The Royal Australian Chemical Institute offers over 70 awards to celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of chemistry in Australia, including:

• excellence across various fields of chemistry, which are represented strongly in our divisional awards
• celebrating women in chemistry
• outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry
• significant contributions to chemical research
• excellence in chemical education, teaching and mentorship
• innovation and excellence in chemistry practices
• constructing the best treatise, writing, paper, thesis or abstract
• contribution to the specific chemical communities
• furthering the profession of chemistry

         and many more!

Yes, we recognise all career stages across all RACI awards, including:

Undergraduate Awards: These awards may recognise outstanding achievements by undergraduate students pursuing degrees in chemistry or related fields.

Postgraduate Awards: Awards at the postgraduate level often honour the research accomplishments of master's or doctoral students in chemistry or related disciplines.

Early Career Researcher Awards: These awards target individuals who have recently completed their doctoral studies or are in the early stages of their academic careers, typically within a few years of obtaining their PhD.

Mid-Career Awards: Awards for mid-career researchers acknowledge significant contributions to the field of chemistry by individuals who are beyond the early career stage but have not yet reached the senior level.

Senior Researcher Awards: These awards recognise the substantial and sustained contributions of established researchers and academics who have made significant impacts in the field over an extended period.

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Some awards may honour individuals who have made exceptional contributions to chemistry throughout their entire careers, spanning decades of work and achievement.

Most of our awards require membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, but several are accessible to secondary/tertiary students and teams without membership obligations.

To nominate for eligible awards, submissions can be completed online through the RACI website, accessible from the award's information page.

You can locate the criteria for each award directly on the award's information page. Just navigate through our national, divisional, or branch award pages to find the specific award you're interested in.

Nominations for our national awards are open annually from 1 April to 30 June. For divisional and branch awards, please refer to the deadlines posted on the RACI website. Members will receive notifications when nominations open, as advised by the standing committees of the divisions and branches.

The recipients of our national awards are chosen by a selection committee comprising RACI Board Members, varying depending on the award. In some cases, past award recipients are invited to participate in the selection process and provide recommendations to the Board.

Likewise, recipients of our division and branch awards are selected by either the standing committee or a dedicated selection committee appointed for this purpose.

Self-nomination is encouraged for most of our awards; however, for certain specific awards, it is not allowed. The award's information page will specify if self-nomination is prohibited.

Both individuals and teams are encouraged to nominate themselves for any awards for which they meet the criteria.

No, there are no application or nomination fees associated with any RACI awards.

Several of our awards offer monetary prizes. These prizes may be allocated to support various activities, such as funding a lecture tour or facilitating collaboration with research groups at Australian universities. Additionally, we have awards that provide straightforward, unconditional financial prizes. These details can be found on the award's information page.

Feel free to reach out to the RACI awards team at awards@raci.org.au for guidance and advice whenever needed. Please be aware that while we are happy to offer assistance where possible, we are unable to engage in the construction of your application.

We encourage applicants who have previously been unsuccessful in their nominations to consider reapplying during the next nomination cycle, provided they still meet the eligibility criteria.

The RACI selection committees are required to follow the below framework during the selection process:

Avoiding conflicts of interest: Committee members disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from evaluating nominations involving individuals or organisations with which they have personal or professional relationships.

Defined criteria: The committee establishes clear criteria for evaluating nominations, ensuring that all candidates are assessed based on the same standards.

Impartial evaluation: Committee members evaluate nominations impartially, focusing solely on the merits of each candidate's achievements and qualifications.

Confidentiality: Committee members maintain confidentiality throughout the selection process to protect the integrity of the nominations and ensure fairness.

Diverse representation: The committee may include members with diverse backgrounds and expertise to provide different perspectives and ensure a comprehensive evaluation of nominations.

Documentation and records: The committee keeps thorough documentation of the selection process, including evaluation criteria, and decisions made, to ensure transparency and accountability.

The RACI awards team is available to assist you! You can contact us via email at awards@raci.org.au or by phone at (03) 9328 2033.