Last month the Wet Tropics Management Authority opened applications to the 2018 Student Research Grant Scheme.
The Scheme aims to support postgraduate students undertaking environmental, social and cultural research that will benefit Wet Tropics World Heritage Area management and operational decision making.
Funding of up to $4,000 is available for PhD and Masters research projects, and up to $1,500 for Honours projects.
JCU PhD student Stephanie Todd was a recipient of the 2017 funding, which she used to support her research into population estimation of the endangered northern bettong (Bettongia tropica) in the Lamb Range.
Current population estimations of this keystone species are approximately 20 years old, so Stephanie is undertaking camera trapping—using peanut butter and truffle oil as bait—at more than 170 locations in the Lamb Range (west of Cairns). Specifically, the funding provided for the hire of 4WD vehicles to enable access for camera trapping.
Final reports for the 2017 funding round are due in early March.
Applications for the 2018 Student Research Grant Scheme are open until 9 February 2018.