Australian Museum Eureka Prizes Terms and Conditions

Thank you for your interest in the Australian Museum (AM) Eureka Prizes.

To enter, you must comply with these Terms and Conditions, including the Core Terms and any Prize-Specific Terms and Conditions.

The Core Terms apply to all Categories and Prizes, unless specified otherwise in the Prize-Specific Terms and Conditions.

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. Failure to meet any of the Terms and Conditions may result in disqualification. The AM reserves the right to disqualify any non-conforming entries at its sole discretion and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to such disqualification.

If you have any questions about the Terms and Conditions or have any issues with submitting or completing your entry, please contact the AM Eureka Prizes administration team via email at eureka@australian.museum or phone (02) 9320 6230.

Activity or Activities means the research, work or other activity which is being submitted for a Prize.

Australia means all states and territories governed or administered by the Commonwealth of Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Australian Antarctic Territory, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Territory of Christmas Island, Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Territory of Norfolk Island, Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

Category means any one of the four categories identified at clause 2 below.

Career Interruption means a continuous absence from work for a period of more than one month, including for:

(a) pregnancy,

(b) major illness/injury,

(c) carer’s responsibilities,

(d) non-research employment (not concurrent with research employment),

(e) for First Nations’ Entrants, community responsibilities including “sorry business”,

(f) disaster management and recovery,

(g) disruption due to international relocation (maximum three months per international location), and

(h) other reasons as may be set out in the online entry form at the AM’s discretion

but does not include overlapping interruptions.

Entry means a submission via the online entry system in any Category for a Prize that complies with all relevant Terms and Conditions (including Core Terms and any Prize-Specific Terms and Conditions).

Entrant means the individual or team entrant for a particular Entry.

Finalist means the finalist for any Prize, including Highly Commended for the Category 4 (School Science) Prize.

Prize means any of the Eureka Prizes identified at clause 2 below.

Prize Money means $10,000 (ex GST).

Research Software refers to computer programs, applications, or code software that has been built for, and used predominantly in, the conduct of research. This research may occur in a broad array of sectors, including, but not limited to, academia, public sector, industry and/or citizen science.

CATEGORY 1: Research and Innovation

• NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Eureka Prize for Environmental Research
• Australian Institute of Botanical Science Eureka Prize for Excellence in Botanical Science
• University of Technology Sydney and Australian Federal Police Eureka Prize for Excellence in Forensic Science
• Aspire Scholarship Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research
• Australian Research Data Commons Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software
• Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research
• University of Sydney Eureka Prize for Sustainability Research
• ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology
• Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher
• Department of Defence Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia
• UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific Research

CATEGORY 2: Leadership

• Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science
• Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
• University of Technology Sydney Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Researchers

CATEGORGY 3: Science Engagement

• Department of Industry, Science and Resources Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science
• Celestino Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science
• Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism
• UNSW Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science
• Department of Industry, Science and Resources Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion

CATEGORY 4: School Science

• University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize (Primary and Secondary School)

3.1 These Core Terms apply to all Categories and Prizes.

3.2 Entries

(a) All Entries must be received in full by the AM via the online entry form by the Entry Deadline.

(b) Receipt of Entries will be confirmed by an acknowledgment email.

(c) Neither the AM nor the Entrant cannot modify or add to an Entry (including assessor reports) after the Entry Deadline.

(d) Late or incomplete Entries will not be accepted or considered.

(e) Submitted Entries will not be returned to the Entrants.

(f) Hard copy Entries are not permitted unless agreed in writing with the AM.

(g) By submitting an Entry, all Entrants confirm that the information provided is true, accurate and complete.

(h) Entrants must not provide false or misleading information, and the AM reserves the right to disqualify Entries, revoke Prizes and take appropriate action if misleading, inaccurate, or false information is discovered, including after the Prizes have been awarded.

(i) The AM is not responsible for Entries that are delayed, incomplete, or are lost or not received due to technical issues.

(j) If there is an error or omission in an Entry, the AM may ask the Entrants for clarification or additional information. The AM may refuse to accept any additional information that would change the Entry after the Entry Deadline.

