Australia’s young agricultural scientists, innovators and researchers are being invited to submit their innovative agricultural research project ideas for a chance to receive a share in up to $242,000 in grants to help them become a reality.
The 2018 Science and Innovation Awards recognise big ideas that contribute to the success of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said the Science and Innovation Awards encouraged 18-35 year old innovators to undertake new and creative research to help agricultural industries to overcome problems and to realise their potential.
“Australia is a world leader in agricultural innovation, and innovative ideas have allowed Australian agricultural industries to become more competitive, resilient, productive and profitable, and to overcome barriers to growth,” Minister Joyce said.
“Many of these ideas come from young people working or studying in the field, and the Science and Innovation Award grants aim to support early career researchers, scientists and other innovators to develop new approaches to industry issues.”
Applications close on Friday 13 October 2017. The recipients of the awards will be publicly presented as part of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook 2018 conference in Canberra.
For further information on the awards, and on how to apply, visit agriculture.gov.au/scienceawards
Giana Gomes, PhD student and 2016 Winner Minister’s award, is a passionate aquaculture researcher developing on-farm detection of pathogens for aquaculture farmers.
“Receiving this award gave me the opportunity to travel to other research institutes to learn the necessary skills to develop my project […] helped me to be a role model for other women by inspiring sustainable career development in the aquaculture industry.
Since they were launched in 2001, the Science and Innovation Awards have helped more than 220 young researchers, innovators and scientists turn their ideas into reality through almost $3.5 million in grant funding.
11 industry award categories are available in the 2018 round, with each winner to receive a grant of up to $22,000 (including GST).