1. QUEENSLAND – SMITHSONIAN
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
2009

2. THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Based in the USA
World’s largest museum and research complex
Primary mission - “the increase and diffusion of knowledge”
19 Museums and Galleries
Mostly based in Washington DC
2 campuses in New York
Numerous research centres

3. SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUMS

4. SCIENCE
National Museum of Natural History (Washington DC)
Mineral sciences, palaeobiology, botany, entomology,
zoology, anthropology
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (Florida)
Carrie-Bow Marine Field Station (Belize)
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama)
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
(Chesapeake Bay, Maryland)
National Zoological Park (Washington DC)
Conservation and Research Centre (Front Royal, Virginia)
Migratory Bird Center (Washington DC)

5. SCIENCE cont…
National Air and Space Museum & Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre
(Washington DC and Chantilly, Virginia)
History, science, and technology of aviation and space flight
Center for Earth and Planetary Sciences (Washington DC)
Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(Massachusetts, Arizona, Hawaii)
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education
Mpala Research Centre (Kenya)
Joint venture with Princeton University, the Kenya Wildlife
Service, the National Museums of Kenya and the Mpala
Research Trust

6. SMITHSONIAN SCIENCE STRATEGIC PLAN
Science Matters Priorities and Strategies 2005-2010
Research, collections and outreach/education priorities:
Origin and Nature of the Universe
Formation and Evolution of the Earth and Similar Planets
Including planetary processes
Discovering and Understanding Biological Diversity
Individual species to complete ecosystems
Study of Human Diversity and Cultural Change
Historical perspectives on human impacts on and responses
to modern environmental and social change

7. ART
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (New York)
Design, decorative arts, industrial design and architecture
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Washington DC)
Asian and a specialised collection of American art
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington DC)
Modern and contemporary art
National Portrait Gallery (Washington DC)

8. ART cont…
National Museum of African Art (Washington DC)
Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
(Washington DC)
Painting, sculpture, graphics, folk art, craft and photography 18th
century to the present
Archives of American Art

9. CULTURAL HISTORY AND EDUCATION
National Museum of American History (Washington DC)
History of science, technology, society and culture in America
Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center
and the Cultural Resources Center (Washington DC)
Living cultures and history of the native peoples of the Americas
Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture
(Washington DC)
National Postal Museum (Washington DC)

10. CULTURAL HISTORY AND EDUCATION cont…
National Museum of African American History and Culture (planned for
Washington DC)
Arts and Industries Building (Washington DC - closed for renovation)
Special changing exhibitions
Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle (Washington DC)
Smithsonian Information Center
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (Washington DC)
Annual Folklife Festival on National Mall

11. CULTURAL HISTORY AND EDUCATION cont…
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museums Studies
(Washington DC)
National Science Resources Center
Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center
Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition Service
Smithsonian Business Ventures

12. QUEENSLAND – SMITHSONIAN RELATIONSHIP
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Queensland and
Smithsonian in 2000 to collaborate over a 5 year period to:
advance research
disseminate knowledge
promote social and cultural development
Unique agreement extended until 2010
Managed by:
International Collaborations (Department of Employment, Economic
Development and Innovation)
Smithsonian Office of International Relations

13. QUEENSLAND – SMITHSONIAN RELATIONSHIP cont…
Projects progressed under the MOU to date include:
Annual Fellowships Program
Third International Canopy Conference in Cairns
Queensland Museum Magnet School Program
Joint research into the population biology and
biogeography of Caribbean and Indo-Pacific Reef Fishes
Eco-Online environmental education website

14. QUEENSLAND - SMITHSONIAN FELLOWSHIPS AND ALUMNI
Launched in 2001, extended until 2010
To encourage the interchange of knowledge and skills in areas of mutual
interest
Up to three Fellowships each year for Queenslanders to travel to the
Smithsonian to undertake a project
The Fellowships have:
Reinforced collaborative activity around the original foci of the
relationship
Enabled the development of collaborative opportunities in other fields
Enhanced the knowledge, expertise and networks of Fellows and their
home organisations leading to ongoing collaborations
Queensland – Smithsonian Alumni to provide a platform for past Fellows
and other Queenslanders to explore and develop opportunities to work
with their counterparts at the Smithsonian

15. WHO HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL
Fellows have come from:
Museum / Gallery / Cultural Sector (10)
Universities / CRCs (9)
Government agencies (5)
Fellowship Project Themes:
Asian art; scientific insect illustration; application of new media; marine
park management; folklife festivals; rainforest biodiversity; brain and skull
development in schizophrenia; fossilised marine reptiles; effects of CO2
on tropical plants; reef ecosystem management; innovative practices in art
museums; museum magnet school programs; effects of climate change
on evolution; indigenous knowledge management; Queensland as a world
exhibitor; evolution of mind; educational outreach to schools; role of public
programs; indigenous engagement; peacock mites; carbon cycle;
sugarcane in Panama; engaging Indigenous students in science
education; and 21st Century museums.

