The Society welcomes applications on a biannual basis (1 June and 1 December) for the Student Grant Scheme. The Scheme offers small grants, normally not exceeding £300, to current students, and is principally aimed at supporting fieldwork and other costs associated with BSc and MSc dissertation research. PhD students will only be eligible if the funding supports an aspect of the work that can be completed within one year.

The Scheme is intended to promote an academic interest in herpetology through short, well-defined research programmes with clear aims and demonstrable applications. The funded work must be completed within one year of the award.

Priority may be given to BHS members, but the scheme is open to all, and decisions are made on the merit of each application. The scientific scope and ethical standards of projects should be consistent with the aims of the Society.

Closing dates for applications are 1 June and 1 December each year. Decisions will normally be made within two weeks.

Applications should be submitted by email to the BHS Research Committee Chair, Dr Chris Gleed-Owen (research@thbhs.org), setting out the following:

• 1. Applicant's name, postal address, telephone, email
• 2. Course, stage, institution
• 3. Project title
• 4. Outline of the project:
  • Aims
  • Brief literature review
  • Proposed methodology
  • Timescale
  • Planned expenditure
  • Other funding sources (if any)
• 5. Relevant experience
• 6. An email or scanned letter of support from your project supervisor.

Applicants and/or their supervisors might be contacted to clarify aspects of the project before final decisions are made.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that appropriate licences and permissions have been granted where necessary, such as for working on protected species, access to land, loan of equipment etc. Insurance, health and safety are the responsibility of the student and/or their educational establishment.

An electronic or hard copy of resulting dissertations must be shared with the Society, and the Society must be permitted to publish a summary or abstract in one of its publications. The financial support of the BHS should be acknowledged in resulting dissertations and papers. Any intellectual property will remain with the student. The Society publishes details of its student grantees, and keeps a register detailing whether or not a dissertation has been lodged with us.

Every year in early December, the BHS Research Committee and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) run a one-day conference called the Joint Scientific Meeting. Its subject is the "Biology and ecology of amphibians and reptiles". The meeting is held on a weekend at the fascinating Victorian premises of the Bournemouth Natural Science Society.

Registration is open to all, and the fee is much reduced for BHS members. The event is always excellent value for money, with a full day of quality speakers, buffet lunch, and refreshments. Generous breaks give plenty of time to catch up with old friends, and make new ones. The venue is close to Bournemouth's cliffs, and with the south coast temperate climate, makes for a pleasant stroll. Sometimes delegates even manage to spot a few introduced wall lizards during the lunch break! Look out for flyers from September onwards, here on the BHS website, or on the ARC website www.arc-trust.org.