AMSA
Annual Conference Student Prizes

As Australia’s peak professional body for marine scientists from all disciplines and for over 60 years has promoted all aspects of marine science in Australia. AMSA operates with a membership network of individuals and corporate affiliates as a not-for-profit organisation.

Each year at the annual AMSA conference, student prizes are awarded to the most outstanding oral and poster presentations in a number of categories.

 

Student Prize Winners from Past Conferences

 

AMSA Prizes

  • Ron Kenny (Oral and Poster)
  • Peter Holloway Oceanography (Oral)
  • Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research (Oral or Poster)

Sponsored Prizes for AMSA 2025, Melbourne

  • Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) (Oral and Poster)
  • Sea World Foundation Prize for Megafauna and Seabird Science and Conservation (Oral and Poster)
  • Diversity Journal Prize for Benthic Ecology (Oral and Poster)
  • Minderoo OceaOmics Centre at UWA Prize (Oral or Poster)

The Ron Kenny Prize (Oral and Poster)

The Ron Kenny Presentation Prize for the best full-length oral presentation of research results and the Ron Kenny Poster Prize for the best poster display of research results. The prizes are named in honour of Assoc. Prof. Ron Kenny, a foundation member of the Association and editor of its Bulletin for nine years until his death in August 1987. The purpose of the prizes is to reward excellence in scientific work by students in any field of marine science, and to encourage a high standard of scientific communication. The prizes are provided by a special Trust Fund maintained by AMSA, and are the Association’s major form of recognition and encouragement of student effort.

Peter Holloway Oceanography Prize (Oral)

The prize, originating in 2002, is awarded to the best full-length student oral presentation related to Oceanography. This prize is partly funded by interest on funds donated to AMSA by the Australian Physical Oceanography Division of AMSA when it ceased to function as a separate entity in mid 2002, and from the Peter Holloway Memorial Symposium at AMSA2004 in Hobart. Peter Holloway was a highly distinguished, physical oceanographer, internationally recognized for his contribution to the observation, theory and numerical modeling of internal waves (Obituary from Marine and Freshwater Research and Obituary from EOS).

Ernest Hodgkin Estuary Research Prize (Oral or Poster)

Donated by The Committee of the Ernest Hodgkin Trust for Estuary Education and Research, this prize is to be awarded annually for the best oral or poster student presentation on research that will facilitate a greater understanding of estuarine processes and management.

Fisheries Research Development Corporation Prize (Oral and Poster) 

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) student prize was first awarded in 2002. FRDC student prizes are supported by funding from the FRDC on behalf of the Australian Government. The FRDC sponsored prizes are to be given to any category of student presenting within one year of completing their respective study course. The subject matter of the talk/poster should relate to fisheries, natural resources sustainability and/or industry development. If no suitable winners are identified, a prize will be withheld. As a condition of acceptance of this prize, FRDC is to be provided with profiles, photos and write-ups of the prize-winners and their research for consideration for publication in FRDC’s regular newsletter, or social media.

Sea World Foundation Prize for Megafauna and Seabird Prize for Science and Conservation (Oral and Poster)

The Sea World Foundation has made a commitment to support the annual AMSA conference by donating a prize for the Best Student Talk and Best Student Poster in the area of science and conservation of marine megafauna and seabirds. The winning students must provide a brief summary (< 300 words) of the presentation/project suitable for general public audiences for inclusion in the Foundation’s communications to the scientific, zoological, education, corporate and general communities both nationally and internationally. The Sea World Foundation are pleased to be able to offer financial support to students through this forum and look forward to a rewarding association with AMSA and its members. 

Diversity Journal Prize for Benthic Ecology (Oral and Poster)

Diversity has been sponsoring student prizes at AMSA conferences for several years, awarding student prizes for the best oran and poster presentations on all aspects of benthic ecology research.
Diversity is an international and interdisciplinary peer-reviewed scientific journal concerning biodiversity concepts and applications, biodiversity assessment, and biodiversity preservation. It publishes review papers, regular research articles, interesting images, and communications in the fields of organismic and molecular diversity. The aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. Full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced.

Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA Prize (Oral and Poster)

The OceanOmics Centre Prize, first awarded in 2026, recognises excellence in student-led research applying genomics tools to marine biodiversity discovery, ecological understanding, informed conservation-management, and the development of innovative biomonitoring solutions, thus encouraging the continued advancement of the field and the professional development of these early career researchers.
Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA is a world-class facility dedicated to using groundbreaking genomics-based research to characterise marine biodiversity. Focusing on Australia’s native marine vertebrates and regional marine ecosystems, we integrate advanced genomics infrastructure, specialist expertise, and strong collaborative networks to generate large-scale Environmental DNA (eDNA) and whole-genome sequencing datasets. Our work establishes a genomics-enabled foundation for biodiversity discovery, ecological understanding, informed conservation-management and the development of innovative biomonitoring solutions.

 


Eligibility – apply to all AMSA Student Prizes

  • The work presented has to have been done as part of the research project to fulfil the requirements of the award of a research degree (i.e. PG Diploma, Honours, Masters or PhD) and be presented within 12 months of graduation from the respective degree
  • All students are eligible and, if no longer a student at the time of the conference, can be considered for prizes if presenting work done for their research degree and was submitted within the twelve months preceding the conference
  • The date the degree was awarded must be vouched for by the thesis supervisor
  • The student is responsible for ensuring that approval from University and/or funding organisations has been granted for the presentation

Award Rules – apply to all AMSA Student Prizes

  • The Oral and Poster Presentation Prize awards shall be decided by AMSA Council or its appointed Committee. If there are more than five suitable entries in either category, a second prize of such amount as decided by Council may be awarded in that category. A written citation will accompany each prize;
  • The prizes shall be awarded on the determination of a Prizes Committee appointed by the Council of the Association, representing both the Council and the Conference Organising Committee. The decision of the Prizes Committee shall be final;
  • The Prizes Committee, noting the dual objectives of recognising and encouraging student effort, may take the age and experience of students into account in reaching its decision;
  • In judging the oral presentation, the Prizes Committee shall consider clarity of expression, originality, the standard of the scientific contribution, and the presentation (including the ability to stay within the allotted time);
  • In judging the posters, the Prizes Committee shall consider effective use of the poster medium to communicate information, originality and standard of the scientific contribution. Expensive, high-quality graphics and photographs provided by institutions or external agencies will not be a major consideration;
  • Both oral and poster presentations may include review of expository materials, progress reports, or substantive research results;
  • Council reserves the right not to award the prizes, or to award only one prize in any category, if it deems that entries are not of sufficient calibre;
  • All winners must fulfil the requirements specific to the award;
  • A brief personal profile and a photograph of the winner are to be submitted by each prize winner to the Bulletin Editor by the end of the month in which the conference is held for publication in the AMSA Bulletin.

* AMSA reserves the right not to give any of the awards or prizes if there are no presentations that meet the criteria or are of sufficient calibre.