Minerals Council of Australia Fellowship

The Minerals Council of Australia Fellowship aims to encourage use of the Library's collections to explore the historic or  contemporary roles of the Australian minerals industry in Australian society.  Areas of possible research include, but are not limited to: investigations into any aspect of Australian mining; understandings of past or current landscape and environmental practices; the sector's research and development in environmental rehabilitation; the interaction between environmental practices and relationships with communities; relationships with other industry sectors engaged in environmental management; and the ways in which minerals industry environmental research is disseminated to national and international stakeholders.
 
Generously supported by the Minerals Council of Australia, the Fellowship aims to promote the Library as a centre of scholarly activity and research, encourage scholarly use of the Library’s collections and production of publications arising from that scholarship.

One Fellowship of between three and six months will be awarded annually.

Who can apply?

Fellowships are open to established Australian and international researchers in relevant disciplines. Post-doctoral and early career researchers are welcome to apply.  

Fellowships are not provided to assist with the completion of degree studies and applications from currently enrolled students will not be considered.  Fellowships are awarded once only to each individual; subsequent applications from previous recipients will not be considered.

Applicants for Minerals Council of Australia Fellowships apply using the Harold White Fellowship application form. There is no need for applicants to specify that they are applying for a Minerals Council of Australia Fellowship.

What are the benefits of a Fellowship?

The Minerals Council Fellowship gives scholars the means and the uninterrupted time to work with the Library’s rich collections of books, journals, newspapers, maps, music, manuscripts, pictures and oral histories.  Fellows have privileged access to the Library’s materials and facilities, as well as sustained interaction with many of its staff.

What assistance is offered?

Minerals Council of Australia Fellows are provided with a return economy airfare to Canberra, an honorarium of $850 per week for the period of the Fellowship in Canberra, use of a fully equipped office, 24 hour access to the Library, access to most books stacks, and free photocopying and interlibrary loans.

The Fellowship also includes a travel allowance for field trips.

Expected outcomes

Fellows are required to take up their Fellowships during the calendar year for which the Fellowship is awarded and to stay in Canberra for a continuous block of at least three months, spending the majority of their Fellowship time at the Library.  Fellows give a public lecture and a staff talk towards the end of their tenure, and provide the Library with a brief report on their research outcomes and their experience of the Library’s services.  The Library also asks Fellows – where appropriate – to give the Library the first opportunity to publish the results of their research.

Selection criteria

Fellowships are awarded by the National Library Council, on the advice of an independent committee of representatives from Australia’s learned Academies, the Independent Scholars Association of Australia, the Australian Society of Authors and the Australian Library and Information Association.

The Committee assesses applications against specified criteria, including:

  • the capacity of the Library’s collections to support the proposed research, especially the extent to which the research might be uniquely supported by the collections;
  • the scholarly or creative record of the applicant as shown by publication record and for academic applicants – positions held; and
  • referee reports.  

The Committee is not bound by national research priorities, and does not consider current topicality of the proposed research.  The Committee does not take into account place of residence, employment status or other support available to the applicant, with the exception that Fellowships are not awarded to applicants with a current Australian Research Council grant for the same research project.

How can I apply?

Applications for 2013 Fellowships have closed.  No applications or changes will now be accepted.  Application results will be notified early September 2012.

Contact

Fellowships and scholarships

Phone: + 61 (0)2 6262 1258
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6273 5081
Email: fellowships@nla.gov.au