Awards Criteria

The NZIC offers a number of prizes and awards. Each has its own criteria. The application deadline for all prizes and awards is 30th June of the year in which it is offered.

Enquiries about the prizes and awards, eligibility of applicants or the process should be directed to the NZIC Adminstrator.

Nominations for the 2024 Prizes are now open.

Selection Process

The prizes and awards are made by the NZIC Council, on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The final decision on the award will be made by vote of the Council. The Selection Committees will comprise three (3) members of the NZIC Council, including one executive member (where there is no conflict of interest), and one past awardee. Conflicts of interest will be mitigated such that co-authors, supervisors/mentors, or departmental colleagues of nominees will not serve on the Selection Committee. Every effort will be made to have a diverse Selection Committee in terms of chemistry sub-discipline, gender and other considerations. The Selection Committee may co-opt one suitable person from industry if required. The Selection Committee will make a recommendation to the NZIC Council. All application materials for all awards will remain confidential to the Selection Committee.

Easterfield Award

The Easterfield award takes the form of a medal was donated by the Royal Institute of Chemistry (now the Royal Society of Chemistry) in honour of the late Sir Thomas Hill Easterfield KBE MZ (Cantab) PhD (Wurzburg) FRSNZ FRIC HonFNZIC who was well known for his contribution in the field of chemistry and will be remembered particularly for the inspiration and encouragement he gave his students during the many years he was Professor of Chemistry at Victoria University College and for his infectious enthusiasm for chemical research. Sir Thomas was the first chairman of the New Zealand section of the Royal Institute of Chemistry and also one of the early Presidents of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC). It is therefore fitting and in accordance with the wishes of the Council of the Royal Society of Chemistry that the two should act in association.

  1. Candidates must have no more than 12 years of full-time equivalent professional experience since completing their most recent relevant qualification of a BSc, BSc(Hons), MSc or PhD Degree, or the equivalent, on 30 June in the year of their application for consideration for the award.
  2. The award will be open to all chemists in New Zealand whether or not they are members of the Royal Society of Chemistry or the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
  3. The major portion of the candidate’s research work submitted must have been carried out in New Zealand as judged by the research work published during the twelve (12) full time equivalent years immediately preceding the award.
  4. No person may be awarded the Easterfield Award more than once.
  5. The award winner will be requested to deliver a lecture on the subject of her/his research at an NZIC conference (or on some other suitable occasion) and will carry out a short lecture tour, hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry, in the United Kingdom.
  6. The award winner is expected to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the medal.
  7. The award shall be made biennially and presented to the successful candidate on the occasion of her/his lecture.
  8. The NZIC Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of work is not of sufficient merit.
  9. Expenses necessarily incurred by the award winner in connection with the delivery of his/her lecture(s) (up to a total of NZD 3500) will be covered by the NZIC.
  10. Unless otherwise agreed to by NZIC Council, the overseas lecture tour to the UK hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry must be taken up within two years of the award being made or the opportunity will lapse.

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award. Note that letters of support are NOT required.

  1. A statement which outlines the nominee’s contributions to chemistry and the impact of the nominee’s work.
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. Five (5) nominated papers. Each paper should be accompanied by a short (250 words) summary indicating the importance and impact of the work and describing the relative contributions from all authors. (The statements are similar to those required for the NZ performance based research fund (PBRF) process.)

Recent recipients of the Easterfield Award

2023 Dr Brendon Gill Waikato
2021 Dr Anna Garden Otago
2019 Dr Bill Hawkins Otago
2017 Dr Sally Gaw Canterbury
2015 Dr Justin Hodgkiss Wellington
2013 Dr James Crowley Otago
2011 Dr Bridget Stocker Wellington
2009 Dr Richard Tilley Wellington
2007 Dr Jadranka Travis-Sejdic Auckland
Maurice Wilkins Centre Prize for Chemical Science

This is the premier prize of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) and is awarded to a candidate based on the excellence and impact of their chemistry.

  1. The prize will only be made to a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
  2. The prize will consist of $1,500 and a plaque.
  3. The prize will be awarded annually.
  4. No person may be awarded the Chemical Science prize more than once.
  5. The award winner is expected to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the prize.
  6. The NZIC Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of work is not of sufficient merit.
  7. The NZIC Council may nominate candidates for the prize.

