Conference Awards

The following student awards are awarded at the Society’s annual conference each year:

• NZFSS Scholarship in Freshwater Research
• NZFSS Best Student Paper Award ($500)
• NZFSS Best Presentation including Mātauranga Māori ($500)
• SIL Trust Prize Best Oral Presentation ($500)
• SIL Trust Prize Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation ($150)
• SIL Trust Prize Best Poster ($150)

In addition, a number of sponsored prizes may be presented each year.

Furthermore, there are two additional sponsorsed prizes for students at the conference, which may be offered intermittently as sponsorship becomes available. These are:

The Conservation award - a privately sponsored award for the best student conference presentation of research contributing to the conservation of our freshwater environments and their biodiversity.

The Applied Freshwater Research Award - a privately sponsored award for the best student conference presentation of research which has direct applicatino in the protection, improvement or restoration of freshwater environments and their biodiversity.

V.H. Jolly Conference Travel Awards

NZFSS offers funding to assist students with travel costs to the annual Freshwater Sciences conference through the V.H. Jolly Travel Fund. Violet Hilary Jolly was a pioneering freshwater scientist and founder member of the Society who did much to encourage student participation in the Society’s early years.

There is $250 available per person for NZFSS conferences in NZ and $500 per person for NZFSS conferences held overseas, up to a total amount each year equivalent to half of the interest earned on NZFSS bank accounts. If there are more applicants than funds available, those that have travelled the furthest get first priority. Funds are usually distributed after the conference. To be considered for a V.H. Jolly Conference Travel Award, you must be

• presenting either a talk or a poster, and
• a current NZFSS member.

Apply for the V.H. Jolly Conference Travel Award

Recent Conference Award recipients

2023 Brisbane

The following student awards were presented at the Brisbane Freshwater Sciences Conference (mid-2023):

Best Student Oral Presentation

Christ Meijer (University of Canterbury): “The role of New Zealand coastal lakes in the life history of a diadromous fish species “

Best Student Poster Presentation

Siobhan Nuri (University of Waikato): “Glass eels on the move: what is driving them? “

Best Student Presentation including Mātauranga Māori

K’lee Begbie (University of Waikato): “Pā Tūna ki Pokaiwhenua – A Raukawa Lens”

Best contribution to Conservation (Oral)

Ben Crichton (University of Canterbury): “Does the harvesting of diadromous fishes reduce marine-derived subsidies in freshwater fish assemblages? “

Best contribution to Conservation (Poster) and Best MSc Oral Presentation

Christina McCabe (University of Otago, University of Waikato): “The ecological consequences of giving rivers more room to move “

and

“Habitat complexity and community dynamics in New Zealand braided rivers “

2022 Auckland

The following student awards were presented at the Auckland NZFSS/NZMSS (2022):

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation

Rachel Crawford (University of Waikato): “Small fish, big problems”; and

Georgia Thomson-Laing (University of Waikato): “Reconstructing historical multi-trophic level responses in Lake Pounui using sedimentary environmental DNA”

Best Oral Presentation by a Masters or Honours Student

Inge Martens: “Can eDNA solve the braided river sampling conundrum?”

NZFSS Rōpū prize - Best presentation including Mātauranga Māori

Channell Thoms (University of Canterbury): “Distribution and habitat for kākahi (Echyridella menziesii - freshwater mussels) in the South Island”

Best Applied Science Presentation by a Student

Chris Meijer (University of Canterbury): “Where are the fish?”

Department of Conservation: Best Contribution to Conservation Award

Ben Crichton (University of Canterbury): “Whitebait fishery-induced shifts”

2021 Christchurch

The following student awards were presented at the INTECOL conference:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation

Mailys Picard (University of Waikato): Finding Nemo: inferring the occupancy of exotic fish in lakes using environmental DNA

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster

Motia Ara (University of Otago): Consequences of Landlocking in Paraki/Common Smelts in New Zealand

Department of Conservation: Best Contribution to Conservation Award

Rachel Crawford (University of Waikato): Effects of temperature on swimming capabilities of native New Zealand fish

2020 Invercargill

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Invercargill:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentations

1. Melissa Collins (University of Waikato): Dogs detect pest fish scent in water with remarkable sensitivity.
2. Isabelle Barrett (University of Canterbury): Reigniting healthy resilience: using disturbance to overcome negative resistance and resilience in stream restoration.
3. Rachel Crawford (University of Waikato): Effects of temperature on swimming capabilities of native New Zealand fishes.
3. Ben Crichton (University of Canterbury): Comparison of kōkopu population characteristics between whitebaited and refuge areas.

