Prizes and Awards

All AGS members are eligible to submit nominations, as appropriate, for the following prizes and awards. Note that no correspondence will be entered into in regard to the outcomes of deliberations.

John Jaeger Memorial Award

E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture

Geotechnical Practitioner of the Year

D.H. Trollope Medal

AGS - Don Douglas Youth Fellowship

Joint Societies Award

The Australian Geomechanics Award

Kevin Nash Gold Medal (ISSMGE)

Muller Award (ISRM)

Rocha Medal (ISRM)

Hans Cloos Medal (IAEG)

Richard Walters Prize (IAEG)

John Jaeger Memorial Award

The award perpetuates the memory of Professor John Conrad Jaeger who was Professor of Geophysics and Geochemistry at the Australian National University from 1953 until his death in 1979. Professor Jaeger's work of the greatest importance related to the physics of heat flow and rock mechanics and he published several classic books in this field. He became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 1954 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1970.

Basis of the Award
The award recognises contributions of the highest order over a lifetime commitment to the geotechnical profession in Australia. The award is not restricted to members of the Australian Geomechanics Society.

Nominations
Nominations should be made by at least three persons (not necessarily members) to the Secretary of the National Committee of the Society following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics. This will generally be six months prior to the ANZ Geomechanics Conference at which the award is to be presented.

Selection
The Chairman of the National Committee shall promulgate a sub-committee of 3 members of the National Committee to consider nominations for the award.

Presentation
The award is made approximately once every four years and is presented at the ANZ Geomechanics Conference. At the Conference, the award winner will present a paper based on the award submission. The award memento consists of a bronze medallion mounted on a marble plinth.

Past Winners

The award was first made in 1980. The next award is scheduled for 2008.

E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture

This biennial lecture commemorates the work in geomechanics by Professor Edward Hughson Davis. Professor Davis was one of the pioneers of geomechanics in Australia. He perceived that progress and understanding of the theoretical basis of geomechanics would only come if consistent, sound, but simple models of soil behaviour were used. The two topics that were the central focus of his research were application of the theory of elasticity to foundation deformation and the theory of plasticity to stability. He also made a major contribution to the theory of consolidation of clay soils. Ted Davis was always extremely conscious of the link between theory and practice, the relationship between the idealised and the real material, and the engineering significance of his work.

Basis of the Award
The lecturer is a person selected by the National Committee as having made a distinguished recent contribution to the theory and practice of geomechanics in Australia.

Nomination
Nominations should be made through the Chapter Committees, or by individuals, to the secretary of the National Committee, following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics. Determination of the award is by a subcommittee of the National Committee. The nominee is expected be a member of the Australian Geomechanics Society.

Selection
The Chairman of the National Committee shall promulgate a sub-committee of 3 members of the National Committee to consider nominations for the award.

Presentation
In the first instance the Lecturer's presentation is made separately to a meeting of members of Sydney Chapter and the Victorian Chapter of the Society. At one of those meetings, the award memento will be presented by the National Committee, or as otherwise arranged. The memento consists of a framed certificate and a glass plaque. The Lecture may be presented at other Chapter meetings, subject to individual arrangements.

Past Winners

The award was first made in 1985. The next award is scheduled for 2007.

Geotechnical Practitioner of the Year

This biennial award is for significant contribution to the practice of the geotechnical profession and the life-blood of the Society. This award complements our other awards, and particularly the E.H. Davis Memorial Lecture.

Basis of the Award
The award recognises contributions of the highest order over an extended period with a commitment to the geotechnical profession in Australia and the Australian Geomechanics Society.

Nominations
Nominations should be made by at least three persons (not necessarily members) to the Secretary of the National Committee of the Society following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics. Nominations must be accompanied by a comprehensive supporting document.

Selection
The Chairman of the National Committee shall promulgate a sub-committee of 3 members of the National Committee to consider nominations for the award.

Presentation
The award is to be made approximately annually and is to be presented by the National Chairman or his/her representative at a mutually convenient time and venue. The award winner will present a paper to a technical meeting of the Society. The award includes a glass memento.

Past Winners

The next award is scheduled for 2008.

D.H. Trollope Medal

The medal recognises the contribution of David Hugh Trollope as one of the pioneers and leaders of Australian geomechanics research and teaching. This was initially at University of Melbourne in the 1950s and early 1960s, then at James Cook University of North Queensland. Hugh Trollope was renowned as an eloquent, inspired and indefatigable leader of fundamental research, especially in the application of discrete particle mechanics in geotechnical engineering. Prof Trollope, like his long-term friend and adversary, Professor Ted Davis of University of Sydney, was one of the original pioneers of Australian geomechanics teaching and research. The award may be made every two years, provided a suitable nomination is received.

Basis of the Award
The Trollope Medal is awarded to the author of an outstanding paper on either theoretical or applied geomechanics. The work reported in the paper must have been undertaken in Australia by an author under 35 years of age and can have been published anywhere in the world in the previous four years. The nominated author must have been primarily responsible for the work and would normally be the principal author of the paper.

