Analytical & Environmental Divisional Awards

Paul Haddad Medal

(formerly known as the Peter W. Alexander Medal)

The Paul Haddad Medal  is awarded annually for excellence in pure or applied scientific work in analytical chemistry in Australia, and for service to analytical chemistry. This award specifically recognises these contributions from individuals within the first 10 years of that person’s career. Nominations may be made by individuals or by RACI branches.

Conditions for the award are:

• Candidates must be current members of the RACI, with at least three years membership (cumulative), and be resident in Australia when nominated.
• The medal will be awarded for excellence in pure or applied scientific work, which involves substantial analytical chemistry, over a ten-year period since receiving your last qualification (periods of career interruption will be considered, and must be clearly stated in the application). The work may have been carried out in Australia or elsewhere. Nominees employed by industry, government or a statutory body are encouraged to apply.
• A nomination must be seconded by two RACl members and include the names of two referees with knowledge of the candidates work. Referees may second the nomination.
• The recipient will be required to present a Medallist's lecture at a venue and occasion acceptable to both the recipient and division within twelve months of the award. This lecture may be held in the recipient's home state or at a conference or other function of the division or the RACI. Ideally this lecture will be at the RACI Research and Development Topics meeting

The nomination should include the following information:

• Name & contact details
• Curriculum vitae
• A list of significant works. These may include industrial reports, patents, refereed research papers, other significant publications (e.g. books, review chapters), and/or conference papers
• A statement of no longer than 500 words of the nominee's contribution to analytical chemistry.
• A photograph of the nominee

The standing committee of the division will appoint a selection committee to consider the nominations and make recommendations. 

The nominations will be considered against the criteria:

1. Professional involvement and standing – national
2. Professional involvement and standing – international (or equivalent industry recognition)
3. Significant works (e.g. industrial reports, patents, refereed research papers, as listed above)
4. Training or mentoring of analytical chemists
5. Contributions to RACI

It is expected that nominations are able to address each of the above criteria to a minimum standard.

The medal will be accompanied by a testamur, which summarises the recipient’s contribution to science/industry or the chemical profession as recognised by the standing committee.

Nominations are to be submitted online (link on this page).

Members will be advised when nominations are open for submission.

Following the deadline, no additional applications or nominations for the award will be considered.

If the selection committee/standing committee determines that no candidate demonstrates adequate merit, they reserve the right to abstain from granting the award.

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Graeme Batley Medal

(formerly known as the Doreen Clarke Medal)

Awarded for excellence in pure or applied scientific work in Australia that involved substantial analytical chemistry, or for service to analytical chemistry in Australia over the past fifteen years. Nominations may be made by individuals or by RACI branches. 

The conditions for the award are:

• Candidates must be current members of the RACI, with at least three years membership, and be resident in Australia when nominated/applying.
• A nomination/application must be seconded by two RACl members and include the names of two referees with knowledge of the candidates work. Referees may second the nomination.
• The recipient will be required to present a Medallist’s lecture in both the recipient’s home state and another state before 31 December each year (financial support is provided for these lectures). Ideally one of these lectures will be at the RACI Research & Development Topics meeting.

The nomination should include the following information:

• Name & contact details
• Curriculum vitae
• A list of significant works. These may include industrial reports, patents, refereed research papers, other significant publications (e.g. books, review chapters), and/or conference papers. The selection committee will give consideration to those whose contribution is not directly reflected by publications.
• A statement of no longer than 500 words of the nominee's contribution to analytical chemistry in Australia
• A photograph of the nominee

The standing committee of the division will appoint a selection committee to consider all nominations/applications and make recommendations. The application will be considered against the following criteria:

1. Professional involvement and standing – national
2. Professional involvement and standing – international (or equivalent industry recognition)
3. Significant works (e.g. industrial reports, patents, refereed research papers, as listed above)
4. Training or mentoring of analytical chemists
5. Contributions to RACI

It is expected that applications are able to address each of the above criteria to a minimum standard. 

The medal will be accompanied by a testamur, which summarises the recipient’s contribution to science/industry or the chemical profession as recognised by the standing committee.

Nominations are to be submitted online (link on this page).

Members will be advised when nominations are open for submission.

Following the deadline, no additional applications or nominations for the award will be considered.