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award. Note that letters of support are NOT required.

  1. A statement which outlines the applicant’s contributions to chemistry, evidence for excellence of the work and the impact of the applicant’s work.
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. Five (5) nominated papers (the nominated papers can be selected from the candidate’s whole career. However, the work described in the nominated papers must have been carried out in New Zealand). Each paper should be accompanied by a short (250 words) summary indicating the importance and impact of the work and describing the relative contributions from all authors. (The statements are similar to those required for the NZ performance based research fund (PBRF) process.)

Recent recipients of the Maurice Wilkins Centre Prize

2024 Prof David Barker Auckland
2023 Prof Emily Parker Wellington
2022 Prof. David Larsen Otago
2021 Prof. Martyn Coles Wellington
2020 Assoc. Prof. Geoff Waterhouse Auckland
2019 Prof. Justin Hodgkiss Wellington
2018 Prof. Antony Fairbanks Canterbury
2017 Assoc. Prof. James Crowley & Prof. Jadranka Travas-Sejdic Otago & Auckland
2016 Dr Christian Hartinger Auckland
2015 Dr Shane Telfer Massey
2014 Dr Peter Tyler Wellington
Douglas Pharmaceuticals Prize for Industrial and Applied Chemistry

The Industrial and Applied Chemistry Prize was first awarded in 1978 to encourage and support applied chemical research in New Zealand. The prize will be awarded for meritorious achievement in the field of industrial or applied chemistry.

  1. The prize will only be made to a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
  2. In the case of joint work the prize may be shared between two or more members.
  3. The prize will consist of $1,500.
  4. The prize will be awarded annually.
  5. The award winner is expected to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the prize.
  6. The NZIC Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of the application is not of sufficient merit.
  7. Applications for the prize may be made by individual members, or nominations may be made by Branch Committees or by any member of the Institute.

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award.

  1. A statement outlining the industrial or applied chemistry activities or achievements of the applicant(s) and their significance in terms of improved technology, new products or other benefits to industry or the community. There is no limit on the period of time over which the work was carried out.
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. Supporting documents and publications may be submitted.
  4. The value of the work should be attested by a statement regarding the value of the work from the manager or directors of a relevant company or organisation may be included.

Recent recipients of the Industrial and Applied Chemistry Prize

2024 Prof Shane Telfer Manawatu
2023 not awarded
2022 Prof Lyall Hanton Otago
2021 Dr Brendon Gill Waikato
2020 Prof. Justin Hodgkiss & Dr Kai Chen Wellington
2019 Prof. Russell Frew Otago
2018 Mr Darren Saunders Canterbury
2017 Prof. Cather Simpson Auckland
2016 Dr Carla Meledandri Otago
2015 Dr Phillip Rendle & Dr Paul Benjes Wellington
ACES-NZIC Early Career Award

This award was created to support researchers in New Zealand at an early stage of their independent career. The awardee is expected to have made outstanding contributions to the development of chemistry in New Zealand, in either academia or industry.

  1. The nominee should be an active researcher in New Zealand at an early stage of their independent career and should have a clear path to a long-term position in chemistry research (e.g., a new PI or group leader).
  2. The nominee must have no more than 10 years of full-time equivalent professional experience since completing their most recent relevant qualification of a BSc, BSc(Hons), MSc or PhD Degree, or the equivalent, on the date of their application for consideration for the award. This timeframe can be extended for researchers whose careers were delayed or interrupted because of personal circumstances or external factors (e.g., parental leave, laboratory closures, etc.)
  3. The nominee is expected to have made outstanding contributions to the development of chemistry in New Zealand.
  4. The nominee must be an active NZIC member at the time of nomination.
  5. The prize will consist of €1000 or equivalent in NZD (with an expectation that part of this will cover travel to the national conference) and an invitation to submit to an ACES affiliated journal.
  6. The awardee will be expected to deliver a lecture on the subject of their research at the next available NZIC national conference. The conference fee will be covered by the NZIC.
  7. The award will be offered annually. The NZIC Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of application is not of sufficient merit.
  8. No person may be awarded the ACES-NZIC Early Career Award more than once.

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award.

