AU-NZ Microscopy Knowledge Exchange

2026 round 2 closing date: 5th November 2026

It our great pleasure to announce a new microscopy exchange scheme between Australia and New Zealand established in partnership with the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS) and Microscopy New Zealand (Microscopy NZ).

Facility staff will get the opportunity to participate in a visit to another facility to exchange training, expertise and mentoring skills to benefit their career, their colleagues and the host facility. The research experience and collaborative opportunity will benefit the successful applicants and enhance the support provided by the host facility to their users.

The funding will allow up to 9 exchange visits (up to $2,500ea) over the next 2 years. The applications will be assessed against the need of both the applicant and the institution, and not against the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae. Both professional and academic staff are eligible.

Applications and further information is available here (https://micro.org.au/news/microscopy-knowledge-exchange-visits/)

Keith Williamson Medal

The Keith Williamson Memorial Medal for excellence in microscopy research is awarded at each NZ Conference on Microscopy to an early career microscopist judged to have presented the most innovative technique, inventive use of instrumentation or most original interpretation of results. The award remembers the “Father of Electron Microscopy” in Aotearoa and is in the form of a medal and $NZ500 cash. The award was initiated by Mr. Tony Thomson, who had a close working relationship with Dr. Williamson in the 1960s and later went on to found Thomson Scientific Instruments.

Student Awards

The biennial New Zealand Microscopy Conference offers a cash prize to a student for excellence in content and delivery of an oral presentation.

Poster Excellence Award

The biennial New Zealand Microscopy Conference offers a cash prize to a presenter for excellence in content and clarity of a poster.

RMS Collaboration Award

To commemorate the signing of our Memorandum of Understanding and the spirit of collaboration it represents, a cash prize will be awarded to the presenter at the 2026 New Zealand Microscopy Conference who best embodies the values of collaboration, connection, and shared discovery through their work.

ATA Scientific Encouragement Award

If you are a young scientist you can enter the ATA Scientific Encouragement Award. The award is intended to provide young scientists with financial assistance to attend a relevant science conference or to further your research or studies. This is a creative writing competition where the winner will receive $1500. There are also two runner awards worth $750 each.  

Entries close 30 Sept 2026. More information can be found at  https://www.atascientific.com.au/awards/young-scientist-encouragement-award/