The Moran Award for History of Science Research
Award highlights
- The award supports access to archives that record the history of science in Australia, especially by younger researchers.
This award is aimed at postgraduate students and other researchers with expertise in the history of Australian science. Its purpose is to support access to archives that record the history of science in Australia, especially by younger researchers, and it can be used towards travel and accommodation costs.
A total of $10,000 (GST exclusive) is available biennially. This will generally be awarded to one person, but may be split between candidates at the selection committee’s discretion.
Key dates
Below are the key dates for the application process. While we aim to keep to this schedule, some dates may change depending on circumstances.
GUIDELINES
The following guidelines provide important information about eligibility, submission requirements, and assessment processes. Please review them carefully before submitting an application.
Applications are welcome from all researchers with expertise in the history of Australian science. However, preference will be given to early career researchers and postgraduate students.
This award is open to applications from candidates of all genders.
Applicants can only receive funding from the same research or travelling research award once in a three-award year period.
Applicants may apply for more than one award but can only receive one Academy travelling or research award per calendar year.
Applications must include the following:
- Brief CV including qualifications, summary of professional/research experience and publications/presentations. A full publications list is not required. Maximum of three pages using size 12 font.
- A brief outline of the proposed project and the archives to be consulted.
- Please include an itemised budget with brief justification for each item. Up to $A10,000 is available to cover travel and living expenses. Daily allowance rates followed for this scheme are listed in table 1 of the ATO Tax determination ruling. They can also be found through contacting the awards team at awards@science.org.au
- Two referee reports. These reports are to be uploaded to the online form and should each be no more than one page in length. They should indicate the referees' knowledge of the researcher's ability to carry out the project successfully.
Funded activities are normally expected to have been undertaken within two years from the date of award. Awardees may apply for extensions due to extenuating circumstances or to apply for variations to remove or adapt to barriers encountered to their planned research or travel.
Applications are assessed by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise based on the assessed competitiveness of the proposal. The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.
- Applicants must commence their research within 12 months of being offered the Award, after which the offer will automatically lapse.
- The Award may be held concurrently with awards or grants from other institutions.
- Applicants can only receive funding from the same research or travelling research award once in a three calendar year period.
- Applicants may apply for more than one award but can only receive one Academy travelling or research award per calendar year.
- Supporting institutes and awardees are required to ensure that any research they undertake that is funded by the Australian Academy of Science adheres to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of research, severe breach of these codes may result in the withdrawal of current and refusal of future funding support. Research involving Indigenous Australians must comply with the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies.
An annual report is required on the progress of the research project. The report should detail progress on the research goals outlined in the grant-holder’s proposal, and expected vs. actual expenditure to date.
If the Grant is held for two years, a report is also required at the end of the second year.
Applications are to be completed through an online form found by clicking on the Apply button on the top right of this web page when the round is open.
Travelling awards, research grants, workshop and lecture awards
- Can awarded funds pay for salary expenses?
- The Thomas Davies Research Grant funds can cover research assistant salaries, but not primary researcher salary expenses. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award, the Margaret Middleton Fund and Max Day Fellowship Awards are not able to cover any salary expenses, for either primary researchers or research assistants.
- Can I apply for more than one research award?
- Yes – however, you can only receive one research award per calendar year. If you are ranked highly for multiple research awards, the assessment committee Chairs will decide which award is most appropriate for the project and applicant.
- Can I receive the same research award for a different project in subsequent years?
- No – once you have received a research award, you are not eligible to receive the same award for 3 calendar years.
- Can I use the funds to attend a conference?
- The Margaret Middleton Fund does not support conference expenses.
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award and the Max Day Fellowship funds can be used to cover the cost of travel to undertake research or attend relevant conferences/workshops.
- Thomas Davies Research Fund can support conference expenses if it can be demonstrated that it is relevant for the project, however, this is not the primary objective of the award.
- Can I use the funds to cover overhead expenses?
- No – each award notes the specific exclusions for use of funding; however, no award allows funds to be used towards bench fees, managerial, visa, insurance or infrastructure costs.
- Can I request feedback on my application assessment?
- No - applications are assessed based on the competitiveness of the proposal by a committee of scientists with diverse expertise. The Academy is not able to enter into discussion or correspondence regarding the reasons why an application is successful or not.
- Can I apply for the Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship if my PhD has not yet been through the confirmation process?
- No. If you are a PhD student applying for a Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship you must have completed the PhD confirmation process with your institution. Please note that specific confirmation process requirements may vary between institutions. Candidates are strongly encouraged to clarify the requirements with their institution prior to submitting the fellowship application.
Previous awardees
The 2023 award round was the last annual award round.
- 2025—Dr Joel Barnes and Dr Jess Urwin
- 2023—M.Bush
- 2022—Dr L Pearce
- 2021—Ms H Byrne
- 2020—Dr Ruth Morgan
- 2019—Ms Lisa Hunt
- 2018—Dr Linden Ashcroft and Ms Kelly McKinley
- 2017—Mr Daniel May
- 2016—Dr Francesco Gerali
- 2015—Dr Andrea Candela
- 2014—Dr Danielle Clode and Ms Deirdre Slattery
- 2011—Dr Lachlan Clohesy and Ms Ailie Smith
- 2009—Dr Jodi Frawley
- 2008—Ms Kate Rogers
- 2006—Associate Professor Kevin Downard and Dr Fredericka van der Lubbe
- 2005—Ms Bernadette Hince
- 2004—Ms Bernadette Hince
