pacific islandS scholars Award (PISA)

The Pacific Islands Scholars Award (PISA) supports attendance and participation by Pacific Islands scholars at ASAO meetings through travel awards and waivers of meeting registration fees and membership fees. We are particularly interested in supporting younger scholars and those who have not previously attended ASAO meetings, but we encourage all prospective Pacific Islands participants (from graduate students to practicing professionals at any level) to read the application materials and the proposed sessions for the February meetings and to consider taking part in one or more of them.

Both travel awards and registration fee waivers are awarded to Pacific Islander participants who are taking an active part in one or more sessions, by serving as organizer, presenting a paper, or making a presentation in another format.

The process for participating in sessions is as follows: contact organizers of sessions for which you feel you can make a contribution and proceed from there (see descriptions of proposed sessions and organizer contact information).  Session organizers will guide you through the process of joining their session. Once you have been accepted, follow the links on this Web page to the PISA application forms and apply by the deadline. A limited number of PISA awards are available. For those interested and eligible, we enthusiastically encourage applicants to submit by October 15. For any questions, please write: Chelsea Wentworth, PISA Coordinator at cwentwor@highpoint.edu 

​PISA objectives are:
  1. To incorporate greater Pacific Islander perspective and voice in ASAO meetings, primarily in working sessions and symposia.
  2. To support and advance the professional development of junior Pacific Islander scholars.
  3. To increase Pacific Islander membership in the Association.
  4. To increase Pacific Islander contributions and leadership in the Association.

*PISA Travel Awards Deadlines*
(for the 2019 ASAO meeting in Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand) 
   October 15, 2018
November 15, 2018
   December 15, 2018
January 5, 2019
Applications Due
Notification of awardees
Deadline for accepting
Date to Submit Reimbursement Forms
In most cases PISA travel awards cover the cost of round-trip airfare. Awards also provide meeting registration, a year’s ASAO membership, and a $200 stipend for use on meals and incidentals at the conference. 
​
In order to be eligible, applicants must take an active part in one or more sessions, by serving as organizer, presenting a paper, or making a presentation in another format.

The process for participating in sessions is as follows:
​  
  • Once you have been accepted into a session, download and review the PISA application form (Available as a PDF or Word doc) and instructions, and apply by the 10/15 deadline.

​Depending on available funding, PISA gives priority to participants in Working Sessions, then to Symposia, and, if sufficient funds remain, to Informal Sessions.

Please consider applying for PISA! If you have any questions regarding the PISA application process or materials, please contact PISA Coordinator Chelsea Wentworth (cwentwor@highpoint.edu)

PISA Application Checklist


​A complete PISA Travel Award application will consist of:

All Applicants:
  • A completed application form (from the ASAO website, http://www.asao.org), available as a PDF or Word doc
  • A signed applicant statement
  • An abstract of your paper
  • A letter of support from your session organizer
  • A PDF quote for the costs of your airfare (lowest price economy roundtrip airfare)

Student, Postdoctoral, or Community/ Non-Academic Applicants:
  • A letter of recommendation from an academic advisor, supervisor, or senior colleague
  • A CV is optional

Faculty Applicants:
  • A current CV 

registration fee waivers


​In addition to travel awards, Pacific Island scholars are also invited to apply for registration fee waivers for the annual meeting. 

​You do not have to be a PISA awardee to apply for a registration waiver, but you must be planning to actively participate in at least one session while at the meeting (see applications below) in order to apply. 

​Waiver applications for session participants and session organizers (two different forms) are due no later than January 30th, 2019 and should be sent to the ASAO Treasurer and Membership Coordinator, Barbara Andersen (B.Andersen1@massey.ac.nz).

Support

The participation of our colleagues from Pacific Islands at the annual meetings is critical to vibrant and productive dialogue in sessions, at plenary talks, and in the development of research publications. Please consider supporting the PISA to help expand the participation of our Pacific Island colleagues. We encourage all ASAO members to consider contributing.

How to Support

Our new ASAO website makes supporting PISA very easy! You can now make a secure online contribution via PayPal. Simply: 1) go to http://www.asao.org/PISA.html 2) click the yellow "support" button, and 3) Follow the prompts. It's that easy! 
 
Please consider contributing monthly to PISA, which is easy when you set up a secure automatic deduction for a set amount from your bank account or credit card. When you enter your contribution amount there is a box to the right you can check labeled “Make this Recurring (Monthly).” Please consider this option to make a sustaining contribution to PISA.
Please consider supporting PISA!

Click below to make a secure contribution through PayPal. ​