If the selection committee/standing committee determines that no candidate demonstrates adequate merit, they reserve the right to abstain from granting the award.

Link here

Environmental Chemistry Medal

The medal is awarded annually for excellence in scientific work in Australia that has involved substantial environmental chemistry, or for service to environmental chemistry in Australia, over the past ten years.

Applications/nominations can be made by individuals or RACI branches.

A nomination must be seconded by two RACl members and include the names of two referees with knowledge of the candidates work.

Referees may second the nomination. Candidates must be members of the RACI for a minimum of two years and be resident in Australia when nominated.

Applications/nominations will be considered against the criteria:

• Overall contribution to environmental chemistry in Australia over the last ten years.
• National and international standing in the field of environmental chemistry.
• Contributions by the way of research, teaching, policy development and/or application of environmental chemistry to industry.
• Service to the RACI and general promotion of environmental chemistry in Australia.

The nomination must include the following information:

• Name & contact details
• Curriculum vitae
• A list of significant works. These may include industrial reports, patents, refereed research papers, other significant publications (e.g. books, review chapters), or conference papers. The selection committee will also give consideration to those whose contribution is not directly reflected by publications.
• A statement of no longer than 500 words of the nominee's contribution to environmental chemistry in Australia, addressing the criteria listed above.
• A photograph of the nominee

The standing committee of the division will appoint a judging panel to consider the nominations and make recommendations. 

The recipient will present a medallist’s lecture at the RACI Research and Development Topics
meeting.

Nominations are to be submitted online (link on this page).

Members will be advised when nominations are open for submission.

Following the deadline, no additional applications or nominations for the award will be considered.

If the selection committee/standing committee determines that no candidate demonstrates adequate merit, they reserve the right to abstain from granting the award.

Link here

Original Research Publication Award

This annual award recognises research publications from higher degree research students that are lead author on a peer-reviewed research manuscript. The purpose of the award is to encourage students to publish their research and to assist and encourage them to participate in scientific meetings early in their research careers. The research must have a significant impact (or potential impact) in the field of analytical and/or environmental chemistry. Candidates may self-nominate, or can be nominated by their research supervisor(s).

Nominations should include a PDF copy of the paper, brief statement (<300 words) that includes an explanation of the student’s contribution to the work, the significance and innovation of the research, and impact or potential impact of the paper. 

The winner will give a keynote seminar on the research (25 minutes) at the annual RACI Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Research and Development Topics conference. A certificate will be presented to the winner with a cash award of $500 to assist with travel expenses.

Eligibility:

• Must be a financial member of the RACI as at 30th June of that year (no exemptions).
• The award is to be presented annually at the RACI Research and Development Topics conference to an enrolled higher degree research (HDR) student who in the opinion of the assessment panel has published the best research paper in the 12 months prior to the nomination closing date.
• A paper can only be submitted once for this prize.
• Full-time or part-time students may apply.
• The student will have made the major contribution to the research paper, as indicated by being first author or equal first author (either directly by author order or by formal written acknowledgement by all other authors). If this is not the case an explanation should be included.
• Eligible papers must be published (or in Press with DOI or proof of acceptance) in the 12 months prior to the nomination closing date in a peer-reviewed international journal. (for the 2024 award the following period of publication will be considered- 1 January 2023 - 30 September 2024)
• The student must have been enrolled in a HDR degree for no more than 3.5 years for PhD or no more than 2 years for MSc (equivalent for part-time students).
• If a student or research paper is nominated that does not meet one or more of the eligibility criteria, a further explanation (max 100 words) must be provided that makes a case to the assessment panel as to why an exception should be made.

Assessment criteria:

Papers will be judged by the Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Division of the RACI, with a quorum of four members. An assessment of the applicant’s work will be made by a judging panel appointed by the division who may seek referees' reports based on:

• Applicant’s contribution to the paper (as supported by co-authors)
• Quality of the journal (impact factor or journal ranking in the field)
• Innovation and originality of the research
• Scientific rigour
• Clarity of organisation and writing style

Nominations are to be submitted online (link on this page).

Members will be advised when nominations are open for submission.

Following the deadline, no additional applications or nominations for the award will be considered.

If the standing committee determines that no candidate demonstrates adequate merit, they reserve the right to abstain from granting the award.

Link here