If you need a formal letter of invitation from the Congress to help you obtain funding, approval to travel, or a visa, email registration@ibc2011.com with your name, address, IBC registration number, and a statement of any other information that you need included in the letter. Also specify if the letter needs to be in hard-copy or whether it can be faxed or emailed as an attached pdf.

The Congress is providing some travel assistance to delegates, through reduced registration rates generally for students and botanists from developing countries, and some targeted assistance for delegates (not committee members) involved in organising roles. A competitive call for delegates seeking additional support was considered, but this will not be possible with current budget constraints.

There are many local, national and international sources of funding to assist botanists, particularly students and early-career researchers, to attend big international conferences such as IBC2011. Listed below are sources of which we are aware. Please tell us of any others and we will list them, too.

American Society of Plant Taxonomists and the Botanical Society of America

The ASPT and BSA are pleased to announce that the National Science Foundation has awarded a grant to supplement society funds to enable participation by students and early-career scientists in this year's International Botanical Congress. Awards will be US$2000 for grad students and US$2200 for postdocs/faculty.

These travel awards to students, postdocs, and early career faculty (in first 3 years of first faculty position) will help offset the cost of attending for those who will benefit most from participating. To be eligible for a travel award you must be either presenting a poster or speaking in a symposium. Preference will be given to members of the various supporting societies, including the American Bryological and Lichenological Society (ABLS), American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT), American Fern Society (AFS), Botanical Society of America (BSA), the Mycological Society of America (MSA), and the Society of Economic Botanists (SEB). ASPT/BSA funds are restricted to Society members. The NSF funds are restricted to American citizens and permanent residents, or to foreign nationals working in US institutions in accord with NSF policy.

Address to apply for travel award: http://www.botany.org/2011-IBC/

ABRS National Taxonomy Research Student Travel Bursary Program

The Australian Biological Resources Study offers small grants to Honours, Masters and Ph.D. students in Australian institutions to travel to national or international conferences relevant to both the student's research program in taxonomy or systematics and ABRS Research Priorities. A maximum of $1,000 is available for an international conference and $500 for travel within Australia. Applicants must be enrolled at an Australian institution in post-graduate studies in taxonomy or systematics.

ABRS encourages eligible students who will be attending the XVIII International Botanical Congress to apply for an ABRS Student Travel Bursary. Evidence of registration at the Conference and evidence that a poster or oral paper presentation was submitted to the organisers of the conference must be provided to ABRS. This evidence can be provided upon submission of the application or must be provided to ABRS with submission of the final report, if it has not been provided at an earlier date. Further information about the bursaries is available here.

Australian Systematic Botany Society

ASBS supports travel of its student members to conferences. Assistance will only be paid to student members of the Society who present either a talk or poster. See here for more information.

ASBS is also sponsoring a symposium at IBC2011.

Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited

The Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia University Research Grants are scholarships offered to honours or postgraduate students at Australian universities. Each year, ten $1,000 grants are awarded.

Applicants must be a member of the Society, and those wishing to join can do so at www.wpsa.org.au. Grants are available for research projects of direct relevance to the conservation of Australian wildlife, plant or animal. Grants may be used for the purchase of equipment and consumables, travel expenses related to field research, or attendance at conferences at which you are presenting your work.

Contact info@wpsa.org.au for instructions on preparing your application.

Closing Date: 30 May 2011

The Australian Society of Plant Scientists

The Australian Society of Plant Scientists is offering student members grants to assist them present their work at IBC2011. To be eligible, students must be members of ASPS and be presenting their research either as a poster or talk. The grants offer $150 to students from Melbourne or $500 for students elsewhere. Applications should be made to the Treasurer Helen.Irving@monash.edu and include a statement of support from their supervisor. The grants will be paid in person during the meeting.

For more information please visit http://www.asps.org.au/conferences/