Program Area

Science

The Foundation is able to support exceptional and visionary individuals, including those in their early career. Projects often link with the Foundation's Environment & Conservation and Education programs. Research that adds to our understanding and knowledge about Australia's biodiversity is also a high priority.

It is important to read each section prior to downloading the form.

Download Application Form

SCIENCE FUNDING OBJECTIVES

to support high quality scientific research of particular value to the development and enhancement of the economic and ecological sustainability of Australian enterprises
to support high quality scientific research to preserve Australian flora and fauna.

EXCLUSIONS

The Foundation will not normally support requests for funds for:

projects suitable for submission to the Australian Research Council (ARC) and /or the National Health and Medical Research Centre (NH&MRC)
salaries for researchers or research assistants and for equipment which should be the subject of submissions to the ARC
purposes which are core to the operations of the organisation and should more appropriately be funded from institutional operating funds
research projects for which there would be a reasonable prospect of attracting commercial funding

CLOSING DATE

There next funding round Closing Date for Science is Monday 1 June 2009

Applications must be received by 5.00 pm on the Closing Date.

Case Study

The Ian Potter Centre for Tropical Marine Research

$1,500,000 over 3 years 2005 - 2007

To the Lizard Island Research Station

Pictured: James Cook University PHD student, Cathie Page conducting research.

The Lizard Island Research Station provides facilities which enable about 100 research projects to be conducted annually. Many of the projects are directly relevant to management of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef along Australia's north-east coast is comprised of more than 3,000 reefs distributed over 1,800 km. It covers an area of about 350,000 km2 and is the largest barrier reef in the world.

Australia is now widely recognized as a world leader in scientific research on coral reefs. This recognition has been achieved through decades of rigorous scientific research on this vast and complex reef ecosystem by many of the most influential coral reef scientists in the world.

The Australian Museum established the Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) in a remote location on the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef in 1973. Since its inception it has played a leading role in promoting scientific research and education on the reef. These projects have resulted in about 950 scientific publications which represents a massive contribution to our understanding of how coral reefs function. A good location and adequate facilities are essential requirements for a successful coral reef field station. LIRS has the perfect location for supporting coral reef research as there is extremely high diversity and abundance of marine life in close proximity. In addition, its mid-shelf location enables scientists access to a wide diversity of marine habitats ranging from inshore reefs to the dramatic drop offs of the outer barrier reefs.

Facilities at LIRS include laboratories, aquariums, boats, diving equipment and all of the other items necessary to allow a field research station to operate efficiently in a remote environment. However, much of the infrastructure was constructed in the 1970's and it is no longer adequate for supporting modern scientific research.

In 2004, The Ian Potter Foundation investigated the feasibility of supporting research on the Great Barrier Reef. After extensive consultation with various interest groups the Foundation decided to contribute $1.5 million towards the Station's $4.5 million infrastructure upgrade plan. In 2005, a new accommodation house for visiting scientists and an outdoor education centre were constructed. Most recently, new facilities have been built including: aquarium rooms, seminar room, library, computer facilities, office, dive gear store and a services area. These facilities encompass a complex which is known as The Ian Potter Centre for Tropical Marine Research in recognition of the generous support provided by The Ian Potter Foundation. The facilities will be a significant contributor to successful research at Lizard Island for many years to come.

This project's focus is to determine health and ecological changes of the GBR by investigating changes in molluscan assemblaes in sediment samples from reef lagoons. The Ian Potter Foundation grant enabled the research team to expand the collection of large samples required for those investigations with the use of suction coring devices on the R/V James Kirby.

Preliminary results of the sediments demonstrate that variability of GBR molluscan community assemblages occurred prior to the arrival of European settlers, and that changes in ecological conditions on the Great Barrier Reef existed over the last 4000 years.

Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation

$59,000 to the Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship Programme for 2006, 2007, 2008

The Lizard Island Reef Research Centre is a facility of the Australian Museum. It is located on the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef about 270 kms north of Cairns. Since 1984, the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation has provided funding for at least one doctoral fellowship annually. The fellowships are highly competitive with applications coming from PhD candidates from Australia and overseas. They are for up to three years of field intensive studies based at the Lizard Island Research Station. Virtually all recipients of a Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation Doctoral Fellowship have pursued careers that further research and conservation in marine environments.

Museum Victoria

$17,000 to the project Uranium Mineral Ages: Can They Reveal Quaternary Climate Fluctuations in Southeastern Australia?

Can we map climate change over 500,000 years?

The potential of secondary uranium phosphate minerals for uranium-thorium dating is explored in order to construct a history of climate change and rock weathering over the past 500,000 years. The uranium minerals used in the study have crystallised from ground water in several weathered granite outcrops in northern Victoria.