NewsSEARRP Awarded SMBE IDEA Grant to Improve Menstrual Equity in Tropical Fieldwork

SEARRP, in partnership with Dr Nadine Keller, has been awarded the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) grant to develop Period Packs—practical menstrual-health kits designed to support researchers working in remote tropical rainforests.

While scientific research is gender-neutral, field conditions rarely are. Almost half of researchers menstruate, yet many field stations lack basic sanitation facilities, privacy, and safe waste-management options for menstrual products. These gaps create avoidable barriers that can limit the participation, comfort, and safety of menstruating scientists.

The USD 25,000 grant will support the design and workshop-based refinement of Period Packs, field trials across Sabah, and the eventual distribution of these kits to all menstruating researchers and research assistants working with SEARRP. Each Pack will include essential menstrual-health supplies and guidance tailored to the realities of rainforest fieldwork—helping to ensure that no one is at a disadvantage when they are conducting their fieldwork.

This initiative aims to set a new standard for inclusive field research practices and SEARRP looks forward to sharing project outcomes in the year ahead.