Botany Foundation Prizes and Scholarships
The Botany Foundation raises funds* to endow student prizes and scholarships and to support research programs. It promotes plant science to the wider community, contributing to the development of educational material and promoting research links with industry.
Examples of student programs funded by the Foundation and School Research Funds:
The Botany Prize
Freya Berwick - $1,000
Awarded to a student who has shown exceptional promise in their studies and who is enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Postgraduate Diploma, or the first year of a research training program in the Master of Science. The student must pursue a branch of Botany and is encouraged to apply modern techniques for basic research in the study of indigenous Australian flora in the broadest sense (including lower, higher, fossil or living plants).
The David H. Ashton Scholarship
Darren Southwell - $4100
This scholarship is awarded to a PhD student enrolled in Botany.
The David H. Ashton Travel Award
Vanessa Marcelino - $1300
This award is paid to a student studying field plant ecology in order to defray travel expenses.
These prizes are established by a donation from the late Dr David Ashton, one of Australia's most eminent botanists and a highly regarded plant ecologist, who spent 29 years of his academic career with the School of Botany.
Sophie Ducker Postgraduate Scholarship
Michaela Plein - $2200
In 1995 a function was held to commemorate Dr Sophie Ducker's 50 year association with the School of Botany. This scholarship was launched at this function and donations have been received from family, friends and colleagues of Dr Ducker.
This scholarship is awarded to a PhD student conducting research into Australian flora. Tenurable for one year.
The Megan Klemm Postgraduate Research Award
Melanie Shears/Elizabeth Sheedy
- $3500
Megan Klemm, our former Electron microscopist, sadly passed away in 2002 at the young age of 41 after fighting a courageous battle against cancer.
A generous donation from Megan's estate was the basis of an endowment for a prize in her memory.
This scholarship is awarded to a PhyD student enrolled in research in any area in the School of Botany on the basis of excellent academic achievement. The financial needs of the student may be taken into account at the discretion of the Head in order to encourage a worthy student.
Bruce Knox Prize 2006
Philippa French - $1,300
Awarded to the student who attains the top aggregate mark in the Honours year, or equivalent, in the School of Botany..
The Ethel McLennan Award
John Baumgartner - $1400
Ethel McLennan was one of the first generation of Biological Sciences students to graduate under Baldwin Spencer. She was awarded her DSc in 1927 and appointed Associate Professor in 1931. She was acting Head of School in Botany following the death of the Foundation Professor of Botany, Alfred Ewart in 1937 until the appointment of Professor Turner in 1938. This scholarship is awarded to support a student enrolled in a postgraduate degree by research in any area in the School of Botany on the basis of excellent academic achievement. The financial needs of the student may be taken into account at the discretion of the Head in order to encourage a worthy student.
The Kingsley Rowan Marine Botany Prize
Hayley Buchanan - $800
Awarded to the student achieving the highest results in the third year Marine Botany subject. In commemoration of Dr Kingsley Rowan, esteemed Plant Physiologist who worked for many years on algal plant pigments.
G.A.M. Scott Research Award
Freya Thomas - $2500
Funded by donations from family, friends and colleagues of Dr George Scott, who sadly passed away in 1998. This scholarship is awarded to an Honours (or equivalent) student, in the school of Botany, undertaking research that involves field work in the areas of either bryophytes or plant ecology.
John S. Turner Postgraduate Scholarship
Yin Ying Ho & Nick Katris- $2600
In 1997 Botany held a function to celebrate Dr David Ashton's 51st year of association with the School and his 70th Birthday. Dr Ashton suggested that the occasion also be used to raise funds to endow a scholarship in the name of John S. Turner - 2nd Professor of Botany.
This scholarship is awarded to a student undertaking a PhD in the School of Botany doing research in the area of plant physiology (including cell biology), plant ecology or conservation plant biology.
The Gretna Weste Plant Pathology and Mycology Scholarship
Kylie Chambers - $1200
This award was established in 2004 by Dr Gretna Weste, a graduate of the University who served as a demonstrator and lecturer at the University. This scholarship is funded by the inaugural donation from Dr Gretna Weste on her retirement from the School of Botany in 2003 and additional donations received from colleagues and friends plus future donations through the School of Botany Foundation. This scholarship is awarded to support the research of an Honours (or equivalent) or postgraduate student in the School of Botany, working in the area of plant pathology and/or mycology.
The Caroline Kay Scholarship
Kath Giljohann- $1500
The Rev. Dr Kay who died in 1901, bequeathed a sum of five thousand pounds in his will to the University of Melbourne for the foundation of two Scholarships
Travel Fellowships
The Foundation also awards travel fellowships to support many of our postgraduate students to attend conferences or visit laboratories overseas.
2013 Recipients
| Prue Addison |
* You can find information about how the University manages its perpetual trusts on the Trusts Group website: www.unimelb.edu.au/trusts.