The Canterbury Branch of the Royal Society has been
proud to support a variety of awards relating to
fostering an interest in and assisting the careers of
young people in science.
See below for the Guidelines for the Travel and Research
Awards. Reports from previous beneficiaries of the
RSNZCB awards can be accessed via the links at the left,
as can information on Science Fair Awards.
For many years the Canterbury Branch of the Royal
Society of New Zealand has made travel awards to young
scientists to present their work at conferences. The
Branch's resources are limited, the awards have not
been large, but have assisted applicants in personal
scientific research projects, and have enabled many to
present the results of their studies at conferences,
both in New Zealand and overseas.
The Student Travel Awards scheme currently operates on
a monthly basis from February to November.
Applications for consideration should reach the branch
by the first of each month. Applicants will be
notified around the middle of the month after the
monthly council meeting. Funds will be distributed
among applicants up to the indicated maximum values.
Guidelines (Revised June 2023)
-
Awards are regarded as Grants-in-Aid to assist New
Zealand citizens*, in particular those unable to
obtain significant assistance from other sources.
Awards are not normally available for the
presentation of research associated with full-time
employment.
-
Awards are normally made to young scientists based
at a tertiary institution in Canterbury, New Zealand
who are engaged in thesis work and will present
their results at scientific meetings. In some cases
this can include students completing their final
year of a Bachelors Honours degree, e.g. BSc(Hons),
BE (Hons), BAgSc(Hons).
Awards may also be available where an opportunity
becomes available during the course of study (but
not when planned at the commencement of the study)
for a student to visit a research institution or
similar that would benefit the applicants thesis
research
-
Travel awards will normally be not more than
$400 for New Zealand conferences,
$700 for Australia/South Pacific,
$1000 for Perth and Pacific rim and
$1250 for rest of world,
Australia. If an award has been granted previously
then a $1250 "lifetime" maximum will normally be
applied.
-
If there is a significant shortfall between the
total of grants received and the costs of travel a
supplemental amount up to 50% of the amount awarded
may be granted. The extra amount will help towards
60% of costs but not more. This supplement is
generally available to those without significant
other support for their study. This may be applied
for when all grants and costs are known by the
applicant who should then contact the awards
subcommittee with appropriate details.
-
No award will be made for an application directly
relating to logistic support for thesis study.
-
Applications should be made at least
4 weeks in advance of the conference.
Deadlines will be the 8th of each month. Decisions
will usually be made within a month of each
deadline.
*Proof of Citizenship is required with the
application, a scan or photocopy of the photo page of
you application f
ort is sufficient. If you are not travelling
internationally and don't have a passport then please
contact us for advice.
Application Form
Download the Guidelines and Application form (Word 50kb
or
PDF 132kb) and Mail or Email (preferred) to the Travel Awards
Sub-Committee, Canterbury Branch RSNZ, PO Box 8558,
Riccarton, Christchurch Email:
awards@royalsocietycanterbury.org.nz.
Science Promotion Grants
In addition to Travel Awards, the Canterbury Branch
of the Royal Society of New Zealand will from time
to time make small Research and Science Promotion
Grants. These are intended to encourage the
promotion of Canterbury Science by funding small
research and educational projects. The total amount
that is granted each year will be dependent of the
funding available to the branch
Guidelines (Revised October 2011)
-
Awards are regarded as Grants-in-Aid to assist, in
particular, those unable to obtain significant
assistance from other sources.
-
Applications can be in any field of science
(including medicine), should be for purposes
consistent with the objects of the branch as
stated in our constitution: �to advance and
promote science, technology and philosophy� and
have a Canterbury connection.
-
Typically grants will be no more than $1000 but
higher applications may be considered on their
merits.
-
Awards are intended for one-off projects and maybe
for small items of equipment but not for large
items of capital expenditure. They not intended to
be used to support ongoing costs or as a
contribution to institutional running costs.
However, awards may be made to institutions for a
particular purpose.
-
Grants may be made for conference prizes. Examples
may be departmental student conferences or
national organizations holding and annual
conference in Christchurch
Conditions of Awards
-
Awards may only be used for the purpose stated in
the application, or as otherwise agreed by the
RSNZ Canterbury Branch.
-
A report suitable for publication in the Branch
Newsletter, covering the project or recipients
will be submitted at the completion of the
project.
Application
In considering whether to make an application a
potential applicant should contact the branch
secretary with a short summary (no more than half a
page) to ascertain whether funding is available and
the procedure to make a more formal application
(which may depend on the nature of the proposal).
In recent years, grants have been made to:
Cotter Medical Trust: Contribution to Microscope
collection purchase
Bush Telly: Stand at Ellerslie Garden Show (with
natural science emphasis)
Prof Mike Roche/Canterbury University Press:
Publication of Prof. Jobberens collected papers
Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust: to support their research
(of a speaker we had)
Earlier projects to gain support:
Publication of a book an Canterbury caving
Support for the Rutherford Pickering Memorial in
Havelock
