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Frequently asked questions

  • Who can apply?
    You can apply for yourself, your organisation or program, a colleague, teacher or student.
  • Can a current PhD student apply for the PhD Research Excellence Award category?
    No. Applicants must have received their conferral of a PhD degree no more than 24 months prior to the awards application deadline.
  • Do PhD graduates who apply for the award still need to be living in South Australia at the time of application?
    No. It is common for PhD graduates to gain employment overseas after completing their PhD. All finalists (including PhD graduates) must work with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to develop a video of their achievements.
  • STEMM includes mathematics, but the awards are named “science” awards. Can people from mathematics fields apply?"
    Individuals and teams with a background in mathematics will be eligible to apply. All applicants must read the eligibility criteria, conditions of entry and the guidelines before they start an application.
  • Is the Innovator of the Year category for teams or individuals?
    Both teams and individuals can apply for this award. There are no restrictions on the number of individuals in a team.
  • Do all members of a ‘team’ need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents to qualify?
    Most members of the team should be Australian citizens or residents. If there are international members on the team, please provide information about their role and reason for not being a citizen or resident (i.e. an international collaborator/contractor, a recent graduate applying for residency etc).
  • How do industry employees get endorsed for the awards?
    Industry applicants must obtain endorsement from their employer (CEO or chairperson) to be eligible for the SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards. Further eligibility criteria and conditions of entry are available in the guidelines.
  • Can I submit photos or videos to support my application?
    You can include any evidence that addresses the criteria.
  • Can I apply for more than one award category?
    Yes, if you meet the conditions of entry, eligibility and section criteria for more than one category.
  • Who can apply?
    You can apply for yourself, your organisation or program, a colleague, teacher or student.
  • Can a current PhD student apply for the PhD Research Excellence Award category?
    No. Applicants must have received their conferral of a PhD degree no more than 24 months prior to the awards application deadline.
  • Do PhD graduates who apply for the award still need to be living in South Australia at the time of application?
    No. It is common for PhD graduates to gain employment overseas after completing their PhD. All finalists (including PhD graduates) must work with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to develop a video of their achievements.
  • STEMM includes mathematics, but the awards are named “science” awards. Can people from mathematics fields apply?"
    Individuals and teams with a background in mathematics will be eligible to apply. All applicants must read the eligibility criteria, conditions of entry and the guidelines before they start an application.
  • Is the Innovator of the Year category for teams or individuals?
    Both teams and individuals can apply for this award. There are no restrictions on the number of individuals in a team.
  • Do all members of a ‘team’ need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents to qualify?
    Most members of the team should be Australian citizens or residents. If there are international members on the team, please provide information about their role and reason for not being a citizen or resident (i.e. an international collaborator/contractor, a recent graduate applying for residency etc).
  • How do industry employees get endorsed for the awards?
    Industry applicants must obtain endorsement from their employer (CEO or chairperson) to be eligible for the SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards. Further eligibility criteria and conditions of entry are available in the guidelines.
  • Can I submit photos or videos to support my application?
    You can include any evidence that addresses the criteria.
  • Can I apply for more than one award category?
    Yes, if you meet the conditions of entry, eligibility and section criteria for more than one category.
  • Who can apply?
    You can apply for yourself, your organisation or program, a colleague, teacher or student.
  • Can a current PhD student apply for the PhD Research Excellence Award category?
    No. Applicants must have received their conferral of a PhD degree no more than 24 months prior to the awards application deadline.
  • Do PhD graduates who apply for the award still need to be living in South Australia at the time of application?
    No. It is common for PhD graduates to gain employment overseas after completing their PhD. All finalists (including PhD graduates) must work with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to develop a video of their achievements.
  • STEMM includes mathematics, but the awards are named “science” awards. Can people from mathematics fields apply?"
    Individuals and teams with a background in mathematics will be eligible to apply. All applicants must read the eligibility criteria, conditions of entry and the guidelines before they start an application.
  • Is the Innovator of the Year category for teams or individuals?
    Both teams and individuals can apply for this award. There are no restrictions on the number of individuals in a team.
  • Do all members of a ‘team’ need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents to qualify?
    Most members of the team should be Australian citizens or residents. If there are international members on the team, please provide information about their role and reason for not being a citizen or resident (i.e. an international collaborator/contractor, a recent graduate applying for residency etc).
  • How do industry employees get endorsed for the awards?
    Industry applicants must obtain endorsement from their employer (CEO or chairperson) to be eligible for the SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards. Further eligibility criteria and conditions of entry are available in the guidelines.
  • Can I submit photos or videos to support my application?
    You can include any evidence that addresses the criteria.
  • Can I apply for more than one award category?
    Yes, if you meet the conditions of entry, eligibility and section criteria for more than one category.
  • Who can apply?
    You can apply for yourself, your organisation or program, a colleague, teacher or student.
  • Can a current PhD student apply for the PhD Research Excellence Award category?
    No. Applicants must have received their conferral of a PhD degree no more than 24 months prior to the awards application deadline.
  • Do PhD graduates who apply for the award still need to be living in South Australia at the time of application?
    No. It is common for PhD graduates to gain employment overseas after completing their PhD. All finalists (including PhD graduates) must work with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science to develop a video of their achievements.
  • STEMM includes mathematics, but the awards are named “science” awards. Can people from mathematics fields apply?"
    Individuals and teams with a background in mathematics will be eligible to apply. All applicants must read the eligibility criteria, conditions of entry and the guidelines before they start an application.
  • Is the Innovator of the Year category for teams or individuals?
    Both teams and individuals can apply for this award. There are no restrictions on the number of individuals in a team.
  • Do all members of a ‘team’ need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents to qualify?
    Most members of the team should be Australian citizens or residents. If there are international members on the team, please provide information about their role and reason for not being a citizen or resident (i.e. an international collaborator/contractor, a recent graduate applying for residency etc).
  • How do industry employees get endorsed for the awards?
    Industry applicants must obtain endorsement from their employer (CEO or chairperson) to be eligible for the SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards. Further eligibility criteria and conditions of entry are available in the guidelines.
  • Can I submit photos or videos to support my application?
    You can include any evidence that addresses the criteria.
  • Can I apply for more than one award category?
    Yes, if you meet the conditions of entry, eligibility and section criteria for more than one category.
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SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards

Department of State Development

DIISScienceAwards@sa.gov.au
Ph: (08) 8226 3821

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*Winners of the Scientist of the Year and the Innovator or Innovation Team of the Year award each receive a cash prize of $25,000. Winners of the STEMM Educator of the Year (two prizes), Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration Award, and PhD Research Excellence Award receive $10,000 each.

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