AORA Research Awards 2021

The Australian Organic Recycling Association (AORA) is seeking nominations for the AORA Student Research Awards for Advancing Organics Recycling!

The Awards are open to postgraduate students at Honours, Masters and PhD level enrolled at an Australian or New Zealand university, who have carried out postgraduate work that advances organics recycling activities and supply chains, and who have finalised their Honours, Masters or PhD degree between 1 January and 31 December 2020. Research considered for an award may apply to any stage of the supply chains of source separated urban derived organic materials, food and fibre processing residues, biosolids, and also agricultural residues such as animal manures and mortalities.

Nominations for the awards are open until 8 January 2021 (full timeline below)

Download the Information Flyer

Eligibility Criteria

1. Postgraduate students at Honours, Masters and PhD level enrolled at an Australian or New Zealand university.
2. Have carried out postgraduate work that advances organics recycling activities and supply chains.
3. Have finalised their Honours, Masters or PhD degree between 1 January and 31 December 2020

The AORA Student Research Awards offer the following to successful entrants:

·       Honours:              $2,000

·       Masters:              $4,000

·       PhD:                    $6,000

All winners will have summaries of their research published on the AORA website, social media and newsletter.  

All winners will be invited to present their research at the AORA 2021 Annual Conference, with travel and accommodation expenses of up to $1,000 paid (venue - Hunter Valley, NSW). 

How to submit your nomination

Nomination for the Awards must be submitted on the specified nomination form by 8 Jan 2021 to researchawards@aora.org.au

Nominees for each of the three student categories (Honours, Masters, PhD) will initially have to submit abstracts of up to two pages (Times New Roman, 12 pt., single line). Of the received nominations, three abstracts will be selected for each student category, the authors of which will be asked to submit summary papers (Times New Roman 12 pt., single line) of

·       up to 6 pages for Honours Student Projects,

·       up to 8 pages for Masters Student Projects,

·       up to 10 pages for PhD Student Projects.

Download the nomination form

Assessment Criteria

Nominees must:

·       have successfully completed postgraduate work that advances organics recycling activities, organics recycling supply chains, the Circular Economy for Organics, or similar

·       have been awarded their Honours, Masters or PhD degree between 1 Jan and 31 Dec 2020

·       provide a completed AORA Student Research Awards nomination form

·       demonstrate that their research has advanced scientific knowledge

·       demonstrate that their research has or will contribute to innovation and facilitate the adoption of new and innovative approaches, methodologies and techniques in organics recycling and re-use supply chains

·       demonstrate that their research has or will effect practical changes in organics recycling, processing, or the beneficial use of recycled organic products

·       be prepared to present their research results at the AORA Annual Conference

The nomination must be supported by at least one of the student’s supervisors. 

Selection Panel 
A judging panel comprising representatives of AORA, Komptech, the organics recycling and agricultural industries, local and state government bodies and academia will consider all nominations for the AORA Student Research Awards. The panel may elect not to select a recipient for one or more award categories in a particular year. Lobbying of panel members by nominees or their supporters may result in disqualification. The decision of the selection panel is final and no appeals will be accepted.

Timeline

The Award will be presented to the winners during the 2021 AORA Annual Conference in the Hunter Valley, which will be held between June 15^th and 17^th, 2020.

Winners agree to the following: 
 

·       All winners are expected to attend the 2021 AORA Annual Conference in the Hunter Valley (15 – 17 June 2021) for at least two days and present their research findings in a 10 minute presentation.

·       All winners have to prepare a summary (500 words) of their research for publication in the AORA digital journal and on the AORA, Komptech and CROWN websites.

·       Winners are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Incurred expenses of up to $1,000 will be reimbursed after the awards ceremony.

Awards Sponsor

Awards Management and Oversight

Further Information
 

Johannes Biala,
Director, Centre for Recycling of Organic Waste and Nutrients
The University of Queensland
Ph: 0409 062 613, Email: j.biala@uq.edu.au