  1. A statement which outlines the nominee’s contributions to chemistry, evidence for excellence of the work and the impact of the nominee’s work. The statement can summarise the nominee’s academic achievements or be a summary outlining the industrial or applied chemistry activities or achievements and their significance in terms of improved technology, new products or other benefits to industry or the community.
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. Up to three (3) nominated outputs or pieces of supporting information. An output can consist of an academic paper, industry report, or attestation to the value of the work from a manager or relevant end-user. Each output should be accompanied by a short (250 words) summary indicating the importance and impact of the work.

Recent recipients of the ACES-NZIC Early Career Award

2024 Dr Lisa Pilkington Auckland
2023 Dr Cameron Weber Auckland
2022 Dr Sara Miller Otago
sciPAD Denis Hogan Chemical Education Award

The NZIC Denis Hogan award for Chemical Education, recognises excellence in teaching chemistry. The award shall be made to a person who has made an important contribution to Chemical Education in New Zealand. The award will normally be made to a secondary school teacher actively involved in teaching chemistry but tertiary level educators will also be considered.

  1. The award is not restricted to financial members of the NZIC.
  2. The award will consist of $1000 and a certificate.
  3. The award will be made annually.
  4. The award winner is encouraged to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the prize.
  5. The NZIC Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of the application is not of sufficient merit.
  6. Applications for the prize may be made by individual members, or nominations may be made by Branch Committees or by any member of the NZIC.

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award. Note that letters of support are NOT required.

  1. A statement detailing the candidate’s contributions to chemical education.
  2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
  3. Two independent supporting statements from referees commenting on the educational activities of the candidate and their significance to chemical education.

Recent recipients of the Denis Hogan Chemical Education Award

2024 A/Prof Michele Prinsep
2023 Sarah Gaze
2022 A/Prof Sarah Masters
2021 Jo Standley
2020 Dr Murray Thompson
2019 Prof. Richard Hartshorn
2018 Dr David Warren
2017 Dr David McMorran & Graham Townsend
2016 Jan Wikaira
2015 Sheila Woodgate
2014 Suzanne Boniface
2013 Duncan Smith
JEOL Brian Halton Award

The Brian Halton Award is awarded for an outstanding paper in the field of chemistry published by a New Zealand University student.

  1. The prize will only be made to a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
  2. The prize will consist of $1,000 and a certificate.
  3. The prize will be awarded annually.
  4. The student must be enrolled at a New Zealand University in an MSc or PhD program, or within one year of the completion of the program, when the nominated paper is published or accepted for publication.
  5. The paper must be published (or accepted for publication) no more than 12 months prior to the nomination deadline.
  6. The award is given to one person only. A group award can be made in exceptional circumstances but a clear case must be made to the judging panel.
  7. The award winner is strongly encouraged to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the prize.
  8. The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Council reserves the right to make no award in any year if the standard of work submitted for consideration is not of sufficient merit.
  9. Applications for the prize may be made by individual members, or nominations may be made by Branch Committees or by any member of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry..

Applications for this award containing the information below must be received in electronic format by the NZIC (form) by the 30th June in the year of the award.

  1. CV including publication list.
  2. Electronic copy of the publication to be judged for the award.
  3. A statement by the candidate of no more than 200 words describing the potential impact of their paper.
  4. A letter from the candidate’s supervisor providing a written description of the nominee’s contribution to the research project and to the paper. The letter should be on letterhead but may be sent electronically.

Recent recipients of the Brian Halton Award

2024 Dr James Bridson Scion
2023 Calum Gordon Victoria University of Wellington
2022 Matthew Evans Victoria University of Wellington
2021 Qing Wang University of Auckland
2020 Lynn Lisboa University of Otago
The Student Communicator Prize

This prize is awarded to the student that gives the best oral talk or presentation at a New Zealand Institute of Chemistry national conference.

  1. The prize will only be made to a member of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry.
  2. The prize will consist of $250 and a certificate.
  3. The prize will be awarded the year of a New Zealand Institute of Chemistry national conference.
  4. During the conference, the student must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at a New Zealand University, or be within 6 months of completion.
  5. The award winner is strongly encouraged to submit an article to Chemistry in New Zealand within 12 months of being awarded the prize.
  1. Each geographical branch nominates a student to present at the conference.
  2. A panel of judges to be appointed at the time of the conference will judge the entries.
  3. Where possible the panel will be drawn from international attendees at the conference to avoid any bias, ideally from the plenary speaker pool.