To foster and recognise excellence in Victoria’s early career scientists, the Royal Society of Victoria has established four prestigious competitive prizes open to Victorian students in their third or fourth year of doctoral candidature, in all areas of the Biomedical & Health Sciences, Biological Sciences (Non-human), Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences.

We are delighted to announce this years finalists from a fiercely competitive pool of 100 applicants:

• Georgia Roberts – La Trobe University’s Department of Archaeology & History
• Matthias Egglseder – Monash University‘s School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment
• Yang Chen –  Monash University‘s School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment
• Rebecca Hull – The University of Melbourne‘s School of Biosciences
• Thanh Kha Phan – La Trobe University’s Institute for Molecular Science
• Chi Hai Ly – The University of Melbourne’s School of Biomedical Sciences
• Rebecca Leane – The University of Melbourne’s School of Physics
• Dene Murphy – The University of Melbourne’s School of Physics

Of the eight finalists, only four will win the prize of $1000 for their respective categories. The award is based on demonstration of the applicant’s excellence in scientific research, ability to communicate scientific information clearly and succinctly to an audience of scientists and members of the general public on their particular research field and to answer questions from the audience.

Each of the short-listed candidates will be required to give a 15 minute oral presentation (10 minutes presentation, 5 minutes discussion) before a general audience of scientists and members at the Society on 24th September 2015 commencing from 6:30 p.m.  The order of speaking is decided by ballot on the night. In addition to the merits of the methodology and significance of their scientific work, finalists will be judged on their ability to make their work accessible and interesting to an audience uninitiated in their field of endeavour.

Winners will be announced at a special function following the presentations at the Royal Society of Victoria’s Hall.

The presentations are open to fellow students, friends and families through invitation, as well as RSV Members and the general public through this registration service.

The Biological Sciences (Non-human) prize and Earth Sciences prize are generously supported by donations from the families of previous Royal Society Presidents: Edmund D Gill and Neil Archbold respectively. This year the Prizes are also generously supported through the fundraising efforts of writer Lee S Hawke’s “Science Fiction for Science” Pozible campaign.