ACRS medal applications
ACRS AWARDS
All award applications are currently CLOSED. Please stay tuned for upcoming calls for the Science Education and Conservation award.
Since 2015, the ACRS awards a prestigious medal to recognise high achievers in the research and conservation of Australian coral reefs. The ACRS Medal is awarded in sequential years in the following categories, based on an individual’s contribution to science and conservation of Australian coral reefs:
- Established Researcher: (Any career stage). Awarded 2019
- Mid-Career Researcher: (>5 yrs and <15 yrs since completing PhD).
- Science Education and Conservation: Next award 2021
- Early Career Researcher: (< 5 yrs since completing PhD). Next award 2022
The ACRS medal will be presented at the Annual ACRS Conference and the awardee should give a plenary lecture within 2 years of the award.
ACRS Fellow / ACRS Life Membership
The ACRS awards Fellow and Life Membership status in recognition of members who have contributed to the science and management of Australia’s coral reefs and/or contributed substantial service to the broader community of Australian reef scientists and managers.
The distinction between the Fellow scheme and the Life Membership scheme is that for Life Membership status, the nominee needs to demonstrate BOTH (i) contributions to science/management, AND (ii) service to ACRS and broader community, whereas a nomination for ACRS Fellow only needs to demonstrate one of those (i.e. contributions OR service). To become a Life Member, the nominee is also required to have provided service over a prolonged period, whereas the Fellow is not. Life membership may also be awarded to those that have made a significant financial donation to the Society.
- ACRS Fellow: now open for nominations, see application form here (Closes Friday 27th November).
- ACRS Life Membership: now open for nominations, see application form here (Closes Friday 27th November).
ACRS medal recipients
2019 Prof. Maria Byrne
(Established Researcher Medal)
Professor Maria Byrne from the School of Medical Sciences and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney and former Director of One Tree Island Research Station has undertaken research on coral reef invertebrates for over 30 years. Her substantial body of work, includes important discoveries on invertebrate evolution and ecology and impacts of climate change, alongside a continued record of considerable service to the reef science community.
2018 Assoc Prof Tracy Ainsworth
(Early Career Researcher Medal)
Associate Professor Tracy Ainsworth is a Scientia Fellow at in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales. Tracy’s research focuses on the impact of environmental stress on reef-building corals, their host-microbe interactions, symbioses and disease outbreaks.
2017 Dr Russell Kelley
(Science Advocacy Medal)
Dr. Russell Kelley is a science communication consultant and program director of the Coral Identification Capacity Building Program. Russell’s output spans scientific papers, book chapters, educational tools and television productions.
2016 Prof Terry Hughes
(Established Researcher Medal)
Dr. Terry Hughes is the Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. His research focuses on the linkages between the ecology of reefs and their importance for societies and economies.
2015 Dr Nick Graham
(Early Career Researcher Medal)
Dr. Nick Graham is now a Professor at Lancaster University, UK. He tackles large-scale ecological and social-ecological coral reef issues under the overarching themes of climate change, human use and resilience.
