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Australia-Japan Travel Award

Nominations for the OKINAWA COLLOIDS 2026 are now Open (Last date of submission is 31 May 2026). DCSC-CSJ will waive registration and banquet cost for visiting ACIS awardees. 

Overview

The Australia-Japan Travel Award is a bilateral initiative of the Australasian Colloid and Interface Society (ACIS) and the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (DCSC) of the Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ). It supports bilateral scientific exchange by subsidising travel for early-career student members to attend conferences hosted by the partner society.

This document sets out the guidelines governing the ACIS side of the Award-that is, ACIS members travelling to Japan to attend a DCSC-CSJ student conference or symposium. DCSC-CSJ issues its own corresponding call for Japanese student members to attend ACIS student conferences in Australia; conditions specific to Japanese applicants are not included here.

The Award reflects the shared commitment of both societies to fostering international collaboration and the professional development of the next generation of colloid and interface scientists.

Purpose

The ACIS Australia–Japan Travel Award provides financial support for:

  • ACIS student members travelling to Japan to attend a DCSC-CSJ organised conference or symposium.

Information on upcoming eligible DCSC-CSJ events can be found at:

Award Value

The Award provides a contribution toward travel and accommodation costs. DCSC-CSJ may waive registration and banquet cost for visiting ACIS awardees at their discretion.

Direction of travel

Australia to Japan

Award value

AUD 1,500 contribution toward international travel and accommodation

Payment Schedule

Payment is made in one instalment:

  • Award money will be disbursed upon written notification of Award acceptance and confirmation of Abstract submission.

Note: The recipient is responsible for securing any expenses beyond the Award value, as confirmed by their supervisor in the support letter.

Eligibility

The Award is open to ACIS student members who satisfy all of the following criteria:

1.       Be a current financial member of ACIS at the time of application.

2.       Be enrolled as a postgraduate (PhD) student at an Australian or New Zealand institution.

3.       Have been awarded their undergraduate degree no more than five (5) years prior to the application deadline. Career interruptions, including, but not limited to, illness, caring responsibilities, or parental leave, will be taken into consideration by the Awards Committee when assessing eligibility.

4.       Not have previously received this Award.

Note: For the current award cycle, the undergraduate degree conferral date must be on or after June 2021 (five years before the 2026 deadline), unless career interruptions apply as described above.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF document by email to the ACIS Award Chair (see Contact Details). The PDF must contain the following items, in the order listed:

  • Applicant’s full name, institutional affiliation, position title, and email address.
  • Date of undergraduate degree conferral and the name of the awarding institution.
  • Written confirmation of current ACIS membership (e.g. membership number or copy of current membership receipt).
  • A concise one-page proposal (maximum 500 words) describing: (a) the DCSC-CSJ conference to be attended and its relevance to the applicant’s research; (b) the scientific and professional benefit expected; and (c) the applicant’s intended contribution to the conference (e.g. oral presentation, poster, workshop participation).
  • A letter of support from the applicant’s supervisor or line manager confirming: (a) endorsement of the proposed travel; and (b) that sufficient funds are available to cover any expenses beyond the Award value.

Applications that are incomplete or do not follow the prescribed format may not be considered by the Awards Committee.

Application Timeline

The ACIS call for applications opens in conjunction with the call for abstracts for the relevant DCSC-CSJ conference, typically in the first half of the calendar year for a conference taking place later that year or in early the following year. The application deadline is aligned with the abstract submission deadline for the target conference.

For current deadlines and further information, visit:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit early. ACIS will accept participants recommended and approved through the ACIS evaluation process; DCSC-CSJ will be notified of selected awardees by ACIS.

Selection Process

Applications are assessed by the ACIS Awards Committee, chaired by the ACIS Award Chair, on the basis of scientific merit, quality and clarity of the proposal, and the anticipated benefit to the applicant and the broader colloid and interface science community.

Judging panel

ACIS Awards Committee, chaired by the ACIS Award Chair

Assessment criteria

Scientific merit; quality and clarity of proposal; career benefit; alignment with conference theme

Notification

Within four (4) weeks of the application deadline, by email

The decision of the Awards Committee is final. Applicants may not reapply in a subsequent cycle if they have previously received this Award.

Post-Travel Obligations

Recipients must fulfil the following obligations after returning from their funded travel:

  • Submit a written report of no more than two (2) pages to the ACIS Award Chair within one (1) month of the completion of travel. The report should describe the scientific sessions attended, collaborations or contacts initiated, and the overall value of the experience from the applicant’s perspective.
  • The report will be published in the ACIS newsletter and/or on the ACIS website, and may be lightly edited for style and format.
  • Provide documentary proof of travel (e.g. photos of boarding passes, accommodation receipts) at the time of submitting the report.

Note: Failure to submit the post-travel report and proof of travel within the required timeframe may affect the recipient’s eligibility for future ACIS awards.

Contact Details

To apply or to seek further information regarding the ACIS Australia–Japan Travel Award, please contact:

ACIS Award Chair

Associate Professor Jitendra Mata Chair, ACIS Awards Committee Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Email: jitendra.mata@ansto.gov.au

DCSC-CSJ contact (for information only)

Professor Ken-ichi limura, Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry (DCSC-CSJ) Utsunomiya University Email: emlak@cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp

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