of continuous scientific discovery and community growth.
Outcomes and Benefits
• Enhanced Educational Impact: MycoDAO's expanded scholarship initiative increases financial accessibility, directly supporting student researchers and driving growth in mycological expertise across North America.
• Strengthened Community Network: Digital tools like the MYCO token and Myco App foster deeper engagement and collaboration among the extensive NAMA community, amplifying citizen science initiatives.
• Scalable Scientific Impact: By decentralizing scholarship management and research funding, MycoDAO enables more transparent, efficient, and impactful distribution of resources, significantly advancing fungal science and biotechnology.
Timeline
Phase 1 (3 Mo)
1. Establish partnerships with NAMA and initiate community outreach programs, introducing scholarship management via blockchain and the MYCO token.
2. Deploy digital tools and create initial educational resources for societies to seamlessly integrate into MycoDAO’s decentralized ecosystem.
3. Launch the first round of annual $2,000 scholarships to each of the 80 affiliated societies, following community-based reviews.
Phase 2 (6 Mo)
1. Increase community participation through the Myco App, offering MYCO token rewards for contributions to mycological research and data collection.
2. Hold virtual workshops and decentralized voting events via Discord and Telegram, enhancing transparency and member engagement within the NAMA societies.
3. Begin gathering data from initial scholarship outcomes to optimize and scale future allocations and educational initiatives.
Phase 3 (6-9 Mo)
1. Establish robust data integration systems for continuous feedback from scholarship recipients, leveraging blockchain to ensure transparency and accountability.
2. Strengthen collaboration with universities, researchers, and citizen scientists through incentivized programs and tokenized rewards for participation and research contribution.
3. Expand the DAO governance model to fully decentralize scholarship funding decisions, empowering all NAMA affiliates in ongoing scientific and community-driven fungal research efforts.
Project Partners
Do you have a project that needs our support?
If you are a mycologist, mushroom farmer, biologist or are interested in working on some fungi science, reach out to us and submit a proposal!
Submit Proposal
