Academy awards excellence in science

The Australian Academy of Science today opened applications for its 2014 round of prestigious awards, including career and early career researcher awards, travelling fellowships, research bursaries and conference support.

“The Australian Academy of Science will be directing close to $300,000 towards the 2014 awards as part of its commitment to celebrate and advance Australian science,” said Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory.

“The awards recognise the achievements of both rising science stars and distinguished, established scientists of Australia, drawing attention to their remarkable discoveries.”

Past winners of honorific awards include Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt, bionic ear inventor Professor Graeme Clark and conservation biologist Professor Hugh Possingham, whose work has influenced the management of national parks around the world.

“I encourage the widest diversity of scientists to nominate for these awards and apply for fellowships and grants,” Professor Cory said.

The 2014 awards, fellowships, research and conference support opening today include:

Career awards

• David Craig Medal for research in chemistry
• Haddon Forrester King Medal for mineral exploration (sponsored by Rio Tinto)
• Mawson Medal and Lecture for research in Earth sciences
• Ian Wark Medal and Lecture for applied science

Early career awards

• Fenner Medal for research in biology
• Le Fèvre Memorial Prize for basic research in chemistry
• Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for research in human genetics
• Gottschalk Medal for research in the medical sciences
• Anton Hales Medal for research in the Earth sciences
• Christopher Heyde Medal for research in mathematical sciences
• Dorothy Hill Award for research in the Earth sciences by female researchers
• Pawsey Medal for research in physics

Travelling fellowships

Five fellowships worth almost $120,000 will be awarded to support visits and lectures in a wide range of fields. They comprise the Graeme James Caughley Travelling Fellowship for ecologists, the AK Head Travelling Scholarship for mathematical scientists, the Rudi Lemberg Travelling Fellowship for biological scientists, the Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellowship and the Selby Travelling Fellowship for all natural sciences.

Research support

About $116,000 is available through the Douglas and Lola Douglas Scholarship in Medical Science, the WH Gladstone Population & Environment Fund, and the Margaret Middleton Fund for endangered Australian native vertebrate animals.

Conference support

Up to $30,000 is available for next year’s Boden Research Conference in the biological sciences, Fenner Conference on the Environment, and Elizabeth and Frederick White Research Conference in the physical sciences.

Applications close for honorific awards on 29 July 2013 and for travelling fellowships; conference and research support on 31 August 2013.

More information is available at www.science.org.au/awards/.