The Department of Defence Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia is awarded for outstanding research that has led to, or is likely to lead to, innovative solutions for Australia's national security.


Prize

$10,000


Assessment criteria

Entries should specifically address how the work entered meets the following assessment criteria:


  1. Scientific Rigour and innovative approach

    Describe the investigative approach and identify how you have employed approaches not normally used in your field of research.

  2. Originality

    Identify how the research contributes to new insights within its field of science.

  3. Impact and benefit

    Demonstrate the extent to which your research has led to, or will lead to, innovative solutions for Australia’s national security.


Prize specific conditions of entry

Activity entered for this prize may come from a broad range of research areas as long as the outcome of the work has led to, or is likely to lead to, innovative solutions for Australia's national security. The areas of research include, but are not limited to, cyber security, biosecurity, information and communications, weapons systems, operational analysis, autonomous systems, and air, land, and sea vehicles.

The prize is open to individuals and teams.

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 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, however it will not be formally considered by the judges.


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 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 research 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 five (5) years prior to the Entry Deadline.

    Where applicable, please include key dates. The statement should 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.
  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 five (5) years prior to the Entry Deadline.

  3. Assessor reports

    [Statements 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 article

    Include a copy of one (1) published peer-reviewed article that relates most directly to the activity entered. This article must be among those 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.