Innovative Research in Sustainability
The Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability is presented by the University of Sydney Faculty of Science
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Correction made to Assessment Criteria on 9 February 2023
The University of Sydney Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability is awarded for research that has produced innovative solutions to support ongoing and improved sustainability practices or policies.
Prize
$10,000
Assessment criteria
Entries must specifically address how the work entered meets the following assessment criteria::
Scientific rigour (30%)
Describe the investigative approach undertaken and identify the research methods employed, outlining the steps taken to ensure a robust and balanced approach.
Originality and Significance (30%)
Detail the significance of this research. Explain how and why the solutions to support ongoing and improved sustainability practices and/or policies are innovative.
Impact and benefit (40%)
Demonstrate the extent to which the research has led to the uptake or improvement of sustainable practices and/or policies in Australia, and if relevant, globally. Describe why this is important for current and future generations.
Prize specific conditions of entry
For the purposes of this prize, ‘sustainability’ follows the definition provided by the United Nations Brundtland Commission: “sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Entrants should ensure their entered activity is in line with this definition.
Entries may come from subject areas including, but not limited to agriculture; water usage and sanitation; food security, sustainable consumption and production; clean and renewable energy; responsible building; climate action; oceans; and biodiversity.
The prize is open to individuals and teams, if the achievement is the result of a collaborative team effort.
For team entries:
- For entries comprising 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 one peer-reviewed article (i.e., published in a scientific journal or similar).
Activity entered for this prize must have been published no more than five (5) 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.
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 (as defined by the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Terms and Conditions), 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 by 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 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:
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 five (5) 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, entrants must 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.
Response to 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 five (5) years prior to the Entry Deadline.
Assessor reports
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.
Reports must be prepared using the template provided.
Published article
Include a copy of one (1) published peer-reviewed article that relates most directly to the activity entered. This must be one of the articles listed in the ‘Research Summary' and have been published between April 2018 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.
