Gippsland’s bright, young scientists, researchers and innovators are being encouraged to apply for up to $22,000 to help fund their research project ideas.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said more than 220 young thinkers had received almost $3.5 million in grants since the Science and Innovation Awards were launched in 2001.
“This is a chance for young minds working to solve problems facing the agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries to submit their research project ideas for a chance to share up to $242,000,” Mr Chester said.
“Gippsland is an important and growing hub for agriculture, fisheries and forestry. There’s plenty of important research work to be done to find ways to help these local industries to continue to grow and thrive.”
Applications will be accepted in 11 categories. They are: cotton; dairy; established, new and emerging rural industries; fisheries and aquaculture; grains; health and biosecurity; meat and livestock; pork; red meat processing; viticulture and oenology; and wool.
“This year’s winners included a researcher from Wangaratta and another who grew up on a dairy farm in Victoria’s south-west. I am encouraging young Gippslanders undertaking study or research in these fields to see if their project might qualify for award funding,” Mr Chester said.
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.”
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.
Applications close on October 13. For information, visit agriculture.gov.au/scienceawards.
