Travel Grants

16th Conference of the Herpetological Association of Africa

The Carl Gans African Travel Grants

Dogwood Ecology/HAA African Researcher Travel Grant

 A generous sponsorship from the Carl Gans Collections and Charitable Fund has allowed the Herpetological Association of Africa (HAA) to offer travel grants to attend the HAA conference in November 2024, with additional funding from Dogwood Ecology and the HAA. 

1) Gans funding to support five conference travel grants (maximum 10,000 ZAR) for currently registered students based anywhere in Africa.

2) Gans funding to support two travel/accommodation grants for African-based researchers (must be based in Africa, but excluding South Africa). 

3) Additional funding from Dogwood Ecology and the HAA to support a third African Researcher Travel Grant (must be based in Africa, but excluding South Africa). 

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCESS

1) African Student Travel Grants - Sponsored by The Carl Gans Collections and Charitable Fund

Separate grants of 10,000 ZAR will be awarded to five students based in any African country or associated islands (that do not fall within European political boundaries - i.e., Seychelles, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Mauritius, Gulf of Guinea islands) to attend the HAA conference or the joint HAA/AAWG in November 2024. Applicants must have been continuously based in Africa for the last five years, registered at an African university, and have a confirmed submission of the abstract for the upcoming HAA Conference or the joint HAA/AAWG. 

Applications relating to a full oral presentation that include the results of a study will be prioritised over project proposals or studies not yet having any results to present.

An application form can be downloaded here, and all sections must be filled out.

The full application must be accompanied by:

• Filled out application form

• An abstract submitted to the conference website as a full oral presentation (presented by the student and as first author)

• Planned budget for the grant (including quotations for the travel expenses)

• Proof of registration in 2024 at an African university

• A brief letter from the supervisor supporting the application

• Confirmation of abstract submission to the conference website*

*NB: An identical abstract must also be submitted to the HAA online abstract submission site by the application deadline of 5 July 2024.

Post-docs will not be considered for this award but can apply for the African Researcher Travel Grant.

Submit applications to conference@africanherpetology.org

Subject Line: African Student Travel Grant – ‘your last name’

Please include your last name as part of the attached file names.

Deadline to receive applications: end of business on 5 July 2024.

Applications that do not contain all requested materials will unfortunately not be evaluated.

Successful applicants will be informed of the outcome by 26 July 2024.

2) African Researcher Travel Grants - Sponsored by the Carl Gans Collections and Charitable Fund (2 grants), Dogwood Ecology & the HAA (1 grant)

Separate grants (maximum 35,000 ZAR each) will be awarded to three researchers (including post-docs) based in any African country or associated islands (that do not fall within European political boundaries - i.e., Seychelles, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Mauritius, Gulf of Guinea islands) to attend the HAA conference or the joint HAA/AAWG in November 2024. Applicants must have been continuously based in Africa for the last five years, associated with an African university or research institution and have a confirmed submission of the abstract for the upcoming HAA Conference or the joint HAA/AAWG.

Researchers/postdocs based in South Africa are not eligible to apply for this travel grant. 

Applications that provide an abstract with the results of a study will be prioritised over project proposals or studies not yet having any results to present.

An application form can be downloaded here, and all sections must be filled out. 

The application must be accompanied by:

• Filled out application form

• An abstract submitted to the conference website as a full oral presentation (presented by the researcher and as first author)

• Carefully planned budget for the grant (including quotations for the travel expenses). NB: If the submitted budget exceeds the award amount, co-funding clearly indicated in the budget and in the letter of support. Unfortunately, requests for funds exceeding the award amount will not be considered. 

• Brief letter from employer supporting the application

• Confirmation of abstract submission has been made on the conference website*

*NB: An identical abstract must also be submitted to the HAA online abstract submission site by the application deadline of 5 July 2024.

Registered students will not be considered for this award but can apply for the African Student Travel Grant.

Submit applications to conference@africanherpetology.org 

Subject Line: African Researcher Travel Grant – ‘your last name’

Please include your last name as part of the attached file names.

Deadline to receive applications: end of business on 5 July 2024.

Applications that do not contain all requested materials will unfortunately not be evaluated.

Applications will be judged based on the abstracts submitted as part of the application, according to the criteria below:

• Original research

• Clearly formulated hypotheses and/or aims

• Context for the work/study

• Methods and Results articulated

• Conclusions formulated

• Feasibility of travel budget

Successful applicants will be informed of the outcome by 26 July 2024.

Attention:

1) Awardees are responsible for any and all visa entry requirements to South Africa.

2) All travel grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis with proof of costs submitted. However, should the applicant not have the funds available up front, state this in your application, and contact the organising committee for alternative arrangements (conference@africanherpetology.org).