Fenner conferences on the environment

This fund supported a series of environmental conferences on the environment and conservation issues in Australia and its environs.

Historical awards Submission deadline: n/a

Award highlights

With the generous support of the late Professor Frank Fenner FAA FRS and the late Mrs Bobbie Fenner, the Academy established a series of environmental conferences on the environment and conservation issues in Australia and its environs.
The purpose of these conferences was to bring together those with relevant scientific, administrative and policy expertise to consider current environmental and conservation problems in Australia, thereby contributing to the formation of policies that can alleviate some of these problems.

This award will not take applications after 2025. Please see the Workshop Series for the Academy's new program to support scientific workshops.

Fenner conferences on the environment are conferences on the environment and conservation issues in Australia and its environs. Their aim is to bring together those with relevant scientific, administrative and policy expertise to consider current environmental and conservation problems in Australia, thereby contributing to the formation of policies that can alleviate some of these problems. If you are interested in holding a conference, please see the Workshop Series for the Academy's new program to support scientific workshops.

Past conferences

2026/27: Transdisciplinary strategies to improve accountability for biodiversity conservation in cities
2025/26: Preparing nature and society for a hotter world
2024/25: Characteristics, causes, and prospects of Australian drought under a changing climate
2022/23: Compound events in Australia – strategic planning for multivariate risk
2021/22: Exceptional times, exceptional plants: Alternative ex situ conservation strategies for Australian plants
2020/21: Making Australian agriculture sustainable.
2019/20: Managing wild and weedy Australia across boundaries and disciplines
2018/19: The use of gene drive technology in conservation
2017/18: Urban Sustainability and Conservation
2016/17: International Forward Osmosis Summit (IFOS) 2016
2015/16: Maximising the capacity of citizen science for science and society: A Fenner Conference on the Environment, Shine Dome, Canberra
2014/15: Addicted to Growth?: How to move to a Steady State Economy in Australia, Shine Dome, Canberra
2013/14: Coral Reefs on the edge - new challenges for high latitude coral reef communities, Houtman Abrolhos Island Research Station (PDF, 83 KB)
2012/13: Population, Resources and Climate Change - Implications for Australia's near future, Shine Dome, Canberra
2009/10: Healthy climate, planet and people: co-benefits for health of action on climate change, Shine Dome, Canberra (PDF, 210 KB)
2008/9: The art and science of good environmental decision making. Shine Dome, Canberra (PDF, 210 KB)
Wildlife Population Dynamics and Management, Fenner Conference on the Environment, The Shine Dome, Canberra, 2–5 December 2007
Water, population and Australia's urban future, 2007 Fenner Conference on the Environment, The Shine Dome, Canberra, 15–16 March 2007
Integrating agricultural and environmental imperatives for a profitable and sustainable future, Fenner Conference on the Environment, The Shine Dome, Canberra, 8–9 November 2006
Urbanism, environment and health, Fenner Conference on the Environment, The Shine Dome, Canberra, 25–26 May 2006
Understanding the population–environment debate: Bridging disciplinary divides, 2004 Fenner Conference on the Environment, 24–25 May 2004
Redesigning agriculture for the Australian environment, 2002
Biodiversity conservation in freshwaters, 2001
Nature tourism and the Australian environment, 2000
Future Australian landscapes - visions of harmonious environment, 1998/1999
Ethics of manipulative research and management in world heritage areas, 1997
Tracking progress: linking environment and economy through indicators and accounting Systems, Fenner Conference on the environment, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 September to 3 October 1996
Developing strategies for sustainable habitation of Australia’s rangelands, 1996
Environmentally responsible defence, 1995
Risk and uncertainty in environmental management, 1995
Environmental principles to practice, 1994
International trade and the environment, 1993
Biological diversity – its future conservation in Australia, 1992
Protection of marine and estuarine areas, 1991
Ultraviolet B radiation impacts, 1990
The Constitution and the environment, 1990
Chemicals in agriculture, 1989
Conservation in management of the River Murray System-making conservation count, 1989
Australian Alps National Parks-World Heritage Area?, 1988

One conference is funded annually. Conferences are usually of about two days duration with a membership of 20-30. A sum of up to $10,000 is provided. The supplementation of this sum is encouraged.

Organisers are asked to make an undertaking on acceptance of an offer of funding from the Academy to call their conference a Fenner Conference on the Environment and to advertise it as such.

Research conference applications are in two stages.

Organisers are invited to submit an online Expression of intent (EOI), which should include:

proposal (1 page)
- the aims, value and timelines of the conference, including an indication of support from the local scientific community and the importance for Australian science
- a tentative program, including expected number of attendee and any known or invited speakers
- a brief outline of anticipated budget
provisional dates and venue
names of the organisers
how the diversity and inclusion of speakers and attendees will be actively considered and where possible, achieved.

Note that conferences that are one of a continuing series are less likely to gain support unless they specifically address a newly emerging theme or topic within the broader area of the series.

Expressions of Intent are short-listed by the awards committee Chairs in June, and the organisers of short-listed proposals are asked to provide a detailed application by 1 August. Full applications should include:

expanded explanation of the aims and value of the conference (up to 1,000 words)
a list of projected active participants
a detailed program budget, including other sources of income
at least one letter of support from the supporting organisation/society.

The final decision is announced in early November.

Venue hire of the Shine Dome is complimentary for up to two days where requested. Please note that AV equipment and technician, catering and caretaking are not included in the complimentary Shine Dome venue hire. Shortlisted applicants are requested to contact the Shine Dome Venue Coordinator for a quote as part of their application budgeting. At this stage, applicants should also check availability of proposed dates, and a tentative hold will be placed on these dates. Please note that this is not secured until the award is granted, but will increase the likelihood that the dates will still be available if/when awarded.