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster
Marcus Dengg (University of Otago): Trace metal limitation of phytoplankton growth in lakes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Department of Conservation: Best Contribution to Conservation
Siobhan Nuri (University of Waikato): Understanding longfin and shortfin glass eel recruitment variation in a large regulated river.

2019 Geelong

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Geelong:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Andrew Watson (University of Canterbury): How does whitebait fishing affect common galaxias (Galaxias maculatus) populations?

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Chloe Price (University of Auckland): Destruction and Reconstruction: is freshwater offsetting achieving no net loss of biodiversity values?

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Finnbar Lee (University of Auckland): Modelling the influence of environmental and disturbance spatial structure on trait trade-offs in freshwater fish communities.

2018 Nelson

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Nelson:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Laura Kelly (Victoria University of Wellington): A toxic puzzle – unravelling the relationship between anatoxin production & strain dominance in Microcoleus autumnalis (Phormidium autumnale).

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Lena Schallenberg (University of Otago): Spatial abundance and diversity of picocyanobacteria in two lakes with contrasting geomorphology and trophic status.

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Isabelle Barrett (University of Canterbury): Resilience isn’t always healthy: using stressors to overcome negative resistance and resilience in stream restoration.

Department of Conservation Best Freshwater Management Talk – $250
Chris Meijer (University of Canterbury): Trophic interactions of kōwaro (Canterbury mudfish) across a gradient of drying intensity.

Department of Conservation Best Freshwater Management Poster – $250
Katie Collins (University of Canterbury): Rethinking riparian buffer design to control macrophyte growth
in small agricultural streams.

2017 Hamilton

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Hamilton:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Tara McAllister (University of Canterbury): Phormidium growth responses along hydrological gradients in three South Canterbury rivers.

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Michelle Melchior (The University of Waikato): Effects of water temperature on the release and viability of glochidia of the freshwater mussel, Echyridella menziesii.

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Katie Collins (University of Canterbury): Persistence and ecological consequences of glyphosate to control aquatic macrophytes in Canterbury lowland streams, South Island, New Zealand.

Department of Conservation Best Conservation Talk – $250
Nixie Boddy (University of Canterbury): Confluence configuration controls spatial patterns in fish assemblages.

Dan Fake (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council): Floating fish ramps: a tool new in the fish passage toolbox.

2016 Invercargill

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Invercargill:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Laura Kelly (Victoria University of Wellington)

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Emily Martin (Victoria University)
Finnbar Lee (University of Auckland)

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Christopher Meijer (University of Canterbury)

2015 Wellington

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Wellington:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Tara McAllister (University of Canterbury)

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Josie Crawshaw (University of Otago)

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Emily Martin (Victoria University)

2014 Blenheim

The following student awards were presented at the NZFSS conference in Blenheim:

SIL Trust Prize: Best Oral Presentation – $500
Mark Galatowitsch (University of Canterbury): “Will generalist life-history strategies used to persist in unpredictable ponds be an asset under climate warming?”

SIL Trust Prize: Best Masters or Honours Oral Presentation – $150
Sophie Hunt (University of Canterbury): “Climate- and habitat-mediation of predator-prey interactions”

SIL Trust Prize: Best Poster – $150
Tara McAllister (University of Canterbury): “Elevated nitrogen, low phosphorus – a recipe for Phormidium success?”

Department of Conservation – Best Conservation Oral Presentation – $250
Matt Jarvis (University of Otago): Temporal and spatial patterns of larval drift and mortality in an amphidromas fish, the bluegill bully (Gobiomorphus hubbsi)”

Department of Conservation – Best Conservation Poster – $250
Eimear Egan (University of Canterbury): “Using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect New Zealand Whio (blue duck)”

Fish & Game – Best Fish & Game Presentation – $250
Morgan Trotter (University of Otago): “An investigation of juvenile trout movement and mortality during the summer/autumn low flow period in the Lindis River, Central Otago”

Golder Associates – Best Applied Oral Presentation – $200
Alex Sean Waters (University of Canterbury): “Sedimentary phosphorus release in Te Roto O Wairewa / Lake Forsyth”

Golder Associates – Best Applied Poster Presentation – $200
Stephen Pohe (University of Canterbury): “How effective are different lights for collecting adult aquatic insects?”