Nigel Roberts Research Fund

The QWSG Nigel Roberts Research Fund

The Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG) (https://waders.org.au), a special interest group of Birds Queensland (http://birdsqueensland.org.au), is a volunteer organisation formed in 1992 to undertake research and promote the conservation of waders (shorebirds) and their habitats.

The QWSG created the Nigel Roberts Student Research Fund to fund postgraduate projects on waders (shorebirds: order Charadriiformes) and their habitats.

The research fund commemorates Nigel Roberts, a QWSG Committee member and Griffith University student, who passed away in 1997 and bequeathed most of his estate to the QWSG. The fund will offer a student research grant of up to $5,000 per annum for up to 3 years to support postgraduate research on waders and/or their habitats.  Applications will be open to all postgraduate students (including honours) at recognised universities in Queensland or countries in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and will be awarded to the project(s) with the most relevance to the Objectives of the QWSG. The monies can be used to supplement an existing scholarship for special purposes e.g. to purchase equipment, investigate new experimental approaches or travel.

The Objectives of the Queensland Wader Study Group include:

• conduct, coordinate and encourage census, banding, feeding studies and other scientific programs; and
• conduct research on waders, particularly in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway; and
• advise on policies and plans for the conservation and management of waders and their habitats.

All applications will be assessed on their merit.  QWSG will consider applications for projects of up to 3 years in length, with an annual review of progress.

Copies of the Application Form, and Agreement for Research Grant can be obtained from the current QWSG Secretary Dr Peter Rothlisberg (Secretary@waders.org.au)