United States to Australia Fellowship Program

The American Australian Association today announced the establishment of its United States to Australia Fellowship program. In its first year, the program will provide up to four awards totaling US$80,000 to outstanding Americans to pursue graduate and post-doctoral studies and research in life and ocean sciences, medicine or mining at world-class Australian universities and research institutions. The awards include airline tickets from Qantas Airways, the Association's official airline. The program will complement the existing Australia to United States program that this year provided seven Fellowships to outstanding Australians to study in the United States.

The awards will be given to those American applicants who can demonstrate both academic excellence and potential for new developments in their chosen fields of study. Judges will have a particular interest in applicants who are focused on life and ocean sciences and climate related studies, and resource sustainability in mining. Australia offers a unique opportunity in these specialized areas for Americans to pursue research collaborations with first-class scientists at the top of their fields.

"The overall goal of the program is to enhance the collaboration and relationships between future leaders in our two countries," said Malcolm Binks, Chairman of the Association. “We believe that both Americans and Australians can benefit immensely from the opportunity to conduct their studies and research at top institutions in Australia and the United States."

The winners, to be chosen by an independent panel of prominent scientists, entrepreneurs and business executives, will retain all intellectual rights to the ideas submitted on their applications.  Applications must be submitted by October 31, 2004, at 5 p.m. New York time; short-listed applicants will be interviewed by the judges in November and winners will be notified in December 2004.

The USA to Australia fellowship program judges are: Malcolm Binks, Chairman - American Australian Association; Professor Judith P. Grassle - Center for Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University; Professor William Tansey - Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Biological Sciences, and Director of Graduate Studies for the Watson School of Biological Sciences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Ambassador Richard W. Teare - Former United States Ambassador to New Zealand and former Director of the Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Dr. Donald Thompson - Merck & Co., Inc. and  Mr. Russell Williams – Global Mining Director, Alumina/Bauxite – Alcoa, Inc.

Information about Fellowships on Website:

The Association’s website www.americanaustralian.org provides information about the program; judges; detailed criteria for entrance; taxation concerns; instructions on how to apply and application forms.

The American Australian Association Education Fund was established in June 1998 from the proceeds of the Association’s Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner in honor of News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch AC.  Subsequent dinners honoring educator and author Jill Ker Conway; World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn KBE AO; Altria (formerly Philip Morris) Chairman Geoffrey C. Bible; Westfield USA CEO Peter S. Lowy; Douglas N. Daft, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company and this year Greg Norman AC, the world famous golfer.

The Association intends to continue raising money for the Education Fund and seeks corporate support with the goal of expanding the fellowships to New Zealanders doing research or study in the United States.  The Education Fund is the pre-eminent and largest privately funded fellowship program between the United States and Australia.

About the American Australian Association

Founded in 1948, the American Australian Association is the largest national not-for-profit organization in the United States devoted to relations between the United States and Australia and New Zealand.  Its goal is to encourage stronger ties across the Pacific, particularly in the private sector. The Association has an active program of corporate, educational, cultural and social activities.  For more information on the Association please visit our website: www.americanaustralian.org.

Media Inquiries:      Mr. Gabriel Saffioti – Director of Corporate Relations & Education

American Australian Association –

e-mail: gabriel.saffioti@aaanyc.org

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