2025 NSW Research Award Night
As part of their ongoing support of academic institutions and students, the Sydney and Newcastle Chapters of the Australian Geomechanics Society are offering the prestigious AGS NSW Research Award for research in Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology. The award aims to provide a forum for research students from NSW universities to showcase their research to the wider Geotechnical Community.
Important Dates
Closing date for abstract submissions: 31st March 2025
Closing date for report submissions 14th May 2025
Selection of Three Finalists 11th June 2024
Finalists Presentation (Sydney) 13th August 2025
Eligibility
The award is open to:
- Research students Enrolled in any New South Wales universities
- Undertaking research in Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology
- Former PhD candidates already graduated within 12 months of the event date
Candidates must preferably be current research students (i.e. No PhD awarded at the time of the application) or research students that have been awarded their PhD within a year of the event. Also, they must not have applied for the AGS YGP award in the current year. However, unsuccessful candidates who have previously applied for this award and remain to be current research students are eligible to reapply for the current Research Award.
Submissions
The submission for the Award shall comprise a report, with a geotechnical engineering or engineering geology theme, of no more than 3,500 words, giving a broad summary of the research. The report shall cover the research questions and rationale, the scope of the research, the most important results, and conclusions. The submission must be detailed enough to convey the full impact and significance of the research and should be accompanied by selected tables and figures. The student must be the sole author of the submitted report. The AGS may request supporting documentation from the candidate’s supervisor, and the supervisor’s details must be provided in the submission. The finalists will be expected to provide a written paper (with any co-authors as appropriate), which complies with the editorial requirements of the Australian Geomechanics journal (obtainable from the Australian Geomechanics Society website). The written paper must be substantially new, encompassing unpublished material, and a statement of this must accompany the written paper.
Presentation
The finalists will be required to give a special presentation of their work to members of the AGS Sydney Chapter. The presentations need to be targeted at the audience – geotechnical professionals working in the industry.
The AGS will pay the reasonable out-of-town transport and accommodation costs of the finalists.
Evaluation of Submissions
Written submissions will be assessed by a Review Panel. The Review Panel will select up to three finalists, who will be invited to present their submissions at AGS technical meetings in Sydney. The winner will be selected by the Review Panel at the end of their presentation on the basis of the selection criteria below. The decision of the Review Panel will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Review Panel
The Review Panel will consist of:
- Three senior academics from NSW universities; and
- Two AGS committee members from the Sydney Chapter.
Selection Criteria
- Technical content 20%
- The originality of content 15%
- Industry relevance 20%
- Clarity of written submission 10%
- Clarity of verbal communication 35%
TOTAL 100%
Publishing
It is expected that written papers will be prepared by the finalists for publishing in Australian Geomechanics.
Sponsorship
The event organisers would welcome a company to sponsor the event. Expressions of interest can be made to Stefano Pirrello via [email protected]
Award submission
Submissions have now closed.
Engineers Australia members participating in AGS technical sessions can record attendance on their personal CPD logs. Members should refer to Engineers Australia CPD policy for details on CPD types, requirements and auditing guidelines.