The Queensland branch awards prizes for high achievement in soil science on an annual basis providing the branch has the financial resources to do so.
In the past the Branch has awarded undergraduate and postgraduate awards for excellence in soil science, and prizes at the annual Science Teachers Association of Queensland (STAQ) Science Contest for primary and secondary school students. The Branch also has an award for emerging leaders.
For more information on current prizes offered by the branch, contact: [email protected]
Description of the Award:
The PSK SSA Emerging Leaders Award is awarded to a person who has made an outstanding start to their career, who is passionate about soils and loves promoting knowledge of soils in the community, and who has the potential to be a future leader in their field.
Winners of the award receive $2000 to attend the SSA National Conference. Applicants will need to complete written criteria and give a presentation at a SSA meeting on a project they have undertaken through their workplace. There is no age limit on applicants, but they must be considered an “Early Career Professional”. Applicants must also be a SSA member. The PSK SSA Emerging Leaders Award will be awarded every two years (in line with when the National Conference is held).
The 2026 PSK SSA Emerging Leaders Award will be awarded in mid 2026, with the winner attending the 2026 Soil Science Australia National Conference in Boorloo (Perth), in November 2026.
Key dates:
When applications are open: Now
Abstracts due: 31 May 2026
Presentations by shortlisted candidates: 17 July 2026
Notification of award recipient: 22 July 2026
Definitions:
Early Career Professional: An individual who has finished their undergraduate studies and has amassed no more than cumulative 7 years full time industry experience. This ensures that those who have worked part time or taken a break are still eligible. For example, an individual who has worked part time at 19 hours a week for 3 years is regarded as having 1.5 years industry experience.
Nomination Process and Instructions:
Details about the nomination process can be found in the Awards criteria
To submit your abstract, fill out and email the Abstract Template.
While the formatting of the abstract template should not be changed (font, text size and location of your personal information), the headings for the body of the text provide a guide and do not have to be used.
The abstract, biography and 500-word response must be submitted by Sunday 31st of May 2026. Submissions are to be emailed to [email protected].
Applicants with successful abstracts will be invited to present their work at a PSK/SSA webinar in mid-July 2026 (date to be advised). Presentations will be judged by a panel of three judges. Presentations are to be 10 minutes in length with additional time for questions at the end.
An abstract template and awards criteria are uploaded to the SSA-Qld Branch website or you can request these from PSK on [email protected]. While the formatting of the abstract template should not be changed (font, text size and location of your personal information), the headings for the body of the text provide a guide and do not have to be used.
The Queensland Branch may award the Bruce Carey Award annually to a financial member for outstanding effort in promoting and raising the awareness of soil science in Australia through activity with Soil Science Australia and the wider community.
The Queensland branch and Federal Council provide funds to support student attendance at the two-yearly national conference. Normally a student must have been a member for a minimum of twelve months and have a paper or poster accepted at the conference.
Typically each university in Queensland teaching soil science is invited to nominate a suitable student who has reached a high standard in a soils related area. The award is not restricted to research projects, Awards include a cash prize, a book prize (Australian Soil and Land Survey – Field Handbook (The Yellow Book)), one year’s membership to Soil Science Australia and a certificate. Award recipients are requested to give a fifteen minute presentation of their work and answer some questions at the branch’s Undergraduate Awards Night held in conjunction with an Ordinary General Meeting. The nominee who gives the best presentation receives an additional cash prize.
The postgraduate award is for students who have conducted post graduate work by research in the field of soil science at a university in Queensland. Each university campus is invited to nominate high calibre canditate/s. A judging panel, selected by the branch, examines the theses and decides who should receive the award. The award includes a cash prize, a book prize, one year’s membership to Soil Science Australia and a certificate.
In previous years the branch has encouraged school students to get involved in soil science by providing prizes at the Science Teachers Association of Queensland (STAQ) Science Contest.
