New PhD scholarship for Antarctic research

News release from the Rutherford Foundation of the Royal Society of New Zealand

3 November 2010

New PhD scholarship for Antarctic research announced

A new scholarship worth $200,000 has been established to support a New Zealand student to undertake Antarctic research at the University of Cambridge.

The new Scott Polar Centenary Scholarship is funded by Antarctica New Zealand, the Rutherford Foundation of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

It aims to support an outstanding New Zealander wanting to study for a post-doctorate degree in Antarctic research at the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute in England.

The establishment of the scholarship commemorates the centenary of Captain Scott’s final scientific and exploratory mission to the South Pole in 1911-12.

The PhD scholarship will support research that fits within current research programmes at the Scott Polar Research Institute, and it also encourages collaborative study between Cambridge and New Zealand universities.

Professor Margaret Brimble of the Rutherford Foundation, which will administer the new scholarship, said “Developing collaborations and gaining international experience is important for New Zealanders wanting to establish careers in research.”

Ed Butler of Antarctica New Zealand said “Antarctic research is vital as the polar regions are particularly sensitive to, and also have a significant impact, on weather, oceans and global climate change in response to increasing greenhouse gases.”
Applicants for the Scott Polar Centenary Scholarship will need to apply for entry to the University of Cambridge. The initial scholarship will be for three years.
Applications for the scholarship close on Thursday, 20 January 2011. Applicants must also make an application to the University of Cambridge by 31 December 2010.

The successful applicant will be able to spend some time at a New Zealand university, while their PhD is hosted at the Scott Polar Research Institute in the University of Cambridge.

ENDS

http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/funds/rutherford-foundation/scott-polar-phd/

Background information
The Royal Society of New Zealand established the Rutherford Foundation as a charitable trust to provide funding for PhD education, postdoctoral research and early career development in science. The Foundation is named after Ernest Rutherford who, in 1894, was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship that allowed him to travel overseas to carry out research in physics. He chose to attend the University of Cambridge which had just begun to accept research students from overseas. http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/funds/rutherford-foundation/

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