Scholarships
Antarctica New Zealand is the government agency charged with carrying out New Zealand's activities in Antarctica supporting world leading science and environmental protection. Our vision is: Antarctica and the Southern Ocean - valued, protected, understood. We work to ensure that Antarctica's environment continues to be protected, that scientists are supported to find the answers to complex scientific questions, and that science outcomes are communicated back to policy makers and the public. With almost 60 years' experience working in Antarctica, New Zealand is recognised a leader in the international treaty system, and has a strong commitment to the natural environment.
Demystifying science through strong outreach and education is an essential part of our mandate.
Scope
The scholarship award is expected to contribute towards research costs, travel, fees and living expenses incurred during the scholarship period.
For research that requires a field season in Antarctica, Antarctica New Zealand will cover the costs for the scholar’s transport between Antarctica and Christchurch, living costs at Scott Base or in the field, reasonable transport needs in Antarctica, field equipment supplied at Scott Base, clothing hire and email communications. Accepted proposals may require alterations to logistics requests in order to be supported.
Applications for Antarctic research based on existing data sets or non-field research activities are also welcome.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be accepted into a Masters or Doctoral degree programme at a New Zealand institution at the time of application. Applications are welcomed from New Zealand and international students; however, preference will be given to applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand in the event that two applications are ranked equally by peer review.
Applicants must be part of an existing New Zealand Antarctic event planned for the 2017/18 field season (only for applications that request Antarctic field support). Please discuss this requirement with your supervisor.
Successful applicants who hold or receive a full scholarship (fees + stipend) from their institution during the tenure of a scholarship from the Antarctica New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship Programme will be offered the scholarship at half the advertised value.
Application Procedure
Please note applications for 2017/18 have now closed.
Applications need to include:
1. A completed application form
2. A research proposal (maximum of three pages) which should include:
- An abstract of the proposed research
- A description of the research goals
- An outline of the methodology
- An explanation of how the proposed research relates to the Science Strategy: New Zealand Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Directions and Priorities 2010 – 2020. A copy of this document can be downloaded here.
- A delineation between the proposed work and the overall research goals of the Antarctic event that the project is part of (only applicable for proposals that request Antarctic field support).
3. A 2-page CV.
4. Undergraduate transcript and Masters transcript (if applicable).
5. Evidence of New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency if applicable (copy of passport or birth certificate)
6. Please collate the material above as one PDF file
Additionally, two confidential letters of reference in support of the application are required. One of the letters needs to be from your supervisor and should confirm the date on which you started in the degree programme (Masters or Doctoral).
Applications will be assessed by a panel of experts on scientific merit, relevance to the science strategy, the academic standing of the candidate, and potential to achieve outcomes.
2016 Research Awards
Click here to view the Antarctica New Zealand Science Scholarships 2016 video.
New Zealand Post Antarctic Scholarship: Natalie Pilcher, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Mercury contamination in Adélie and emperor penguins in the Ross Sea: latitudinal, temporal, sexual, age and inter-specific differences.” Click here to hear from Natalie.
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Doctoral Scholarship: Alena Malyarenko, University of Otago/NIWA, PhD - “Interannual Ocean Variability in the Ross Sea.” Click here to hear from Alena.
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Masters Scholarship: Rebecca Parker, University of Otago, MSc - “Sea ice and diatom primary production in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: the response to post-glacial warming.” Click here to hear from Rebecca.
Antarctica New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship: Ekkehard Scheffler, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Analysis of short term variations of glacier flow in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica, observed by new satellite sensors.” Click here to hear from Ekkehard.
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Prize: Marcus Arnold, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Surface Mass Balance of the Ross Ice Shelf: Dating Snow Layers from Radar by Using Stable Isotope Analysis.” Click here to hear from Marcus.
2017 Research Awards
This year, four Masters and Doctoral candidates have been awarded scholarships as follows:
New Zealand Post Antarctic Scholarship
Holly Still, MSc candidate, University of Otago “Small-scale pinning points and their effect on the present and future flow of the Ross Ice Shelf”
Antarctica New Zealand Sir Robin Irvine Scholarships
Daniel Lowry, PhD candidate, Victoria University of Wellington “Climate-forced ice sheet modelling of Ross Ice Shelf deglaciation”
Jacob Anderson, University of Otago“Determining Antarctica’s terrestrial climate history from microbial populations in permafrost”
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Scholarship
Lisa Craw, MSc candidate, University of Otago“Microstructure and mechanics of flowing Antarctic ice”
