Southern Cross University has a new scholarship named in honour of the scientist best known as the inventor of Vegemite.
The Cyril Callister Foundation is offering the scholarship to support students to study a Bachelor of Science at Southern Cross University in 2025.
Cyril Callister was a renowned scientist and inventor of the yeast extract which was sold as Vegemite.
The $1000 scholarship is open to students residing in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales and southern Gold Coast in Queensland.
The Cyril Callister Foundation was established in 2019 to raise awareness about the life and achievements of Cyril Callister and to help young people in regional areas realise their ambitions in the field of science.
It runs the Happy Little Vegemites in Schools program which promotes creativity and scientific enquiry for primary school students.
The Foundation is run by Cyril Callister’s grandson, Jamie Callister, and wife Libby, who are based in Kingscliff in northern NSW.
Mr Callister said the Foundation aimed to encourage students to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and pursue higher education.
“Cyril grew up in a small country town and his only avenue for further education was through scholarships,” he said.
“We wanted to give back because it can be hard for kids to make it to university, particularly in regional and rural areas. We are keen to foster interest in science and provide a pathway to university. I’m really excited to be able to give back to the local community.”
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Jon Hill, said the scholarship provided the opportunity for students to embark on a career in STEM.
“This is a field of rapid growth and change, from artificial intelligence to climate change, and we are equipping future leaders in STEM with the skills and knowledge to confidently navigate a career in this industry,” he said.
“I thank the Cyril Callister Foundation for their generous scholarship donation. This will open the doors for students to pursue studies in science and environment.”
The Bachelor of Science is a three-year degree offered at the Southern Cross Northern Rivers campus, the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour and online.
Students can choose a specialisation in Earth and Environmental Systems, Marine Systems or Regenerative Agriculture, or one or two majors in Applied Chemistry, Biology or a university-wide shared major.
