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Awards and Nominations

 

The Executive Committee are calling for nominations of SGTSG members for the three SGTSG medals: the Bruce Hobbs medal, the Chris Powell medal and the Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Tectonics and Structural Geology. These medals will be presented at the Conference in November 2026 should meritorious candidates be nominated and selected by the Executive Committee. The choice of recipient is at the sole discretion of the SGTSG Executive Committee, who also reserve the right to not to make an award.

 

To nominate someone please email a nomination letter of no more than two pages to SGTSG2026@gmail.com. The due date for submission of nominations is May 31, 2026.

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Bruce Hobbs Medal

 

This medal may be awarded at each regular field conference of the SGTSG for excellent contributions to structural geology. Contributions may relate to any aspect of structural geology including field mapping, field-based structural analyses, microstructural studies, experimental work, computer and analogue modelling of deformation, and regional structural syntheses. Nominees must be members of the SGTSG. Preference will be given to Australian citizens and members who have been active within the GSA. Any member may nominate another member for consideration by a written submission, which may be used as a basis for citation. Nominations will be assessed relative to opportunity based on the quality of scientific contribution rather than the age or experience of nominees. The choice of recipient is at the sole discretion of the SGTSG Executive Committee, who also reserve the right to not to make an award. The Awardee will be invited to present at the Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology field conference with subsidised registration.

Past awardees:

2024: Gideon Rosenbaum

Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Armidale

2022: Patrice Rey
Presented at the AESC 2023, Perth

2019:  Ken McClay
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Port Lincoln

2017: Rod Holcombe and Alison Ord
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Denmark 

 

2015: Pete Betts
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Caloundra

2014: Mark Jessell
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Thredbo

2012: Mike Sandiford
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Waratah Bay

2010: Stephen Cox
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Port Macquarie

2007: Christopher Wilson
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Alice Springs

2005: Mervyn Patterson
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Townsville

2003: Tim Bell
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Kalbarri

2001: Gordon Lister
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Ulverstone

1999: Win Means
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Halls Gap

1995: Mike Etheridge
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Clare Valley.

​​​​​Chris Powell Medal

This medal may be awarded at each regular field conference of the SGTSG for an outstanding research paper arising from postgraduate research on some aspect of structural geology or tectonics. The paper must be published at the time of nomination, the research it describes must have been undertaken as part of a postgraduate research degree (Honours, Masters, or PhD), and the nominee must either still be a postgraduate student or have completed their postgraduate degree no more than ten years before the closing date for nominations. The nominee must be first author of the paper and must be responsible for a substantial portion of the content.
 

Nominees must be members of the SGTSG at the time of the award, and nominations should be made by a supervisor of the research project or other appropriate person. Nominations should include a copy of the paper, an explanation of why the paper is deserving of the award, and a statement outlining the nominee's contribution in cases of multiple authorship. Preference will be given to nominees who have been active within the GSA and who undertook their postgraduate research at an Australian institution. The choice of recipient is at the sole discretion of the SGTSG Executive Committee, who also reserve the right to not make an award. The Awardee will be invited to present at the Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology field conference with subsidised registration.

Past awardees:

2024: Darwinaj Subarkah

Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Armidale

2022: Sheree Armistead
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in King Island

2022: Silvia Volante
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in King Island

2019: Kathryn Hayward
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Port Lincoln

2017: Nick Molnar
Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Denmark

2015: Nicky Wright
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Caloundra


2014: No award given
SGTSG Field Conference in Thredbo

2012: Kara Matthews and John Stewart
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Waratah Bay

2010: Alan Aitken
Presented at SGTSG Field Conference in Port Macquarie

2007: Mark Quigley
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Alice Springs

2005: Gideon Rosenbaum
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Townsville

2003: Nathan Daczko
Presented at the SGTSG Field Conference in Kalbarri

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Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Tectonics and Structural Geology

 

This award recognises an early- to mid-career Geological Society of Australia (GSA) member of any age who has made significant contributions to any field including research, education, outreach and/or professional engagement relevant to the GSA Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology (SGTSG). The recipient will have demonstrated (1) excellent communication, (2) promotion of tectonics and structural geology in its broadest sense, and/or (3) an ability to inspire other Earth Scientists and/or the general public. The Awardee will be invited to receive their award and present at the Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology biennial field conference.

Selection Criteria (nominations may address one or more of the following criteria):

The nominee must:

  • be a GSA and SGTSG member and at an early- to mid-career stage of their professional life (account will be taken of impact/contributions relative to opportunity). An Early Career Geoscientist (ECG) is defined by the GSA as a current student or one who has graduated from a relevant degree in the last 8 years (with periods of absence due to personal circumstances, parental and/or other leave excluded from this time). A Mid-Career Geoscientist is defined as having graduated from a relevant degree 8 to 16 years ago (with periods of absence due to personal circumstances, parental and/or other leave excluded from this time).

  • demonstrate high quality and effective activities that have contributed significantly to any field including research, education, outreach and/or professional engagement relevant to the GSA Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology.

  • have conducted research, education, outreach and/or professional engagement activities that have demonstrably raised the profile of tectonics and structural geology.

    • ‘Activities’ may include:

      • Leading and publishing innovative research (e.g., synthesise information and developing new ideas at the forefront of tectonics and structural geology; constructive dissemination of research – paper, conference presentation, government report, etc.)

      • Effective education and training within the Tectonics and Structural Geology community (e.g., short courses, workshops, extra-curricular secondary/tertiary educational activities, mentoring, etc.)

      • Outstanding outreach to the public (e.g., geotourism, public interest events, general interest publications, social media, etc.)

      • Provide expert advice to policy makers and industry and influence decision-making processes to support geoscience education, research, and employment

Past awardees:

2024: Melanie Finch

Presented at the SGTSG Conference in Armidale

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