Sir Peter Holmes Memorial Award:

The Royal Society for Asian Affairs invites applications from individuals aged 18-25 for an award established in memory of Sir Peter Holmes MC (1932-2002), a member of the Society who was not only Chairman of the Royal Dutch Shell Group but a distinguished traveller, mountaineer, fisherman and photographer. The award consists of up to £1000 in funding, and two years’ free membership of the Society.

The aim of the award is to encourage purposeful travel in Asia. Applicants should submit a plan of a project involving travel in a country (or countries) of Asia and relating to the geography, history, politics, environmental conservation, culture or art of the area to be visited. Any part of Asia, including the Middle East, may be chosen. Plans should be include the duration of the travel, what it will cost, and how the costs will be met.

The award will be made on the basis of originality, coherence, evidence of background knowledge, and the degree to which the project is likely to add to general understanding of the area chosen and/or to benefit local people or the applicant. Preference will be given to projects that are not requirements in an academic or other course.

Applicants should provide their postal address and contact details for two referees. Applications, made in writing, should be no more than two sides of A4 in length and should, if possible, be sent both in electronic form and in hard copy. A one-page CV including date of birth would also be helpful, as would a statement detailing how the applicant heard about the award.

In the event that two or more submissions were deemed to be of equal worth, candidates would be called for interview in London. The adjudicators have discretion to divide the award among more than one candidate if appropriate. The successful applicant will be expected to make a presentation to the Society about the project after its completion, and to provide a photographic or other pictorial record.

Applications should be sent by 18 November 2011 to The Secretary, and recipients will be informed by 31 January 2012.