The Sydney Environment Institute’s (SEI) founding member Professor Emeritus Iain McCalman continues to support students, and will provide the Iain McCalman Honours Research Award again in 2026.

This award encourages students to use the Chau Chak Wing Museum (CCWM) and its Macleay Collections, the oldest entomology collection in Australia as a provocation for considering global and/or local environmental change. 

Along with the insect, mammal, bird, fish and shell specimens of natural history CCWM’s Macleay curators care for a wealth of material including the historically rich collections of Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islanders’ cultural objects, historic photographic records, scientific instruments relating to the story of scientific practice in Australia, and other material reflecting on the museum’s history itself. The Award invites students to view these historical objects as a leaping-off point for thinking about the past and future in a warming world.

The award is open to all eligible students, but applications are encouraged from students with a background in the following areas:

• humanities, art and visual culture; 
• the history and philosophy of science and human cultures;
• architecture and design;
• bio and geosciences;
• oceanic and undersea marine sciences. 

Benefits

SEI’s Honours Fellowship Program gives candidates unique access to the SEI’s global network of leading environmental scholars, and the Iain McCalman Honours Award provides candidates with:

• mentoring from a senior academic outside but complementary to the candidate’s discipline to promote multidisciplinary thinking.
• a bursary of $2,000 towards research costs.
• the opportunity to collaborate on multidisciplinary projects with researchers across the University. 
• the opportunity to contribute toward multi-authored articles and other outputs.
• a hot desk in the SEI office in the Quadrangle (for the duration of the Fellowship).

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be intending to undertake environmental research that is in line with at least one of SEI’s 2026 research themes; climate disaster and adaptation; biodiversity, conservation and culture; and the climate and health intersection. 
• Have an overall mark of at least 70% across undergraduate units.
• Enrolled at the University of Sydney and applied for/been accepted into Honours for 2026. 

How to apply

Please complete the online application form. You will be required to include the following documents:

• Proof that you are or will be enrolled in Honours during 2026, e.g. a copy of your acceptance letter, or evidence of your pending application.
• A copy of your most recent academic transcript (it does not need to be certified).
• Your CV with details on your academic and non-academic achievements. 

The application form also includes: 

• Details of your current degree and status, your major(s) and department or school, and your Honours supervisor (if known).
• Proposed project description and how it aligns to one of SEI’s 2026 research themes; climate disaster and adaptation; biodiversity, conservation and culture; and the climate and health intersection (max 500 words)
• Personal statement (max 500 words). 

Applications for the Iain McCalman Research Award close on 22 February 2026 (11:59PM AEDT). 

Please note that SEI is not responsible for finding you a supervisor. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the end of March 2026. This fellowship opportunity is only available to University of Sydney students.