AWES Research Grant
AWES Research Grant (2026)
Aims, objectives and outcomes
The primary aim of the AWES Research Grant Scheme is to provide funding to wind-engineering researchers or practitioners to undertake a small research project that addresses a shortcoming or omission within an Australian or New Zealand wind loading standard (e.g., AS/NZS1170.2, AS4055, etc.) or AWES Quality Assurance Manual (wind tunnel, prototype, or CWE). Given that little funding is generally made available to directly address these issues, it is hoped that these funds will enable a small experimental, numerical, interrogatory or analytical project that leads to directly implementable changes to a wind loading standard or QAM. Applicants are free to propose research projects that address any part of the Australia/New Zealand wind loading standards or AWES Quality Assurance Manuals, but a list of example topics is outlined below:
- Reanalysis of regional wind speeds specified in AS/NZS1170.2. This could include regional
boundaries, directional multipliers, split-wind climate analysis, etc. - Pedestrian-wind comfort and safety assessment and criteria
- Guidance on appropriate design loads for solar panels and arrays (field or rooftop)
- Wind loads and shielding effects on groups of circular pipes common in, e.g., the oil/gas industry.
- Guidance on full-scale or prototype wind loads for various building protuberances
- Dispersion of pollutants from stacks or other sources
- Wind flows over varying topography and terrain during non-synoptic wind events
- Natural ventilation in and through buildings.
It is required that each funded project will result in a publishable research paper or report that is made freely available to the wider engineering community (the latter can be done through the AWES website after review by AWES personnel). It is also expected that project results will be presented at an AWES Workshop and travel to that event will be funded by AWES in addition to Research Grant value noted below. All project activities and reporting are required to be completed within 6 to 12 months of award.
Available funding
A limited number of Research Grants will be awarded to a maximum value of $10,000 AUD per project (this AWES Research Grant is not expected to support overheads but is intended to directly fund university or corporate research). This funding can be used to cover the cost of equipment, material, personnel, or other project related costs. It cannot be used to subsidize travel expenses (e.g. conference travel), except where directly related to the project (e.g. field work).
Submission requirements
Applicants are required to submit a maximum five-page project proposal that includes the following information:
a) Problem Statement: This must include a summary of the issue to be addressed, including the specific code/standard/QAM and clauses. A clear statement of why the applicant believes that this project will improve the code/standard/QAM is also required.
b) Project Aims: State, in dot points, what the main aims of the project are.
c) Project Outline: Clearly and concisely, outline what work will be undertaken and what the expected outcomes may be.
d) Budget: Provide information on how project funds would be spent.
At least one member of the proposed research team must be a member of the AWES. Proposals will be accepted from early November 2025 until 30 January 2026 and should be submitted to chair@awes.org. Application outcomes will be announced in early February 2026 with all research and subsequent reporting to occur within the calendar year 2026.
Assessment
A panel of three AWES Committee Members (or designated representatives) will assess project proposals. Each project will be assessed on its ability to successfully address a clearly defined issue within the current Australasian wind loading standard/code/QAM. AWES reserves the right to award no grants in a given year if the quality is not sufficiently high.