The Weed Society of Victoria
Carthamus lanatus

Carthamus lanatus

Travel Grants Guidelines

Applications for the next round of WSV travel grants close on 28 February 2008. Applicants will be advised within 4 weeks of the outcome.

There are two types of travel grants which are supported or provided by the Weed Society of Victoria (WSV): grants awarded by the Council of Australasian Weed Societies (CAWS) and the WSV travel grants. Through supporting or providing the travel grants the WSV aims to:

  • support the exchange of information and ideas based on weed research and practice
  • encourage the study of weeds and the dissemination of findings
  • encourage cooperation and networking
  • promote the Weed Society of Victoria.

Council of Australasian Weed Societies Travel Awards

There are two CAWS travel awards:

  • Annual student travel award
  • Annual early career weed scientist travel award.

The purpose of the travel awards is to support students and early career scientists to attend national or international conferences, or to undertake specific overseas study tours of a short duration. CAWS travel awards are made available annually, or less frequently depending on the standard of the applications.

Eligibility

The travel awards are open to students or early career scientists residing in Australia or New Zealand. Members of societies affiliated with CAWS may be given preference.

The Annual Student Travel Award is made to undergraduate, Master, PhD or other postgraduate students, or those who have completed their studies in the previous twelve months at the date of application. Those studying in the fields of agriculture, botany, biology, ecology, horticulture and forestry or related subjects, with some focus on weed science are encouraged to apply. The value of this award is up to $3,000.

The Annual Early Career Weed Scientist Travel Award is made to early-career weed scientists who have, at the date of application, completed their last degree (degree, honours degree, Master, PhD or other postgraduate degree) within the last five years. Applicants will have also commenced employment in any branch of weed science. The value of this award is up to $2,000.

Application Process

Applications are to be completed using the Annual Student Travel Award or Annual Early Career Weed Scientist Award application form available on this page. Applications should take into consideration the WSV travel grant guidelines and the information about the awards on the CAWS website. Applications are to be submitted to the WSV Secretary by 1 April for review by the WSV executive committee.

Applications recommended by the WSV executive committee for consideration are submitted to CAWS by 1 May each year. Applicants are also notified of the outcome of the review at this time. The CAWS committee may, at its discretion, extend the deadline of 1 May. The awards are made by CAWS on 1st July each year for the following 12 months. The names of the successful applicants will be published by WSV in Weedscene.

Requirements of recipients

On returning the successful applicant will be expected to give a report to WSV, either as a written report for Weedscene or as part of a seminar, meeting or workshop conducted by WSV. It will be part of the successful applicant's duty to pass on as much information as possible to WSV and it is the right of WSV to specify the format.

WSV Travel Grants

WSV provides travel grants to enable up to two of its members to attend a weeds conference. The WSV travel grants are awarded annually or less frequently depending on the standard of the applications.

Eligibility

Recipients of the grant must have been members of the WSV for at least one year and be current financial members. The grant will not be given to the same person more than once in a ten year period. The grant can be used for the registration fee, travel and accommodation costs to attend the weeds conference. The maximum grant per recipient is $1,500.

Application process

Applications are made using the WSV travel grant application form accompanying these guidelines, which are available on this page. Applications should be brief and include:

  • a summary of the applicant's weed-related work
  • a copy of the abstract of the paper or a summary of the poster, if presenting
  • the anticipated benefits of attending the conference
  • a summary of any involvement in the activities of WSV
  • details of any financial or in-kind assistance which will be provided from other sources to attend the conference
  • the amount of financial assistance being applied for from WSV.

The application is to be made to WSV by 1 May. The deadline of 1 May may be extended at the discretion of the WSV. A panel of three qualified WSV members, appointed by the executive committee, will judge the submissions. The panel will assess each application for the extent to which it meets the aims of the WSV travel grant guidelines and the criteria below:

  • the relevance of the paper or poster to the topic of the conference, if presenting
  • the potential benefits of attending the conference
  • any involvement in WSV
  • the amount of financial assistance being applied for - applications which include details of other support to attend the conference whether financial or in-kind will be considered favourably.

The travel grant is awarded by 1 July for attending the conference in the next 12 months. The names of the successful applicants will be published in Weedscene.

Note: Applications for the next round of WSV travel grants close on 28 February 2008. Applicants will be advised within 4 weeks of the outcome.

Requirements of recipients

Within two months of attending the conference recipients are required to submit a written report suitable for insertion in Weedscene to include:

  • highlights of the conference and
  • benefits of the recipient having attended the conference.

More information

Further information may be found on the Council of Australasian Weed Societies website.

If you would like more information from WSV, please contact the the WSV Secretary by email.

Download

Download the travel grant guidelines and application form.