Dr Eileen Fair Scholarships: $105,000 towards earth science research
October 14, 2025
Five Massey University postgraduate students have together received $95,000 through scholarships established by trailblazing geoscientist and Manawatū businesswoman Dr Eileen Fair. Applications for the final $10,000 Masters Scholarship will open in November 2025.
The Dr Eileen Fair Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships in Earth Science are worth $10,000 and $25,000 respectively, and aim to support scientists to complete their postgraduate studies in earth science.
As a fierce supporter of education and women in science and academia, Eileen completed her Master’s in Science at Massey University in 1968 with her dissertation dating the river terraces of the Manawatū River. She went on to complete a PhD in Geomorphology at Southern Illinois University and lectured at several universities overseas before returning to New Zealand. Eileen grew up in Palmerston North and was a passionate advocate of Manawatū, a region she called home for most of her life.
Jonathan Procter, Massey Professor of Natural Hazards and Group Lead for Earth Science, says the scholarships were the most significant on offer for earth science postgraduate students at Massey.
“The scholarships made a notable contribution to good environmental outcomes while at the same time providing support for young students, particularly women, in that discipline.
“Eileen broke the mould; she was one of the first women to come through the discipline and go on to a Master’s and a PhD.
“We’d like to thank Eileen, and the trustees of Eileen’s estate for the significant impact that these scholarships are having on students’ careers.”
Doctoral scholarship recipient Maia Kidd received a $25,000 scholarship towards her PhD; investigating how hydrothermal systems affect the properties of volcanic rock at Ruapehu, Tongariro and Whakaari.
Her findings can be used in hazard modelling and monitoring to help predict the risk of volcanic landslides and phreatic – or hydrothermal eruptions – such as the eruption on Whakaari in December 2019.
Maia says that the scholarship provided the external validation that her research is important. “I’m really grateful for the generosity of the estate of Dr Eileen Fair for supporting PhD research, which is the backbone of research in this field. You sometimes need the confirmation that your work will have a positive impact, as research can feel very individual and lonely at times.”
The financial assistance from the scholarship was also a huge relief, Maia says.
“The PhD stipend isn’t usually very high and having that extra money coming in means I’m now earning above the living wage. It’s taken the financial pressure off and removed the need for me to take on additional part-time work.”
A spokesperson for the Eileen Fair Charitable Trust says Eileen was passionate about providing opportunities to students in Manawatū.
“We have been delighted to continue her legacy and honour Dr Eileen Fair’s original Deed of Gift for scholarships in earth science.
“In May, we saw the impact of this legacy first-hand during a research presentation from scholarship recipients and their supervisors. From the quality and professionalism of the presentations, it is clear to see that the research is making a valuable contribution, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand, and internationally.”
Other scholarship recipients have researched volcanic hazard models, and volcanic eruptions and lahars on Ruapehu.
The final Dr Eileen Fair Master’s Scholarship in Earth Science will open for applications in October 2025. This scholarship, valued at $10,000, will take the total value of Dr Eileen Fair’s scholarships to $105,000.