The Aspire Scholarship Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research is awarded for an outstanding research outcome that was only possible as a result of the integration of two or more unrelated disciplines.


Prize

$10,000


Assessment criteria

Entries must specifically address how the activity entered meets the following assessment criteria:


  1. Originality and Significance (20%)

    Detail how the research outcome(s) are ground-breaking, as well as how the research has influenced its field of science and/or pioneered a new area of enquiry.

  2. Scientific Rigour (20%)

    Describe the investigative approach undertaken and identify the research methods employed, outlining the steps taken to ensure a robust and unbiased approach.

  3. Discipline Integration (30%)

    Clearly describe the extent to which the research outcome(s) were only possible as a result of the integration of two or more disciplines.

  4. Impact and Benefit (30%)

    Outline the potential or actual impact of this research beyond its field of science as well as any public impact.


Prize specific conditions of entry

The prize is open to individuals and teams if the achievement is the result of a collaborative team effort.

For team entries;

  • For entries comprised of between two and six individuals, you will need to decide upon one team leader to administer the entry, however you must describe the contribution of each individual to the research and explain why the Eureka Prize should be jointly awarded. This explanation should be included in the ‘Research Summary.’
  • For entries involving more than six individuals, you will need to decide upon one team leader to administer the entry and enter using a team name. You will not have the opportunity to formally list all individuals involved in the entry.

Activity entered for this prize must have been published in at least three peer-reviewed articles (i.e., published in a scientific journal or similar).

Activity entered for this prize must have been published no more than seven (7) years prior to the Entry Deadline. Reference may be made to earlier published work if it is necessary to provide context to the entered work, however it will not be formally considered by the judges.

Activity entered for this prize may come from a broad range of disciplines, including but not limited to scientific disciplines, as long as the outcome of the work represents a scientific or technological breakthrough.


Category specific conditions of entry – all Research and Innovation Eureka Prizes

Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others. If an entrant is nominated it is important that they provide input to the documentation in support of their nomination.

For an individual entry, the entrant must be a) an Australian citizen, b) an Australian permanent resident or c) a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia or its territories, at the time the activity entered was undertaken.

For a team entry of up to six individuals, the team leader must be either a) an Australian citizen, b) an Australian permanent resident, or c) a New Zealand citizen who was resident in Australia or its territories, at the time the research entered was undertaken. Members of the team do not have to fulfil these requirements; however, they must have resided predominantly in Australia or its territories at the time the activity entered was undertaken.

For a team entry involving more than six individuals, you will need to decide upon a team name and one team leader. The team leader must be either a) an Australian citizen, b) an Australian permanent resident, or c) a New Zealand citizen who was resident in Australia or its territories, at the time the research entered was undertaken. Members of the team do not have to fulfil these requirements; however, they must have resided predominantly in Australia or its territories at the time the activity entered was undertaken.

Activity entered for this prize must have been undertaken in Australia or its territories, as defined in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Terms and Conditions.

The activity entered or nominated for this prize may not be entered or nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize in the same year.

A project or activity that has been awarded an Australian Museum Eureka Prize in the past cannot be entered again. Non-winning finalist activity is eligible for re-entry, so long as it meets all other conditions of entry.

In addition to the prize and category specific conditions of entry all entrants need to comply with the General Terms and Conditions of Entry.


Entry materials

Each entry must include the following information. All information provided will be used by the judging panel to assess the entry against the assessment criteria.


  1. Research summary

    [2 pages (maximum); 2cm margins (minimum); Size 11 font (minimum)]

    A statement by the nominator or entrant that provides an overview of the research. Key dates (month and year) must be included to demonstrate that the activity entered has been undertaken no more than seven (7) years prior to the Entry Deadline. The statement must address:

    • Research title
    • Team contribution, when relevant. For team entries comprised of between two (2) and six (6) individuals, describe the contribution of each individual to the research and explain why the Eureka Prize should be jointly awarded.
    • Background
    • Objective/s
    • Results to date
    • List of published peer-reviewed articles that directly relate to the activity entered:
      • Where an individual entrant is a joint author, the citation should note if the entrant was the principal author, corresponding author or other.
      • For entries comprised of between two and six individuals, each article or publication must be co-authored by the majority of entrants.
      • For entries comprised of more than six individuals, it is expected that each article or publication be co-authored by the majority of individuals involved in the activity entered.
  2. Assessment criteria

    [2 pages (maximum); 2cm margins (minimum); Size 11 font (minimum)]

    A statement by the nominator or entrant on how the activity entered addresses each of the assessment criterion. Key dates (month and year) must be included to demonstrate that the activity entered has been undertaken no more than seven (7) years prior to the Entry Deadline.

  3. Assessor reports

    [Reports must be prepared using the template provided]

    Three (3) statements from assessors on how the activity entered addresses each of the assessment criterion. Judges rely on assessor reports to provide an additional perspective and informed opinion on the activity entered, therefore assessors should not be personally or directly involved in it. Assessors should be selected from a variety of different organisations.

    Download Assessor report template (.doc or .pdf format)

  4. Published articles

    Include a copy of three (3) published peer-reviewed articles that relates most directly to the activity entered. These articles must be among those listed in the ‘Research Summary' and have been published between April 2016 and April 2023 Links to external sites will not be accepted.


How to enter

Entries to the 2023 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes closed at 7pm AEST Friday 14 April.


Contact the Eureka Prizes team