New Zealand Marine Sciences Society

Scholarship Grants

Celebrating the Linnaeus Tercentenary (2007)

and International Polar Year (2007-2009)

The New Zealand Marine Sciences Society (NZMSS) wishes to stimulate new marine research involving postgraduate students based in New Zealand in order to celebrate the Linnaeus Tercentenary (2007) and International Polar Year (2008). To that end, two scholarship grants of $2000 are available.

Applications must be received by the Grant Coordinator by 30 March 2007. They should be submitted as attachments to email addressed to Mark Costello: m.costello@auckland.ac.nz.

Each application should be submitted as two electronic documents:

• Part I is the scientific proposal. It should be (a) anonymous and not provide information to identify the applicants or their institution, (b) no more than 2 pages long, single-spaced, size 12 pt font, and (c) named with a distinctive title unique to the proposal (e.g. <Polar Turbellaria Part 1.doc>). The text should identify what gaps in knowledge the research aims to fill, why these are important, and why the research should be done now.
• Part II contains the contact details of the applicants, including postgraduate students and supervisor(s), and their host institution(s); 1 page CV each for student and supervisor(s); and statements as to (a) why the applicants are well placed to do the proposed research, (b) what the funds will be used for.
• Supplementary material may be provided as an Appendix if felt it is necessary.

Applicants may be existing or candidate postgraduate students of any nationality, but should be based at a New Zealand institution (e.g. university, museum, or company) for the research. During the tenure of the award each applicant must be an enrolled student and a member of NZMSS. Research topic may be in any marine science area. Funds may be used for any purpose that supports the research.

Recipients will present their findings at an NZMSS annual conference at their own expense (but registration fee will be waived), and provide a 1-2 page summary of their findings by email to the NZMSS Secretary in a style suitable as a press release within 1 year of the research being completed. All data from the work will be published in a journal, book, and/or on the world wide web. All publications and presentations will acknowledge that the research was “stimulated by a Scholarship Grant from the New Zealand Marine Science Society”. The applicant and supervisor will provide a signed statement as to the use of the funds within one year of the award. Recipients maintain their eligibility for any future NZMSS grants.

Proposals will be independently reviewed by three referees not associated with any proposals. Referees will not confer until they have ranked proposals. Part 1 proposals will be ranked according to their likelihood of stimulating new research involving graduate students at New Zealand institutions. Referees will only review Part II of proposals where they consider Part 1 of high scientific merit. NZMSS reserves the right to attach additional conditions to awards where the referees feel it desirable. Applicants will be informed if they have or have not been successful.