$65000 of grants helps Antarctic PhD students traverse the COVID gap

Grant recipients (L-R): Paige Maroni, Tian Tian, Natalia Ribeiro Santos, Meghan Aulich, (row 2) Noemie Friscourt, Kate Montgomery, Sian Tooze, Sally Cheuk Ying Lau, (row 3) Phoebe Lewis, Toby Travers, Eden Zhang, Giles Ross, (row 4) Dongxia Yang, Krystal Randall, Angelique Ray.

Fifteen of Australia’s most promising young Antarctic scientists have been awarded grants to support them to continue their studies in the face of financial stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Antarctic Science Foundation has awarded $65,000 in total to 15 Antarctic PhD students working on research projects aligned to our purpose: to understand and protect the planet through Antarctic science.

Research excellence in Antarctic science relies on the next generation of world class Antarctic researchers. PhD students are particularly vulnerable to financial hardship, with many relying on casual teaching and work in hospitality to supplement their income. The opportunities for these activities have dramatically reduced with the advent of social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Antarctic Science Foundation granted funds to recipients with projects ranging from the smallest microbe to the great whales, microclimates to atmospheric phenomena, ice, climate and vulnerable Antarctic species. They are from nine different universities around the country and represent the wide diversity of students passionate about understanding and protecting Antarctica.

Follow the Antarctic Science Foundation on Facebook and Twitter over coming weeks to hear more about our grant recipients and their research projects.

Thanks to the Dick and Pip Smith Foundation and the Tasmanian Polar Network, who made generous and timely donations to allow us to increase the number of students we could assist.

Grant recipients

• Meghan Aulich, Curtin University

• Noemie Friscourt, University of Tasmania

• Sally Cheuk Ying Lau, James Cook University

• Phoebe Lewis, RMIT University

• Paige Maroni, University of Western Australia

• Kate Montgomery, University of New South Wales

• Krystal Randall, University of Wollongong

• Angelique Ray, University of New South Wales

• Giles Ross, University of Western Sydney

• Natalia Ribeiro Santos, University of Tasmania

• Tian Tian, University of Tasmania

• Sian Tooze, University of Tasmania

• Toby Travers, University of Tasmania

• Dongxia Yang, Monash University

• Eden Zhang, University of New South Wales