News

Previous News Items

• Watch how you rub: warning on eye spikes
• Young science trio win excellence awards
• Announcement of the UNSW U Committee Award for Research Excellence in Science
• ARC success: the seal's whiskers
• "Extinct" mouse rediscovered
• World's largest wetlands study under way

Show all news items

An award of $10,000 will be given to the doctoral student in Science who is judged to have produced the best PhD thesis, in the broadest sense, within the calendar year. Criteria for the award include the quality of the thesis, the ability to convey the excitement of science to fellow members of the university and the scientific community as well as raising the profile of science in the community at large.

The current award will be given for the best PhD graduate whose thesis was passed by the Higher Degree Committee in calendar year 2007. The award is known as the UNSW U Committee Award for Research Excellence in Science. A parallel award will be given in the form of certificates of commendation to the Supervisor(s) of the winning doctoral student.

Purpose of the Awards
The purpose of the Awards reflects the commitment of the University and the U Committee to encourage, reward and celebrate outstanding achievement in research by doctoral students in any area of research within the Faculty of Science.

The Selection Process
The Postgraduate Research Coordinator (PRC) in each of the Schools of the Faculty of Science should discuss with their Head of School the successful PhD theses which, in their opinion, based in part on referee reports and in part on personal knowledge of the candidates and their contributions to science, were the most outstanding for that year. The Head of School should then nominate up to TWO PhD theses to the University Selection Committee, along with the name(s) of the principal Supervisor(s) of the student(s).

Nominations should be sent to THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, and be accompanied by

(i) a letter of support by the Head of School

(ii) a curriculum vitae for the student (including papers published, awards won, lectures given to scientific bodies, schools and the general public)

(iii) a copy of the thesis

(iv) copies of all examiner reports. Consideration will be given to the availability of the candidates to receive the awards on the arranged date and to give a major public lecture (probably the occasional address at an appropriate graduation ceremony)

Schedule of the Awards
The Award process will be announced in advance on the UNSW website. The closing date for submission of nominations for theses passed in calendar year 2007 is 3 December 2008.

The Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will comprise two U Committee members, the Associate Dean (Research), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or his nominee, the Presiding Member of the Faculty and one senior research scientist from a non-university research institution.

The Award Ceremony
A key aspect of the award ceremony will be a presentation by the awardee to a public audience. The purpose of this presentation is to stimulate and enthuse beginning research students.

Professor Fred Hilmer, Vice-Chancellor
Professor Michael Archer, Dean, Faculty of Science
Pam Macdonald, President of the U Committee
Maie Barrow, Member of the U Committee