3.3

3.4 Eligibility

Individuals

(a) Entrant must be either an Australian Citizen or Australian Permanent Resident.

Teams

(b) Teams may either comprise of two to six individuals (Small Team), or seven or more individuals (Large Team).

(c) For all Teams, the team leader must be either an Australian Citizen or Australian Permanent Resident (except where the Prize-Specific Terms and Conditions specify otherwise). Other members of the Teams do not have to meet this requirement.

(d) For a Small Team:

(i) The first listed Entrant must be the team leader;

(ii) All team members must be listed as Entrants on the online entry form;

(iii) A description of the contribution of each individual to the research/activity must be provided;

(iv) An explanation of why the Prize should be jointly awarded to the listed individuals must be provided in the research summary.

(e) For a Large Team:

(i) Entries must be under a team name and only one Entrant is to be listed on the online entry form;

(ii) The listed Entrant must be the team leader;

(iii) A description of the composition of the Team must be provided;

(iv) An explanation of why the Prize should be jointly awarded to a team of more than six individuals must be provided in the research summary.

3.5 Activity Location

All Activities must have taken place in or been led from Australia.

3.6 Nomination

(a) Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by another person.

(b) If an Entrant is nominated, the Entrant must provide input into and consent to the submission of the Entry.

(c) Entries are not permitted for another Prize in the same year.

(d) Entries or Activities that have been awarded Prizes in the past cannot be entered again.

(e) Non-winning finalist Entries or Activities from previous years are eligible for re-entry subject to meeting all Terms and Conditions of the current year.

3.7 Costs and Expenses

(a) There is no Entry fee associated with entering the AM Eureka Prizes. Entrants enter the AM Eureka Prizes at their own risk and the AM, associated Prize partners and program supporters are not liable for any loss, damage, or expense incurred by the Entrants as a result of entering into the AM Eureka Prizes.

(b) Entrants are responsible for ensuring that the conditions of any sponsorship, grant, or funding agreements entered into with a third party to produce the Entry are met, and that full disclosure of such agreements is submitted with the Entry.

3.8 Privacy, Personal Information and Intellectual Property

Privacy and Personal Information

(a) The AM will collect and use your personal information in accordance with:

(i) AM’s Privacy Statement and Privacy Management Plan;

(ii) Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW);

(iii) State Records Act 1998 (NSW); and

(iv) Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).

(b) The AM may share your personal information with:

(i) AM employees, officers, agents and contractors;

(ii) judging panels;

(iii) Prize partners;

(iv) AM Eureka Prize sponsors and stakeholders;

(v) other relevant NSW Government employees or contractors

so that the AM can:

(vi) manage the AM Eureka Prizes program;

(vii) research, assess, monitor and analyse Entries, the AM Eureka Prizes program itself, and related activities.

(c) By submitting an Entry, all Entrants consent to the collection and use of their personal information in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. To the extent that any Entrant is under the age of 18, the parent or guardian’s consent must be obtained prior to submitting an Entry.

Intellectual Property

(d) Entrants warrant that their Entries do not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

(e) Entrants acknowledge and agree that the AM will not be liable for any impact on the outcome of a patent application or the validity of a patent resulting from the submission of an Entry. Entrants are responsible for assessing the potential impact of their Entry on any patent applications and seeking legal advice and taking necessary precautions to safeguard any intellectual property rights in or relating to an Entry.

3.9 Ethical Conduct of Entrants

(a) The AM reserves the right to disqualify any Entry that violates ethical principles or guidelines.

(b) Entrants must conduct their Activity and submit their Entries in accordance with the highest ethical standards. By submitting an Entry, the Entrant confirms that the Activity has been conducted ethically and in accordance with all applicable laws.

(c) Plagiarism, fabrication of data, and any other forms of academic misconduct may result in disqualification.

(d) Any Activity involving human or animal subjects must comply with relevant ethical guidelines. The AM may request evidence of Activity approvals and permissions.

(e) Entrants must ensure that they or their team members do not engage in any conduct or activity that may harm the reputation of the Australian Museum, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, or individuals or employees associated with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes or bring the Australian Museum or the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes into disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule. The AM reserves the right to disqualify Entries, revoke Prizes and take appropriate action if such conduct occurs.

