The New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) Charitable Trust has announced that it will offer two $10,000 scholarships to individuals to undertake a project linked to building through research, practice or professional development.

Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or residents, must be actively involved in the building and construction industry and must be available to interview with the selection panel if necessary. The judging panel includes three trustees from the NZIOB Charitable Trust. Entries close at 5pm on 30 June 2019 and the winners will be announced at the New Zealand Building Industry Awards gala event on 23 August 2019 at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland.

Graham Stanage, NZIOB Charitable Trust chair, said “These scholarships were established to encourage aspirational thinking that has the potential to increase the building industry’s performance. We are particularly interested in applications from those in industry and training, who have a project that will introduce improvements to the industry.”

One of last year’s scholarship recipients, Mikayla Heesterman in an MArch student at Victoria University of Wellington. She used the money to further her research on how robotic fabrication of timber connections can improve the construction industry through more efficient and sustainable designs methods.

“The scholarship gave my research legitimacy, which helped to create conversations with several industry and innovation leaders in New Zealand. These discussions were important in ensuring the research focused on addressing the New Zealand construction industry and has raised the profile of the opportunities that robotics can offer architecture,” Heesterman said.

“The opportunities that the scholarship offered me have created a non-standard career pathway where I am able to continue researching how innovative technologies can improve the construction industry.”

Find out more and download the application rules and instructions here.