Dr Sue Pugh, the wife of the late Professor Mike Bennett AM (a past SPUMS President and mentor to many), has bequeathed funds to create a Scholarship (“The
Mike Bennett Scholarship”) to fund the successful applicant to attend a Scientific Meeting of relevance to diving and hyperbaric medicine.
Suitable meetings may include (but are not limited to) the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) of South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS), Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), European Underwater and Baromedical Society (EUBS), Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association (HTNA), British Hyperbaric Association (BHA).
The Mike Bennett Scholarship will be offered annually with one successful applicant chosen if they are considered to meet the selection criteria. The Scholarship may not be awarded in any given year if the applications received are not deemed suitable by the Selection Panel.
The Mike Bennett Scholarship is open to anyone working in the field of diving and hyperbaric medicine, including doctors, technical staff, nurses and those performing research in the field. Applications from those from Pacific nations who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend an international scientific meeting are also encouraged.
Selection of the successful applicant will be overseen by a SPUMS Selection Panel comprising:
- Dr Sue Pugh
- SPUMS President (currently Dr Neil Banham)
- SPUMS Immediate Past President (currently Prof David Smart)
- SPUMS Education Officer (currently Dr David Cooper)
- Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine journal Editor (currently Professor Simon Mitchell)
The successful applicant for The Mike Bennett Scholarship will have the actual costs of ASM Registration, travel and accommodation funded to a maximum of AUD $10,000. However, the applicant will be responsible for all other expenses incurred.
There are no rigidly defined Selection Criteria, however, preference will be given to the following:
SPUMS members
Presenting at the ASM:
(1) A diving or hyperbaric medicine presentation
(2) An evidence-based medicine presentation
Those who have previously made a significant contribution to SPUMS.
Closing date: 31 December 2024
Dr Neil Banham MBBS, FACEM, DipDHM, ANZCA DipAdvDHM
President of SPUMS