3.10 Judging

(a) Judges will assess entries against the assessment criteria published on the AM Eureka Prizes website. The AM Eureka Prizes actively promote and enforce ethical standards throughout the judging process.

(b) The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken, and the award of prizes, is binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.

(c) The judges, in discussion with the AM, reserve the right not to award a Eureka Prize if, in their view, the quality of entries is insufficiently meritorious when reviewed against the assessment criteria.

3.11 Finalists

(a) For each Prize, the Finalists will be contacted by the AM at the time specified in clause 3.3 (Key Dates).

(b) Finalists must provide images and a short film (Promotional Material) relating to their Entry (except in relation to Category 4 (School Science) where the Entry serves as the Promotional Material).

(c) By submitting the Promotional Material, the Entrants grant the AM and the Prize partners a non-exclusive, sublicensable, perpetual, irrevocable licence to use, reproduce and modify the Promotional Material in whole or in part for the purposes of promoting the AM Eureka Prizes or the purposes of the AM more generally in any format or in any media in existence now or in the future. The AM will use its best efforts to ensure that any modifications to the Promotional Material do not undermine the accuracy or integrity of the Promotional Material.

(d) To the extent that any third party content is used in the Promotional Material, it is the sole responsibility of the Entrant to secure permission for the use of the third party content, including the right to sublicence for use by the AM and Prize partners in accordance with clause 3.11(c). Entrants indemnify the AM and the Prize partners against any claims for infringement of third party intellectual property rights.

(e) Finalists and winners may publicise that they are an:

(i) AM Eureka Prize Highly Commended Student;

(ii) AM Eureka Prize Finalist; and/or

(iii) AM Eureka Prize Winner,

In each case, the reference must include the full Prize name and year

(Example: Winner of the 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism)

(f) Each winner will be provided with a year specific digital badge within two months of being announced a winner that they can use, at their discretion, to promote their winner status (email signatures, personal webpages, blogs, portfolios, etc.) Additional terms and conditions may apply to the use of the digital badge. For the avoidance of doubt, where winners belong to, or are affiliated with, organisations, those organisations are not permitted to use the digital badge to promote their organisation (unless the organisation as a whole has won the prize). Organisations should contact the AM Eureka Prizes for marketing guidelines.

(g) The Australian Museum and Eureka Prizes are trade marks owned by the Australian Museum. The Australian Museum grants to each AM Eureka Prize winner a limited, non-exclusive and revocable licence to use such trade marks as part of the digital badge solely in accordance with clause 3.11(f). The Australian Museum may revoke or terminate such licence for any reason.

(h) Entrants agree not to use the name or trade marks of the Australian Museum in a manner that may impact the reputation or goodwill of the Australian Museum or the Eureka Prizes. Entrants must not apply for the registration of any trademark consisting of or containing the words: “Australian Museum” or “Eureka Prizes”.

(i) Finalists may be approached by the AM and/or Prize partners to participate in events and/or communication activities in their capacity as a Finalist or winner. This event may be filmed and streamed in various media. By attending the event, finalists consent to being filmed for such purpose, unless they otherwise notify the AM in writing.

3.12 Prize Money

3.13 Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 Prizes

(a) The Prize Money will be awarded to the winner of each Prize, and will be paid to the winner via bank transfer in accordance with the instructions provided by the winner to the AM.

(b) Prize Money may be split up amongst a Team up to the total value of the Prize Money.

3.14 Category 4 Prizes

(a) (Individual Entries) The Prize Money will be divided equally between the winning Entrant and their school.

(b) (Team Entries) 50% of the Prize Money will be divided equally between the Entrant Team members and 50% will be paid directly to their school.

(c) (Home-Schooled Entrants) The Prize Money will be paid to the Entrant.

3.15 Any other Prizes

For any other Prizes that may be awarded, including vouchers, the recipients must adhere to any terms and conditions provided by the vendor of that Prize. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash. The AM will not be responsible for lost vouchers.

In addition to any Core Terms, Entries must comply with the relevant requirements for the Category and Prize they are entering into