First Overseas Conference Travel Fund

The First Overseas Conference Travel Fund (FOCTF) was established by members of the Society to help young researchers present their work at an overseas conference. The Society recognises that New Zealand’s geographic isolation can disadvantage emerging researchers. Outstanding research deserves to be disseminated in global venues and events, and researchers must interact with other professionals to further their knowledge and careers as marine scientists. The FOCTF was established to achieve these goals.

The number and value of awards allocated following each of the two application deadlines will be at the discretion of the council, and dependent on available funds. The award may not be made if there are no suitable applicants. Awards for conferences in the Pacific (including Australia) will not exceed NZ$1500.

Application rounds each year open 1st March and 1st August.

Applications for the August FOCTF rounds are now open

FOCTF application form (DOC, 75.50 kB)

Applications should be sent to [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] by 11:59pm 31st March 2027

Application guidelines

Eligibility

This must be your first overseas conference.
- Applicants who have attended overseas conferences virtually will still be accepted
- Applicants who have completed a previous degree overseas and attended a conference in that country will also be accepted
You must be attending the conference in person
Conference attendance must take place within 12 months of the application closing date
You must be enrolled in a postgraduate degree
- Greater weight is given to students enrolled in a Ph.D.
You must be a member of NZMSS
- Greater weight is given to students who have previously presented an oral paper or poster at an NZMSS conference
This application must have your supervisor’s support

Instructions

The application must be typewritten. Please provide details or type ‘Yes’ in the appropriate box. Applications exceeding specified word limits will be declined
In addition to filling out this form, please include:
- Completion of the supervisors box and their signature
- A single page CV (including any publications you have authored)
- Your academic record (scanned and included in this PDF)
- An abstract of the oral paper or poster you are presenting
Send all files electronically as one PDF document to [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
- File Name: NZMSS_FOCTF_app_[closing-year-month]_[applicant name]
- Subject Line: NZMSS FOCTF Application [Closing Month & Year]

Assessment

Applications will be independently reviewed by at least three referees (NZMSS Council members) not associated with any proposals.
The referees will not confer until they have assessed and ranked the applications independently.
Applications will be assessed based on:
1. Quality of the research
2. Conference relevance
3. Relevance of research to New Zealand
4. Student merit

Recipients & reports

2026

Eleanor Brettle (University of Waikato)

2025

Brooke Ellis-Smith (University of Waikato)
Bianca Keys (University of Otago)

2024

Katie Fenton (Victoria University of Wellington)

2024 - AMSA-NZMSS special joint conference travel award

Ailish Ullman (Victoria University of Wellington)
Ashley Heaphy (University of Auckland)
Brandy Biggar (University of Auckland)
Chelsey Beese (Victoria University of Wellington)
Ian Dixon-Anderson (University of Otago)
Imogen Bunting (Victoria University of Wellington)
Tian Tian (University of Auckland)
Miriam Pierotti (Victoria University of Wellington)
Nicholas Daudt (University of Otago)
Stephanie Bennington (University of Otago)
Jeffery Good (University of Auckland)
Jessica Moffit (University of Otago)
Katherine Burnham (University of Auckland)
Li Hao Yeoh (University of Auckland)
Lisa Wolf (Victoria University of Wellington)

2023

Savannah Goode, (Victoria University of Wellington)
Jessica Marinovich (University of Auckland)
Nicholas Daudt (University of Otago)

2022

Shinae Montie (University of Canterbury)
Trevyn Toone (University of Auckland)
Sophie Roberts (University of Auckland)
Georgina Flowers (University of Waikato)

2021

Overseas travel postponed due to COVID-19 Lockdowns

2020

Congratulations to Erik Krieger for being the recipient of the March round (report to follow).