GROUP SPONSORSHIP TO ATTEND THE 60TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE GSSA
Trust offers sponsorship up to a maximum of R25 000.00 to a group from a University or other HEI to attend the Grassland Society of Southern Africa's annual Congress
The sponsorship is aimed to cover registration of a member of staff and two or three students. The balance of any funding can be used for transport or accommodation on receipt of a motivation. If the group wishes to utilize the contribution towards travel to bring more than three students using shared vehicles, these students are strongly encouraged to apply for separate funding for individual students.
Criteria for selection
The group will consist of a member of staff and two or three post-graduate students from an accredited South African Higher Education Institution. The staff member doesn't need to be the supervisor for all students. We will accept applications from staff employed by Research Institutes, even if they are not affiliated with a university. However, in such cases, they must act as supervisors for the students accompanying them. All people making up the sponsored group will present a platform paper or a poster at the congress. Recently enrolled students may present a Research Proposal in poster form. The subject matter of the papers and posters must be within the grassland discipline as broadly defined above. The abstracts must be accepted by the Local Organising Committee.
None of the members of the group are required to be existing members of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa. All members of the group will receive one year's free membership by attending the Congress. Various factors, including contributions to the grassland discipline, financial need, distance traveled to the congress, and broadening of the number of institutions represented at the congress, will be considered by the selection committee when making their decision. Applications from people who have not previously attended GSSA Congresses are encouraged. All Members of the group will attend the Congress for its entire duration (3 days). The funded group will be requested to write a short article on the congress for Grassroots, the GSSA's popular publication. This can cover any aspect of the congress (from fun to facts).
Application process
Applications must be received by the administrator of the GSSA (info@grassland.co.za) marked "Trust Group Sponsorship" or complete the online submission form by 31 March 2025.
The Application must include the following:
● Name of University or HEI
● Full name, department where employed and position of staff member
● Full names, department, and degree for which registered, of 2 or 3 students.
●Title, authors and short abstract of each participant's presentation, indicating if it is a platform or poster presentation. If accepted, full abstracts must be submitted by 31 March 2025.
● A budget of costs for attending congress including registration, accommodation and transport (include details of mileage, vehicle hire costs etc. as relevant). Include any co-funding that you have available or hope to secure.
● A short motivation (no more than (no more than 500 words) of why this group deserves to be funded to attend the GSSA Congress.
Final matters
The decision of the selection committee is final.
Trust reserves the right to determine the amount available for funding an individual group.
Trust reserves the right to make no allocation.
INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP TO ATTEND THE 60TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE GSSA
Trust offers sponsorship to cover registration fees for up to four professionals who are existing members of the Society to attend the Grassland Society of Southern Africa's annual Congress 60.
Criteria for selection
- The individual must be practicing in the field of grassland science as defined broadly above.
- They must be a full member of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa.
- They must have submitted an abstract for a paper or a poster to present at the congress.
- The subject matter of the papers and posters must be within the grassland discipline as broadly defined above. The abstract will be evaluated for merit by the selection committee.
- Financial need and broadening of institutions represented at Congress will, inter alia, be used by the selection committee to reach their decision.
- Successful applicants will attend the Congress for its entire duration.
Application process
Applications must be received by the administrator of the GSSA (info@grassland.org.za) marked "Trust Individual Sponsorship" by the 31st March 2025.
The Application must include the following:
- Full name and position of applicant
- Name of employer or company or short description if self-employed
- Title and authors of each participant's presentation, indicating if it is a platform or poster presentation (abstracts must be received by the Congress' due date).
- Detailed budget of costs for attending congress including co-funding.
- A short motivation (no more than 500 words) of why this applicant deserves to be funded to attend the GSSA Congress.
Final matters
The decision of the selection committee is final.
Trust will inform the successful applicants within three weeks of the closing date.
Trust reserves the right to make no allocation.