The call for applications is currently open
Closing dateJune 01 2025 - 11:59 PM AEST
The 2026 awards are open for application.
With the generous support of the late Professor Frank Fenner FAA FRS and the late Mrs Bobbie Fenner, the Academy has established a series of environmental conferences on the environment and conservation issues in Australia and its environs. The purpose of these conferences 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.
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:
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:
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.
(Please submit your application using the Apply button found on the left of this webpage.)
For more information about the application process, contact the Awards Officer, at awards@science.org.au or call +61 (0)2 6201 9467.
From 2025, full conference proposals will be assessed on the following criteria:
| Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Key | Considers a current environmental and conservation problem for Australia and its environs |
| Brings together those with relevant science, administrative and policy expertise | |
| Contributes to the formation of policies that can address the issue | |
|
Preference given to a conference planned to have 20-30 attendees with a diversity of career stages, locations, identities, expertise etc. |
|
| Additional considerations (recommended) | Quality of draft program, demonstrating how interaction and benefits will likely accrue from the interaction of the diverse expertise |
| Quality of outline of a planned conference report, its preparation, distribution, and likely impacts | |
| Quality of budget outline, including additional support | |
| Quality of planned conference committee | |
| Suitability of the anticipated location and dates of the proposed conference | |
| Evidence of encouragement and treatment of diversity of speakers and attendees, including Indigenous participants | |
| Conferences that are one of a continuing series are less likely to gain support |
For more details on these and other past conferences, see the event list.
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
