High quality nature science underpins all of our efforts to manage our unique biodiversity for future generations sustainably, and an essential aspect of this is offering research grants for university students, funded by donations from our generous supporters.
 
Since 2000, Nature Foundation has awarded $1,965,786 in research grants to post-graduate students, academics, and the community to kickstart careers in research, supporting 459 students.

This year three student research grants were awarded in the March 2024 round to the value of $40,822.
 
Coinciding with National Science Week (10-18 August 2024), we are excited to share this year's research grant recipients and their projects with you.

Grant Start Grants – Honours

These grants provide up to $2000 for one year to assist an Honours student undertaking research. Projects may be field-based or involve non-field-based research such as geographic information systems, remote sensing-related projects, or data analysis.

Ryan Sauermann

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), University of Melbourne

Ryan’s project aims to develop a comprehensive method for reliably and efficiently quantifying the genetic diversity within Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) populations across Australia. The lack of reliable genetic evidence is a significant barrier to assessing the status of the Fat-tailed Dunnart in states other than Victoria, including South Australia. 

The resulting genetic tool strives to be cost-effective and accessible, enabling its use by conservation practitioners and researchers in South Australia and empowering them to make informed decisions regarding the genetic management and conservation status of Fat-tailed Dunnarts and their habitats, such as those at Witchelina Nature Reserve.

Grand Starts Grants – PhD

PhD/Masters Grand Start Scholarships provide grants of up to $3000 per annum for a maximum of three years to assist a PhD/Masters student undertaking research.

Jack Bilby

PhD, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney

Jack is a repeat recipient of our Grand Start Grants – PhD grant, having received it in 2023 as well. This year’s grant will assist him with continuing his multi-year research project.

Australian arid zone mammals will be subjected to incredible pressures by climate change, and yet we know very little about how they respond to heat.

Jack is investigating how native and invasive terrestrial mammals cope with extreme temperatures and how physiology, phylogeny, behaviour, and land management will impact their ability to survive.

See the report update on Jack’s activities and findings so far here.

Roy and Marjory Edwards Scholarship

This scholarship provides up to $12,000 per annum for up to three years to support a student at an Australian university. This scholarship was initiated in 2002 by a generous donation from Mrs Marjory Edwards to establish a perpetual scholarship in conservation biology.

Rebecca Greening

PhD, The University of Adelaide

Rebecca is a repeat recipient, having received the Nature Foundation Scientific Expedition Foundation RL & GK Willing Grant in 2023, and is now undertaking her PhD which will build on her previous research, investigating livestock-associated soil microbial communities and native plant recruitment in arid rangelands.

Rebecca will use DNA sequencing to identify microbes and metabolomics to elucidate their function, uncover the microbial taxa influencing plant growth in both grazed and ungrazed areas, and discern their beneficial or inhibitory effects.

See the report update on Rebecca’s 2023 grant-funded research here.

We wish all of our 2024 grant recipients well with their research and look forward to bringing you more updates.

Support our Grants Program

Donating today, you can support our Grand Start Grants program, furthering scientific research for nature conservation. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible.

If you are interested in speaking with us regarding establishing a scholarship or similar, please contact our Philanthropy Coordinator, Patrick Mentzel: [email protected]