ANZIC CORE funding

ANZIC invites the scientific and educational community to submit proposals for our 2026 Continent & Ocean Research & Education (CORE) Funding.

We are looking to fund innovative geoscience or education projects linked to scientific drilling or coring.

What we fund

ANZIC offers funding of up to AU$20,000 or NZ$25,000 for the following.

  • Analysis of previously collected ocean or continental core samples, drilling materials and/or data. We particularly encourage proposals that exploit the extensive legacy material and data from 60 years of international ocean drilling programs (DSDP/ODP/IODP) and 30 years of continental drilling (ICDP).
  • Activities that will aid future scientific drilling or coring initiatives, such as site surveys or shallow coring in support of ICDP/IODP3 proposals.
  • Innovative education and outreach projects related to scientific drilling or coring.

Projects must align with our Science Priorities and the scheme’s objectives (below).

We encourage proposals that:

  • cover the land-to-sea concept (see 2050 Science Framework)
  • focus on Australia, New Zealand or broader Oceania region, Antarctica or the Southern Ocean
  • promote collaboration between Australia and New Zealand
  • explore innovative or high-risk/high-reward ideas, including seed funding for larger future initiatives and proposals.

We welcome proposals from a diverse range of fields, including data science, mathematics, molecular and genetic analysis, and more.

 

Eligibility

CORE funding is only available to researchers and educators from ANZIC’s Australian and New Zealand member institutions.

 

Objectives

Our CORE Funding aims to:

  • support access to the international scientific drilling programs’ archive materials, data and data products to enable individuals and teams from ANZIC member institutions to conduct high quality scientific research
  • support high-quality research training
  • support scientific drilling proposals
  • expand researcher engagement with scientific drilling programs and ANZIC
  • support collaboration with ANZIC members, and the broader international networks
  • provide value for money on ANZIC funding investment
  • enhance the scale, quality and discipline scope of research undertaken by the ANZIC research community.

 

How to Apply

The application deadline is Monday 31 August.

Apply via the SmartyGrants portal.

Apply on SmartyGrants

Project timelines and reporting

Projects are expected to start by the beginning of 2027, with the proposed work to be completed within two years. If awarded over $15,000, your payment will be split into two tranches. You will also be required to submit a short progress report after the first year and a final report and acquittal at the completion of the project. Completion of the project is when all the proposed work and spending is completed. We understand that publications or final educational products might take longer than the funding period. The ANZIC Office will follow-up with projects after they are completed to record outcomes.

Support

Our expert team on the ANZIC Science Committee will be available to help ensure your project’s success.

Learn more about accessing the huge collection of legacy samples and data from thousands of key drill sites across the globe.

We also have presentations on using the Smarty Grants portal, and Top Tips for writing CORE (formerly called AILAF) proposals from the University of Tasmania.

For further information, please contact
ANZIC Program Manager, Sarah Kachovich.