The mission of the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) is to carry out and support research on dragonflies, conserve dragonflies, and engage the public with dragonflies and their wetland habitats. Founded in 1983, the society has grown to include around 1,500 members across the UK and internationally.
The BDS Grant and Research program encourages research to improve understanding of dragonfly biology and guide conservation and management of dragonfly sites. Specifically, it offers grants, including the Corbet Moore Award, to support small odonatological research projects that can further biological or ecological knowledge or support the conservation of British dragonflies. Grants of up to £250 are available for each application, focusing on projects within the UK. Examples of supported projects include investigating the relationship between ditch vegetation and larval hawker dragonflies and monitoring tiny populations of White-faced Darter in Cheshire. These efforts underscore the grants' broader goals of aiding dragonfly conservation and enhancing scientific understanding of these insects.