Content
Research that Contributes to Animal Protection
Contents
Sponsor
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is sponsored by Voiceless.
Description
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is awarded to an individual or team for scientific research that has contributed, or has the potential to contribute, to animal protection.
prize
$10,000
Purpose
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is designed to encourage scientific research that makes a contribution to the protection of animals.
Research entered for this prize could cover a range of scientific disciplines, including:
• Scientific research that reduces or eliminates the use of animals or animal products in laboratory-based research, education and testing - for example:
- research into the development, testing, application and validation of alternatives to the use of animals or animal products for scientific or teaching purposes
- research that supports efforts to reduce the numbers of animals used through better experimental design, or that refines procedures so that the suffering of animals is minimised.
• Scientific research that reduces suffering of wild animals - including native animals, pest species or feral animals - for example:
- research into non-lethal management of over-populated or feral species.
- research into the effects of hunting or poisoning on animal welfare
- research into the development of systems to manage disease in populations of native animals (eg for instance, in relation to the treatment of sarcoptic mange in wombats or the facial tumour disease affecting Tasmanian devils)
• Scientific research that reduces suffering of farm animals - for example:
- research into the effects of factory farming (intensive farming) on animals physical or psychological well-being such as mutilations without pain relief, solitary confinement, confinement indoors etc
• Research that addresses community values, attitudes or behaviour towards animals or animal protection.
• Scientific research in other applicable fields including, inter alia, biomedical science, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary sciences and psychology.
Judging Criteria
Entries should specifically address how their work meets the following judging criteria:
1) Innovation
Describe to what extent the research and/or the results of the research are novel.
Explain how the research has developed or extended techniques or methods not normally used.
2) Rigour of the research program and scholarly excellence
Describe and give examples of how your research exemplifies scientific rigour and scholarly excellence.
Preference will be given to work published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed communication forum.
3) Impact
Describe what contribution the research will make to animal protection.
Explain how effectively the research has been communicated to appropriate audiences.
Conditions of entry
Research which has been obtained by deliberately inflicting pain or suffering on an animal and which the Judges determine has compromised an animal's welfare in an inappropriate, unjustifiable, or improper manner, will not be considered. The purpose of this prize is to alleviate animal suffering. It is recognised, however, that the process of genuine scientific research can involve the establishment of control groups, and that judges may be required to make assessments on this issue on a case-by-case basis.
The prize is open to individuals or groups. Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others.
Research entered for this prize must have been undertaken in Australia by an Australian citizen(s) or Australian resident(s). Where the entry is by a research team, all members of the team must meet this criterion.
The research entered must have been undertaken no more than five (5) years prior to the closing date for entries.
Online entry forms close 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online Entry Form has been completed.
Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Hard copy entries delivered to the Australian Museum after this time will not be considered.
Entries with insufficient sets of documentation will not be considered. Submitted material will not be returned.
The research entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relation to the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (including photos), may be used by the Australian Museum for promotional/publicity purposes.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete an online entry form
Submit the online entry form before 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Make sure you print out a copy.
2. Prepare five (5) sets of the entry, with each set consisting of:
1. a printed copy of the online entry form as submitted
2. a brief description of the research entered, including objectives and results to date (two page maximum)
3. a brief description of how the research entered addresses each of the judging criteria (two page maximum)
4. a maximum of four (4) written reports addressing each of the judging criteria from assessors who are familiar with the entered research. NOTE: Judges rely on assessor's reports to provide additional perspective and informed opinion on the entry. Assessors should not be personally or directly involved in the work entered in this prize.
Details of the research from at least one externally-refereed scientific publication may be included with each entry set if desired.
3. Submit the entry
Submit five (5) complete and separate sets of the entry clipped together (not bound). Please do NOT bother with elaborate presentation when submitting the entry. This will be removed before material is sent to judges. The five (5) sets of the entry should be sent to:
Voiceless Eureka Prize
Australian Museum
6 College Street
SYDNEY NSW 2010
4. DEADLINE for submission of entries
The five (5) sets of the entry must be received at the Australian Museum by 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
