Fulbright announces new award in natural disaster research

Fulbright New Zealand is pleased to announce its partnership with the Earthquake Commission (EQC) to offer a new graduate award in Natural Disaster Research.

Fulbright NZ's Executive Director Jennifer Gill pictured with David Middleton, General Manager of the Earthquake Commission

The Fulbright-EQC Award in Natural Disaster Research was launched by Hon Dr Michael Cullen at a function in Wellington on 13 August.

The award, valued at $25,000 plus return travel to the US, will be offered each year to a promising New Zealand graduate student wishing to study in the area of Natural Disaster Research and complete a postgraduate degree at an American University.

As with all graduate awards, applicants will have to show academic excellence, leadership potential and the ability to be a cultural ambassador for New Zealand. The Earthquake Commission (EQC) is New Zealand's primary provider of geological disaster insurance to residential property owners.

Its role is to help New Zealanders mitigate against and recover from the effects of geological disasters. This is done through education programmes, by securing New Zealand residential property owners against the cost of these disasters and by helping organise repair and replacement after the event.

EQC's General Manager David Middleton said EQC has legislative obligation to facilitate natural disaster research and the new award provides an ideal mechanism through which to do this. "We are very enthusiastic and excited about this development in the EQC's facilitation of research and education in New Zealand.

"It allows EQC to support the development of intellectual capital in New Zealand and to fund outstanding young New Zealanders in areas of study of interest to the Commission.

"I very much look forward to working with Fulbright New Zealand to make the Fulbright-EQC Award a long term and prestigious scholarship in the field of natural disaster research and one that brings recognisable benefits to New Zealand."

Natural disaster research is defined as research into the risks posed by natural disasters, the hazards they present, their impact, society's vulnerability and mitigation and management measures.

New Zealand is a world leader in the use of building codes and design to lessen the impact of natural disasters, particularly earthquakes. There is also a comprehensive and compulsory natural disaster insurance scheme for private property and an insurance industry willing to offer cover to owners of non-residential property.

Jennifer Gill, Fulbright New Zealand's Executive Director said Fulbright New Zealand is delighted with the new partnership.

"Fulbright New Zealand has a long history of supporting research in the earth sciences and many graduates and senior scholars have benefited from studying, researching and teaching in the earth sciences in New Zealand and the US.

"A new award in this particular field supports an existing strength in the Fulbright programme and supports New Zealand's growing expertise in this area." The EQC is also discussing the possibility of providing travel awards to bring US academics to New Zealand to research, teach or study in the field of disaster avoidance and management.

For further details (and application forms) see the Fulbright-EQC Award in Natural Disaster Research.