The Michael Taylor Memorial Award
History and purpose
In memory of Michael Taylor, former president and life member of the Tararua Tramping Club, the Michael Taylor Memorial Award will be annually awarded to a Victoria University of Wellington student to support conservation research in the Wellington region. Together, we acknowledge the value of the future academic achievements and contributions that these award recipients will make, both to the University and to the wider community. We are grateful to the Tararua Tramping Club for establishing such an opportunity.
The purpose of the award is to support a postgraduate student (Masters or PhD) with their associated research costs e.g. transport costs / extra research equipment to support them in the pursuit of active conservation field research, focused on the Wellington region.
Who is eligible?
- Applicants research projects must focus on conservation, biodiversity and restoration ecology
- Students must be enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time, in a Masters or PhD programme
- Their project must take place in and focus on the Wellington region
Selection criteria
- Preference will be given to students originally from Wellington
- Recipients will be selected based on the merit of their application and research project.
- Preference may be given to students who are already currently enrolled or have their enrolment for the awarding year confirmed.
Scholarship specific documentation
- Research proposal, to include:
- An outline of the scope of the project
- A simple timeline of research activity
- How the funding will enhance the quality of the research
- How the project fits the donors wishes
- The applicant's supervisory team (including external collaborators where appropriate)
- A simple budget including the amount requested and including any other major sources of funding.
- A statement of support from a current or proposed supervisor (to be requested via the online application).
Application process
A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.
Selection process
A shortlist of potential recipients will be decided by Directors of the Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration and Ecology.
The final recipient will then be chosen from this shortlist by the Tararua Tramping Club.
Additional information
- The award recipient will also be granted one year of membership to the Tararua Tramping Club
- Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for the Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
- The recipient will provide a written report and thank you letter after the year following their award to be submitted to the Tararua Tramping Club
- The recipient will be required to present a summary of their research to the Tararua Tramping Club at a club meeting during the year they hold the award.
Conditions
- All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being enrolled in a full-year programme, within the criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
- The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
- The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other University awards.
- Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
- Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
- At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.
Contact
Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04