The Ecological Society of Australia is pleased to announce Liam Berry as the recipient of the 2025 Applied Forest Ecology Scholarship. Liam is a Masters by Research student with Edith Cowan University – Uncovering the effects of prescribed burns on hollow logs.

‘This award ensures that we will be able to conduct a broader scope of the project. The extension of the project will enable us to create a basis for future predictive models,’ Liam says. ‘I believe that this is a crucial aspect for the conservation of Australia’s wildlife, as it means that hollow log survivability in future fires can be anticipated.’

Liam says that ‘hollow logs are an often-neglected yet key aspect of our forest systems’.

‘My hope for the project is to give a clear picture of an increasingly threatened habitat component for some of WAs endangered species (particularly Numbats and Quolls).  In the face of invasive predation and pressures of climate change, protecting these refuges is more crucial than ever.’

Congratulations also go to this year’s runner-up, Jasmine Leighton. The scholarship amount is $3,500, of which $2,000 is to fund research costs and up to $1,500 is to cover travel, registration and accommodation costs for the successful applicant to attend the ESA annual conference to present the findings of their research.

We look forward to learning more about Liam’s award-winning research at ESA2025 this November! Applications for this annual scholarship prize will open again between 1 November 2025-28 February 2026.