This year, council again recieved over 20 high-calibre applications from all around the world. It is pleasing to see so many good applications, covering so many aspects of malacology, but rather saddening that so few can obtain funding. A three member subcommittee had the unenviable task of whittling the applications down to six, of which council selected two for support.

Colin Beasley

Of Para, Brazil, is to recieve £500 for the study of gametogenesis in the genus Prisodon Schumacher, 1817 (Bivalvia, Hyriidae) from the Tocantins River, Para, Brazil. This project will focus on the timing of the maturation of the gonads and aims to establish at what stage mussels become reproductively mature with reference to the size of the individuals. The work will have important implications for the management of these bivalves, which are currently exploited for their mother-of-pearl.

Paul Craze

Of the Department of Biological Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, will recieve £458 to produce a genetic analysis of genital dimorphism by sequencing variable RAPDs bands from the Madeiran endemic land snail Heterostoma paupercula (Lowe). This study aims to look at genetic differences between normal hermaphrodite snails and those lacking male outcrossing organs, by sequencing the bands formed by RAPDs.

Peter Skelton