grdc growers' report - Grains Research & Development Corporation

investment highlights
GRDC awards and scholarships
The GRDC helps to build capacity in the
Australian grains industry and related
research disciplines by providing targeted
awards and scholarships.
Education and training scholarships
The GRDC offers six categories of
scholarships to support education and
training in areas which may ultimately
benefit the Australian grains industry.
The scholarships awarded in 2010–11 are
summarised in Table 1. Grains Industry
Indigenous Training Awards is a new
category of student support that
commenced as a pilot program in
2010–11.
Travel Awards
The GRDC granted 11 Travel Awards in
2010–11 to individuals or small groups
wishing to attend a conference or
undertake travel that may ultimately benefit
the Australian grains industry.
Industry Development Awards
The GRDC granted eight Industry
Development Awards in 2010–11. These
awards allow groups of Australian grain
growers to take part in study tours or other
forms of training that will help them develop
new skills, build relationships and contribute
to the sustainability and profitability of the
Australian grains industry.
Table 1 Education and training scholarships granted in 2010–11
Title Eligible candidates Period No.
Agricultural Training Students undertaking full time study at a 1 year 20
Awards (ATA)
recognised vocational education and
training provider institution.
Grains Industry Students of excellence proceeding to 1 year 10
Undergraduate Honours undergraduate honours study in a field
Scholarships (UHS) relevant to the future of the Australian
grains industry.
Grains Industry Research Students of excellence proceeding to 3 years 21
Scholarships (GIRS) postgraduate study in a field relevant to
the future of the Australian grains industry.
Grains Industry Indigenous Indigenous Australians undertaking work Up to 3 years 3
Training Awards (ITA) placements, tertiary study and other forms
of training approved by the GRDC.
Grains Industry In-Service Younger scientists, advisers, technical staff 6 months 0
Training Awards (IST) and others engaged in work relevant to
GRDC objectives that may not be eligible
for other forms of support—funding will
be considered for travel, secondment or
interchange between institutions.
Grains Industry Visiting Overseas R&D personnel who are able to 2–12 months 1
Fellowships (VF)
enhance programs supported by the
GRDC with their specific skills.
Conference sponsorships
The GRDC sponsors organisations that
wish to conduct a conference, workshop,
seminar or field day that will directly benefit
the Australian grains industry. Twenty-nine
were sponsored in 2010–11.
Capacity-building collaborations
The GRDC collaborates with other
organisations to leverage their individual
contributions to more effectively build
capacity across Australian primary
industries, with particular benefits for the
grains industry.
Primary Industry Centre for Science
Education
The GRDC’s support for the Primary
Industry Centre for Science Education
(PICSE) is seeking to increase participation
in post-compulsory science education,
particularly in tertiary agricultural science,
to address current and predicted skill
shortages in the grains industry.
The GRDC is part of the PICSE initiative,
a partnership funded by the Australian
Government, universities, rural R&D
corporations and primary industry bodies
to attract students into tertiary science and
Nick Willey (right), development biologist at the Dow AgroSciences field station at Breeza, NSW, mentors high
school student James Stewart. Photo: Dow AgroSciences
increase the number of professionals in
agribusiness and research institutions.
National Youth Science Forum
The GRDC supports the National Youth
Science Forum, which aims to encourage
students from across Australia to enter
science- or engineering-based university
degrees and to explore associated careers.
The experience involves presentations,
debates, personal development sessions
and visits to science, research and
engineering facilities.
BHP Billiton Science Awards
The GRDC has been a partner in the
prestigious BHP Billiton Science Awards
since 2007. The GRDC’s aim in sponsoring
the awards is to build capacity by providing
incentives and recognition for students with
potential to excel in Australian rural industries.
CSIRO undergraduate summer school
The GRDC is a sponsor of the CSIRO Plant
Industry Summer Studentship Program. The
program runs for 10 weeks and is tailored for
second- and third-year university students.
GRDC GROWERS’ REPORT 2010–2011 27