16. SMITHSONIAN HOST ORGANISATIONS
(Some Fellows have had more than one host)
Science
National Museum of Natural History (6)
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (5)
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (1)
National Zoological Park (1)
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (1)
Art and Culture
National Museum of the American Indian (2)
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (2)
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (1)
National Museum of American History (1)
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (1)
Smithsonian Institution Archives (1)
Education / Other
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museums Studies (1)
National Science Resources Center (2)
Smithsonian Office of Policy and Analysis (1)

17. EXAMPLES OF OUTCOMES
Professor Roger Kitching, Griffith University, organised a major climate
change research project at Lamington National Park; some 40
scientists from 13 countries participated; supported by the Smart State
Innovation Fund.
Suhanya Raffel developed a long term exchange program between the
Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and the Arthur M Sackler Gallery;
historical Asian art from Sackler on display at QAG; contemporary
works from QAG in Washington.
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum is partnering with Dr
Angelina Russo from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative
Industries and Innovation to explore the use of social media in
museums.

18. EXAMPLES OF ONGOING OUTCOMES cont…
A design partnership between Arts Queensland, State Library of
Queensland and the Cooper Hewitt under Smart State 3, including an
annual Fellowship for a Qld teacher to work in the Cooper Hewitt’s
Education Department and development of online design education
resources.
Associate Professor Richard John, Griffith University, incorporated
learnings from his Fellowship at the National Science Resources
Center into the Australian Academy of Science's new 'Science By
Doing' initiative.
Virtually all the Fellows have noted the ongoing value of the networks
that the Fellowship helped them create both within the Smithsonian and
elsewhere.

19. SOME AREAS OF POTENTIAL MUTUAL INTEREST
Evolutionary, systemic, behavioural and environmental biology
Biodiversity, conservation and climate change
Earth, mineral, and planetary sciences
Astrophysics
Anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and indigenous and cross-
cultural studies
Material and folk culture
Science and technology
Art, design and crafts
Materials conservation
Museum management, practice, education and outreach

20. AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE
Duration:
13 to 26 weeks
Fellowship support covers:
Return economy airfare for the Fellow
Contribution towards the cost of living
The Fellowship will comprise:
Base amount of A$4,000
Plus a weekly amount of A$1,000
Maximum amount of a Fellowship is A$30,000
For the duration of the Fellowship, it is expected that the:
Full-time salary will be paid by the current employer
The Smithsonian host organisation will provide, as a minimum,
office accommodation and access to a computer and telephone

21. ELIGIBILITY
Eligible applicants include persons employed in:
A Queensland Government agency / statutory body
A Queensland-based research, educational or cultural institution
(including universities, schools and museums), business or other
organisation
Applicants must be Australian citizens, or have permanent resident
status in Australia, with their principal place of residence in Queensland
Unsuccessful applicants in any one year are eligible to re-apply in
subsequent years
Fellowships are awarded on an individual basis only

22. SELECTION CRITERIA
Feasibility of the project:
technical feasibility of the project and achievability of project goals
within the proposed timeframe
applicant's expertise and capacity to carry out the proposed project
contribution undertaking the project at the Smithsonian will make to
project outcomes.
Relevance and value of the project in:
contributing to the future work of the applicant
advancing knowledge, disseminating knowledge or developing skills in
the field
fostering an interchange of knowledge and skills and building ongoing
collaboration between Queensland and the Smithsonian Institution
benefiting the home organisation and the broader Queensland
community.

23. APPLYING FOR A FELLOWSHIP
Complete Application Form provided on the website:
Including a project proposal
Addressing the Selection Criteria.
Applicants must obtain and submit:
Two referee’s reports from different people, on the form provided
Written approval of their employer / home organisation
Written approval of the proposed Smithsonian host
Letter of endorsement from employer on the relevance
and value of the project to the home organisation and its
stakeholders.

24. SELECTION PROCESS
Managed by the Queensland - Smithsonian Secretariat in liaison with the
Smithsonian Institution
A Selection Panel, appointed by the Premier, will undertake the
assessment of applications
Eligible applications will be assessed on their relative merit against the
selection criteria
Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed, which generally include a 10-
15 minute presentation by applicants on their project

25. PROPOSED TIMETABLE
14 August 2009 Closing date for applications
Aug-Sept 2009 Selection Process
Oct-Nov 2009 Letters of offer to successful applicants and
public announcement of the Fellows

26. CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP
Successful applicants will be required to:
Make every reasonable effort to be present at the Fellowship
announcement function
Enter into a formal Fellowship Agreement with the Queensland
Government
Take up the Fellowship within twelve months of notification
Provide a written report on the results of the Fellowship project
Make presentations to interested parties after completion of the project

27. USEFUL WEBSITES
Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship Program -
www.premiers.qld.gov.au/Business_and_industry/grants/smithso
nian/
Smithsonian Institution - www.si.edu
Other Smithsonian Fellowship / Internship Programs –
www.si.edu/ofg/intern.htm
Finding contacts at the Smithsonian - ww.si.edu/ofg/mrirolist.htm

28. CONTACT DETAILS
Peter Blondell
Principal Project Manager, International Collaborations
Employment, Industry Development and Innovation
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Level 4, Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE Q 4000
Telephone: +61 7 3234 1632
Email: Peter.Blondell@premiers.qld.gov.au
PO Box 15185
City East Brisbane Q 4002