The Nature Conservancy Applied Conservation Award

2011 Guidelines

Applications close: Friday July 29 2011

Applications are called for The Nature Conservancy Applied Conservation Award. Each year a grant of $6,000 will be awarded to support the research of a Postgraduate Student working in an area of applied conservation science.  Additional support will be provided for the recipient to attend two ESA conferences.

Download the application form here

Conditions:

Applicants must be

• enrolled as a postgraduate research student at an Australian University,
• working on a project that relates to an Australian conservation issue, and
• a member of the Ecological Society of Australia.

A condition of the award is that the successful applicant must be able to attend ESA11 in Hobart, Tasmania (21-25 November) to accept the award, and the following year at ESA12 in Melbourne to present their work as “The Nature Conservancy Applied Conservation Student Paper”. Registration, accommodation and travel support will be provided as part of the award to assist with attendance at these conferences.

Applications must include the following:

1. Description of the proposed applied conservation research, including background and aims, significance, methods and outcomes (maximum two pages).  This description should include:

• an explanation of how the award would add significantly to the project that is currently planned for the higher degree, and
• how the research will facilitate an improved understanding of ecological responses of Australia’s biota to the impacts of humans and/or facilitate the improved management or protection of Australia’s biodiversity and natural and cultural landscapes.

2. Proposed budget for the grant, including a clear justification for each item of expenditure (maximum one page);

3. A one page reference from the student’s supervisor;

4. A one page assessment of the significance of the proposed research either from an ecologist who is not involved in the project, or from a representative of a relevant end-user organisation.

Application dates:

Applications must be received by the Executive Officer of the Society ExecutiveOfficer@ecolsoc.org.au by Friday July 29 2011.  Applications must be submitted in one PDF document.

Applicants should ensure that their referee’s reports are either included in their application PDF or are supplied directly to the Executive Officer by this date.

A panel comprising ESA members and TNC staff will decide on the award based on its scientific quality and conservation significance. A decision will be announced by early September 2011. The decision of the panel is final.

To become a member of the Ecological Society of Australia visit www.ecolsoc.org.au