The paper must be based upon recent or current doctoral research undertaken by the author.
The recipient is expected to be a member of the Australian Geomechanics Society.

Nomination
The nomination can be made by any member of the Society. The nomination requires the approval of the author and should be accompanied by two copies of the paper. The nomination is to be accompanied by a copy of the Doctoral thesis, which will be returned following the selection process.

The nominations should be forwarded to the Secretary of the National Committee following a call for submissions in Australian Geomechanics. Nominations will be called every two years, normally in the alternate year to the EH Davis Memorial Lecture.

Nominations

• Adrian Russell
• Behzad Fatahi
• Helen Chow
• Helen Chow 1
• Satha Ilathurai
• Xiangtao Xu

Selection
A sub-committee of the National Committee, promulgated by the National Chairman, will judge the nominations.

Presentation
The winner will present the nominated paper at a suitable conference or group meeting.
The award is in the form of an inscribed bronze medal. It will be presented to the winner by the National Chairman, or a designated representative, at a mutually suitable time and venue.

The paper may be presented to other Chapter meetings, subject to individual arrangements.

Past Winners

The medal was first awarded in 1988. The next award is scheduled for 2008.

AGS - Don Douglas Youth Fellowship

This award recognises the contribution of Don Douglas to the geomechanics fraternity in Australia. Don was the founding Managing Director of Douglas Partners Pty Ltd.

Basis of the Award
The fellowship is awarded to the author of the most outstanding paper at an ANZ Young Geotechnical Professional Conference, or in the event that this conference is not held, at the most recently held ANZ Geomechanics Conference. The recipient must be a member of the AGS and be below the age of 35 at the time of receiving the award.

Nominations
No nominations are made for this award as it is based upon presentation of a YGP conference paper.

Selection
A committee consisting of 2 members of the conference organising committee and 2 senior geotechnical professionals in attendance at the conference will judge the award.

Presentation
The award should be announced at the closing ceremony of the conference, or in the event that this is not possible, the announcement will be made through publicising in Australian Geomechanics. Presentation of a certificate will be made at a convenient location for the winner, sponsor and National Chairman, or their representatives.

The fellowship carries a cash amount of up to $4,000. The cash component is for reimbursement of expenses incurred in attending the next International Young Geotechnical Professional's Conference following the award.

Past Winners

The fellowship was first awarded in 2000. The next award is scheduled for 2008.

Joint Societies Award

This award is presented at the ANZ Geomechanics Conference (typically in 4 year intervals). The award is made for the most valuable conference paper, excluding invited or special papers. Judging will be undertaken by a committee consisting of Australasian VP's for ISSMGE, ISRM and IAEG, and the Chairpersons of the Australian Geomechanics Society and New Zealand Geotechnical Society.

The winner may be either a member of the AGS or NZGS.

Past Winners

The award was first presented in 1996. The next award is scheduled for 2007.

The Australian Geomechanics Award

This award recognises the authors of the best paper published in Australian Geomechanics in each calendar year.

Basis of the Award
The editor of Australian Geomechanics in consultation with the editorial panel will recommend the nominated paper.

Selection
A sub-committee consisting of the Chair, Deputy Chair and Immediate Past Chair of the AGS National Committee, and the editor of Australian Geomechanics will make the final decision.

Presentation
The paper will be presented at the local chapter where the author(s) reside. The award, in the form of a framed certificate, will be presented by the most senior National Committee member available.

Past Winners

The first award was made in 2005 for papers published in 2003. The next award will be made in 2007 for papers published in 2006.

Kevin Nash Gold Medal (ISSMGE)

The Kevin Nash Gold Medal is awarded on a four yearly basis in memory of Prof Kevin Nash, who was Secretary General of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering from 1965 to 1981. The medal is awarded to a person who, through his distinction as an engineer, through his international contributions to engineering practice and education, through his contributions to international goodwill, and through his service to the ISSMGE has made a major contribution to fostering the ideals and goals of the ISSMGE throughout the world.

Past Australian Winners

Muller Award (ISRM)

The Muller lecture is awarded on a 4 yearly basis, being presented at the ISRM Congress. Nominees will have made distinguished contributions to the profession of rock mechanics and rock engineering. Nominations are made through National Groups (one nomination from each group) and are to be received 18 months prior to each Congress.

Rocha Medal (ISRM)

An annual award for an outstanding doctoral thesis in rock mechanics or rock engineering. Nominations are required 8 months prior to ISRM Board meeting.

Hans Cloos Medal (IAEG)

Biennial award in conjunction with the Int. IAEG / Geological Congress. Engineering geologists with an international reputation for their eminent contribution.

Richard Walters Prize (IAEG)

Biennial scientific achievement by a young engineering geologist (under 40) and a member of IAEG. Nominees should exhibit a significant list of publications, with outstanding contribution in the last decade.