Up to $1M is available to provide research scientists with access to government grant funding to achieve the goals set out in the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan 2011–12 to 2020–21.
Australian Antarctic Science Program
The Australian Antarctic Science Grant Program provides non-government research scientists (primarily Australian university researchers) with access to government grant funding for high quality research that efficiently, effectively, economically and ethically contributes to achieving the goals set out in the Australian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan 2011–12 to 2020–21.
Background
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is a division of the Department of the Environment and Energy. The AAD is responsible for contributing to the Department’s Outcome 3: ‘Advance Australia’s strategic, scientific, environmental and economic interests in the Antarctic region by protecting, administering and researching the region’, and leads the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP).
The AAD’s primary focus is providing logistical support to enable program participants to undertake field work for approved projects in Antarctica,the subantarctic and the Southern Ocean. This support usually takes the form of transport between Hobart and Antarctica/the subantarctic, accommodation and meals, clothing and kitting, and medical services for expedition participants.
The AAD also manages the Australian Antarctic Science Grant Program, which has been supporting scientific Antarctic research since 1986. The grant program is a component of the overall AASP and all applications, regardless of whether or not they are requesting (or are eligible for) a grant, are assessed through the same application system.
Objective
The expected outcome of the Australian Antarctic Science Grant Program is to deliver high quality research that advances Australia’s strategic, scientific and environmental interests in the Antarctic through four research themes:
- Climate Processes and Change
- Terrestrial and Nearshore Ecosystem: Environmental Change and Conservation
- Southern Ocean Ecosystem: Environmental Change and Conservation
- Frontier Science.
Funding
The Australian Government makes available a total of $1.05 million per year for the Australian Antarctic Science Grant Program. All grant requests are considered to be GST exclusive. No supplementation can be provided once a grant is approved.
Three types of grants are included in the program:
- Research project grants
- minimum of $10,000 will be considered.
- maximum grant funding amount for research project grants is $150,000
- the maximum grant funding period is to four years.
- Co-funded postdoctoral fellowship grants
- maximum grant funding amount for co-funded postdoctoral fellowship grants is $50,000 per year for a maximum of three years for salary (pro-rata amounts will apply to part-time applicants).
- additional $5000 per year may be requested for operating costs to undertake the project.
- RJL Hawke postdoctoral fellowship in Antarctic Environmental Science (one only).
- grant period is two years with a total value up to $200,000 including salary up to $90,000 each year (pro-rata amounts will apply to part-time applicants) and up to $10,000 each year for operating costs to
support the research.
- grant period is two years with a total value up to $200,000 including salary up to $90,000 each year (pro-rata amounts will apply to part-time applicants) and up to $10,000 each year for operating costs to
Eligible Projects
Research project grant applicants can use the grant to pay for:
- Personnel
- Consumables and other items
- Travel and support costs
- Major equipment
Co-funded postdoctoral fellowship applicants can use the grant to pay for:
- Salary
RJL Hawke postdoctoral fellowship applicants can use the grant to pay for:
- Salary
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for an Australian Antarctic Science Grant:
- The applicant, or Chief Investigator (CI), must be from an eligible Australian organisation. Only applicants from eligible institutions can access the grant questions in the application form.
- CIs seeking a grant must meet at least one of the following criteria at the time of application, and for the full term of her/his participation in the project:
- be an employee for at least half time (50 per cent of Full Time Equivalent) at one Australian eligible organisation, or
- be a holder of an Emeritus, Adjunct or equivalent appointment at an Australian eligible organisation and not be employed more than half time (50 per cent of Full Time Equivalent) at another organisation that:
- is outside the higher education sector
- engages in research funded predominantly from state/territory or Australian Government funding sources.
Timing
Applications close 9 October 2018.
