RSNSW Scholarships, Early Career, and Student Awards

Applications for the Society's scholarships and student awards will be called for annually.

Bicentennial Postgraduate Scholarships (3)

Three scholarships, the value of which is determined annually by Council, plus a complimentary year of Associate Membership of the Society, are awarded each year to recognise outstanding achievements by young researchers in any academic field. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree within NSW or the ACT and must on 1 January of the year of nomination be enrolled as research students in the first or second year of their first higher degree at a university or other research institution in NSW or the ACT.

Winners will be expected to deliver a short presentation of their work at a general meeting of the Society in February or later of the year following that in which the award was made, and also submit a paper to the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Scholarships were first awarded by the Royal Society of NSW in 1999 and in 2023 were redesignated by Council to commemorate the Society’s Bicentenary.

Early Career Research and Service Citations (3)

Three citations plus a complimentary year of Associate Membership of the Society, are awarded each year to recognise outstanding contributions to research and service to the academic and wider community.  Applicants must on 1 January of the year of nomination be no more than 5 years after the award of their PhD by a university or other research institution in NSW or the ACT.

Winners will be expected to deliver a short presentation of their work at a general meeting of the Society in February or later of the year following that in which the award was made, and also submit a paper to the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Jak Kelly Postgraduate Award

Awarded for excellence in postgraduate research in physics annually. The winner is selected from presenters at each year’s Australian Institute of Physics, NSW Branch Postgraduate Awards, as advised to the Awards Committee of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

The Jak Kelly Award honours Jak Kelly (1928-2012), Professor and head of Physics at the University of NSW (1985-1989), Honorary Professor at The University of Sydney (2004), and President of the Royal Society of NSW (2005-2006). It was first awarded in 2010.

RSNSW Career Excellence Medals

Applications for career excellence medals will be called for annually in the four categories described below. Additional information about the conditions of these awards and how to apply will be made available in coming months.

Please note that the call for applications for awards opens on 1 July and closes on 30 September of each year.

RSNSW Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Scholars Medal

Awarded for the most meritorious contributions to knowledge and society made by scholars identifying as Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Note: When appropriate, this Medal may recognise teams as well as individuals. Nominators are welcome to consult the Society for guidance before making a team nomination, noting that only one physical medal is presented.

James Cook Medal

Awarded for the most meritorious lifetime contribution to knowledge and society made mainly in Australia or its territories by an individual and conducted mainly in New South Wales. The recipient may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The James Cook Medal was established by Council in 1943 and has been awarded periodically since 1947.

Edgeworth David Medal

Awarded for the most meritorious contributions to knowledge and society in Australia or its territories, conducted mainly in New South Wales by an individual who is from 5 – 15 years post-PhD or equivalent on 1 January of the year of the award. The recipient may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Edgeworth David Medal was established by Council in 1943 in honour of Sir T. W. Edgeworth David FRS, who compiled the first comprehensive record of the geology of Australia. It has been periodically awarded since 1948.

Ida Browne Early Career Medal

Awarded for the most meritorious contributions to knowledge and society made mainly in Australia or its territories by an individual from 0–5 years post-PhD or equivalent on 1 January of the year of the award and conducted in New South Wales. The recipient may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Ida Browne Medal was established by Council in 2023 in honour of Ida Browne DSc, palaeontologist and first woman President of the Royal Society of NSW, serving from 1953-1954.

RSNSW Discipline Awards and Lectureships

Applications for the Society's discipline awards and lectureships will be called for annually.

These Awards are made on a three-yearly cycle, from Year Categories A, B, and C, as indicated in the listing of the Awards, with Category A Awards commencing in 2023, Category B in 2024, and Category C in 2025.

Please note that the call for applications for awards opens on 1 July and closes on 30 September of each year.

For 2023, applications will be sought for Category A Awards.

Notes:

1. Nominees for a Discipline Award may not have won a previous RSNSW Discipline Award for their work in the same discipline.
2. Where appropriate, Awards may recognise teams as well as individuals. Nominators are welcome to consult the Society for guidance before making a team nomination, noting that for Medals, one physical medal only is presented.
3. Winners of Awards with Lectureships are expected to publish their Lecture in the Society’s Journal.

Category A Awards — offered in 2023, 2026, 2029, ...

Clarke Medal and Lectureship in the Earth Sciences

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the sciences affecting the planet, excluding Medicine and Veterinary Science, and Agricultural and Environmental Science, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Royal Society of NSW Clarke Medal honours Rev. William Branwhite Clarke, geologist, and a father of the Royal Society of NSW, serving as its first joint Vice-President. It was first awarded in 1903, with the first Clarke Memorial Lecture delivered in 1906. Since 2018, Medal and Lectureship have been conjoined.

