Science and Innovation Awards - Victorians have two weeks left to apply
4 June 2007
Science and Innovation Awards – two weeks to apply
Young Victorians with ideas for projects that could benefit Australia’s rural industries, have less than two weeks to apply for up to $10,000 under a national awards program.
Dr Colin Grant, Bureau of Rural Sciences Executive Director encouraged young people from Victoria aged 18 to 35 to apply for the seventh annual 2007 DAFF Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by 15 June.
“Over the seven years the Awards have been running, 100 young people have carried out innovative scientific projects that have benefited our rural industries – including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, natural resource management and food projects,” Dr Grant said.
This year there are 18 Awards on offer; ten sponsored by specific industries and one from each state and territory.
Last year’s Victorian winner, Dr Joanne Devlin, used her Award to develop a new vaccine for infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), a disease that has a significant effect on the chicken industry. “The vaccine appears to have advantages over existing treatments, but to date has only been administered directly into the trachea of birds, which makes it impractical for large poultry farms. Dr Devlin will investigate the feasibility of various other methods of administering the vaccine,” Dr Grant said.
“Winners receive national recognition and industry and media exposure that can boost their career, giving them the start they’ve been looking for.”
All eligible young Australians are encouraged to apply.
The Awards are coordinated by the Bureau of Rural Sciences on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It is the only awards program specifically targeted at young people in rural industries.
The awards are sponsored by the rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) including Australian Pork Ltd, Cotton RDC, Fisheries RDC, Forest & Wood Products RDC, Grains RDC, Grape & Wine RDC, Land & Water Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, the Rural Industries RDC and Sugar RDC.
Applications close on Friday 15 June 2007 and can be lodged online at www.daff.gov.au/scienceawards.
More information: DAFF Media +61 2 6272 3232