This scholarship is be offered every two years, or as funds allow. The scholarship will be offered in 2025.
Aim of the award
As a quantitative ecologist, Nigel Barlow made significant contributions to our understanding of the dynamics of New Zealand's ecosystems, especially in the context of understanding animal population dynamics. He won the NZ Ecological Society Award (now the Te Tohu Taiao award) in 1986 for his sustained contributions to applied ecology in NZ. The Nigel Barlow fund is derived from a generous bequest made by Nigel, and is designed to provide support to international (including Australian) students studying ecology in New Zealand.
Award
The fund provides support for direct costs associated with research such as, but not limited to, field costs and analytical expenses, but excluding fees, living expenses and conference costs. Applicants can apply for up to $2500. Once the funds have been used the successful applicant will need to provide a short report outlining how the funds were used to be published in the newsletter of the NZ Ecological Society.
Eligibility
To apply for this scholarship applicants must be:
- enrolled in a NZ university for postgraduate study (MSc, PhD or equivalent) in ecology;
- an international (including Australian) student – New Zealand residents and citizens are not eligible;
- enrolled at a New Zealand university, by 31st December of the year of application, for postgraduate (MSc, PhD or equivalent) study in ecology;
- a current member of the New Zealand Ecological Society.
Selection
The selection panel shall consist of current elected council members of the New Zealand Ecological Society. Where deemed appropriate the council may co-opt ex-officio members of the council on to the selection panel, and/or delegate a sub-committee to oversee selection. At the discretion of the nominated committee no award may be made in any given year.
Nominations
Nominations close Thursday 31 July 2025.
Use this Google Form to apply. The form requires applicants to write a personal statement (why are you studying ecology? What do you hope to achieve? Do you have any relevant experience/achievements to date? 200 words max.), provide a research project summary (250 words max.), and explain how the funds will assist the applicant to undertake their research (200 words max.). Applicants are also required to upload (here) a supporting statement (as a word or PDf file) from their supervisor as part of this application process.
For any queries, contact the awards convenor (Margaret Stanley, mc.stanley@auckland.ac.nz).
Previous recipients
The Barlow Scholarship was first awarded in 2015
2023 Yeoh Su Min, Victoraia University of Wellington. Combating Phytophthora of kauri dieback: Harnessing plant-microbe interactions through companion planting field trial in Waipoua Forest.
2021 Jacob Ball, Massey University. Foraging ecology and habitat suitability of the critically endangered New Zealand Fairy Tern or Tara Iti (Sternula neresis davisae) in Northland, New Zealand.
2019 Sahar Firoozkoohi , Lincoln University. Stay or leave? Birds respond to anthropogenic environment.
2017 Julia Schmack, University of Auckland. Managing Vespula wasp invasion in New Zealand
2015 Carolina Lara Mendoza, University of Auckland. Effectiveness of ecological corridors in maintaining bird movement and seed dispersal in urban areas