Walter Burfitt Award in Medical and Veterinary Sciences and Technologies

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences and Technologies, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Walter Burfitt Award honours the life and work of Walter F. Burfitt BA MB ChM BSc, an eminent Sydney surgeon in the 1950s. It was established as a prize with generous support from Dr Burfitt and his wife, and was first awarded in 1929. In 2004, funding for the prize was augmented by Dr Burfitt’s grand-daughter, Dr Anne Thoeming. In 2023, Council designated it the Royal Society of NSW Walter Burfitt Award.

RSNSW Award in the Social and Behavioural Sciences

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Social and Behavioural Sciences including Psychology, Economics, Management and related disciplines, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Council established the Royal Society of NSW Social and Behavioural Sciences Award in 2023 to reflect the full scope of the Society’s founding values.

RSNSW Award in the History and Philosophy of Science

Awarded for distinguished research in the History and Philosophy of Science conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Royal Society of NSW History and Philosophy of Science Award was established by Council in 2013 to reflect the founding values of the Society and was first awarded in 2014.

Category B Awards — offered in 2024, 2027, 2030, ...

Pollock Award and Lectureship in the Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Physical Sciences and Mathematics, excluding the Chemical and Earth Sciences, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Pollock Memorial Lectureship was first awarded in 1949, sponsored by The University of Sydney and the Society, in memory of J.A. Pollock, Professor of Physics at The University of Sydney (1899-1922) and a member of the Society for 35 years. In 2023, Council designated it the Royal Society of NSW Pollock Award and Lectureship.

Poggendorff Award and Lectureship in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Poggendorff Award and Lectureship honours Walter Poggendorff, an eminent biologist and noted plant breeder in the 1930s and 40s, and his bequest to the Society to support a Lectureship. It was first awarded in 1987 and in 2023 Council designated it the Royal Society of NSW Poggendorff Award and Lectureship.

RSNSW Award in the Humanities, Philosophy, and Law

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Humanities, Philosophy and Law, excluding the History and Philosophy of Science, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Council established the Royal Society of NSW Humanities, Philosophy and Law Award in 2023 to reflect the full scope of the Society’s founding values.

RSNSW Interdisciplinary Award

Awarded for distinguished research which spans across disciplines, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Council established the Royal Society of NSW Interdisciplinary Award in 2023 to reflect the full scope of the Society’s founding values.

Category C Awards — offered in 2025, 2028, 2031, ...

Liversidge Award and Lectureship in the Chemical Sciences

 Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Chemical Sciences, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Liversidge Lectureship was established in 1931 by the Royal Society of NSW in conjunction with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), in honour of Archibald Liversidge MA LLD FRS, Professor of Chemistry at The University of Sydney (1874-1907), and one of the Society’s Council members who sponsored its Act of Incorporation in 1881. In 2023, Council designated it the Royal Society of NSW Liversidge Award and Lectureship.

Warren Award in Engineering, Technology, Architecture, and Design

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Design, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

The Warren Award honours William Henry Warren, Foundation Professor of Engineering at The University of Sydney, establishing the first faculty of engineering in New South Wales in 1884. He was founding President of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, and twice President of the Royal Society of NSW. The Warren Prize (then medal) was first awarded in 2020 and in 2023 Council designated it the Royal Society of NSW Warren Award.

RSNSW Award in the Creative and Performing Arts

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Creative Arts and/or Performance, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Council established the Royal Society of NSW Creative and Performing Arts Award in 2023 to reflect the full scope of the Society’s founding values.

RSNSW Award in the Life Sciences

Awarded for distinguished research in any area of the Life Sciences, excluding veterinary and medical sciences, conducted mainly in New South Wales. Recipients may be resident in Australia or elsewhere.

Council established the Royal Society of NSW Life Sciences Award in 2023 to reflect the full scope of the Society’s founding values.

Royal Society of NSW Awards (from 2023)

The Royal Society of New South Wales has long recognised distinguished achievements in various fields of knowledge through its Awards. Some are amongst the oldest in Australia while others are more recent. From its Act of Incorporation in 1881, the Society’s mission has been to encourage “studies and investigations in Science, Art, Literature and Philosophy”. In 2023, the Society determined to broaden and streamline its Awards portfolio to recognize recent and evolving fields and disciplines, and emerging as well as established stars.

From 2023, the Society Awards are made in two main classes reflecting the Society’s history: Career Excellence Medals and Disciplinary Awards and Medals; with additional Awards, Scholarships and Citations, including Internal Awards for distinguished service to the Society. External nominations are most welcome for all but the Internal and Discretionary Awards which are determined by the Council of the Society. Conditions and nomination forms are listed at each Award’s individual webpage and some guidance notes are provided below.

Nominations for all available Awards open on 1 July each year and close on 30 September. Awardees are announced by the end of that calendar year with formal presentations of their Awards in the following year. All nominations require a nominator, a seconder, and the acceptance of the nominee.

Information about historical Awards and their winners prior to 2023 is available from the preceding link.

Information about the new Awards program will be available from the Awards menu when it is updated in the second quarter of 2023.