The Young Tall Poppy Awards are open to Australian residents working in all fields of science, including biomedical, behavioural sciences, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, technology and other applied or cross disciplinary sciences.

Selection criteria include excellence in research demonstrating significant scientific and analytical rigour and the impact of their outreach activities in communication and community engagement in promoting an understanding of science.

Nominations from those working in industry or policy sectors and demonstrating an equally high level of research achievement to those in research institutions are encouraged.

Nominees should hold a PhD. The selection committee will consider exceptions based on evidence of equivalent experience in industry.

Nominees must have their PhD conferred within three to ten years of the nomination closing date. (NB. Note change from previous years)

The selection committee will take into account personal or extenuating circumstances that might provide grounds for consideration outside the above criterion. Please include details about career interruptions in the nomination form, e.g., due to carer’s leave or ill health.

Nominees should currently be working in Australia and have undertaken a significant portion of their postgraduate research in Australia and be committed to carrying out their research/work in Australia in the year following their presentation, to allow them to participate in outreach activities.

Nominees must be either permanent residents or citizens of Australia. New Zealand citizens may also apply, subject to fulfilling the criteria above.

Only individual scientists are eligible (not research teams).

Self-nominations are not eligible.

Previous Tall Poppy recipients are not eligible.

Nominees are only to apply for one state's award (not across multiple states)

The 2025 YTP application is an online form. Click here if you'd like to preview a copy of the 2024 questions.

There will be three pages to fill in (1) Select State (2) Fill in Nominees info (3) Fill in Nominators info. Then Submit.

The best way to complete this Young Tall Poppy application form is to have the Nominee (applicant/future YTP) answer the first page of the form OR Nominator can fill in the relevant required contact information for the Nominee, then press 'Save'.

A pop up (enable pop ups on your browser) will let you know that your YTP application has been saved as a draft and that an email has been sent to you (Nominee's email address) containing a link to the draft application.

You will also have the opportunity within that pop up to copy the draft link.

Email/forward on this draft link to the Nominator. Have them fill in the Nominator page (page 2) and press 'Save'.

To submit the application form - We recommend that you (the Nominee) submit the form after having the Nominator fill in the application and press 'Save'. Ensure that you review the application and all sections have been completed before submitting.

Note you can press the 'Save' button (bottom of screen) at any time should you require extra thinking/working time to answer the questions. If prompted to log on to Jotform with a Google account etc press the "Skip Create an Account" and add your email address to receive your application link.

If you experience any issues or you have further questions, please reach out to marketing@aips.net.au

Completed Nomination Form

Please ensure you adhere to the word limits as stated on the nomination form. Exceeding these limits may result in your nomination being deemed ineligible. Where possible also include work and private email addresses.

A maximum four-page CV

Please note, any additional information attached to nominations (additional CV pages, cover letters, letters of reference, etc.) will not be provided to the selection committee.

Please include your first name and surname in your saved CV file.

The list of publications should be included in the four-page CV, otherwise you must include your ORCID number and link to your publications list.

Entries with insufficient documentation or partially filled nomination forms will not be considered.

Submitted material will not be returned.

Excellence in research achievement in all fields of science, including biomedical, behavioural sciences, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, technology and other applied or cross disciplinary sciences., shown by track record and/or by clearly demonstrated potential.

Selection criteria include excellence in research demonstrating significant scientific and analytical rigour and the impact of their outreach activities in communication and community engagement in promoting an understanding of science.

Track record could include:

Specific research achievements

Research impact/application

Collaboration achievements

Publications record

Grants obtained (including specific roles)

Patents held

Awards or prizes

AND

Excellence and passion in outreach and community engagement to promote understanding and engagement in science. Outreach may be demonstrated through achievements in specific science promotion activities and/or through connecting with varied non-scientific audiences. Specific reference to the impact of these activities should be provided.

Good examples are those that are considered impactful and reach beyond the scope of your normal workplace obligations. Community engagement is considered as structured outreach with community groups.

Relevant achievements and/or experience additional to your normal workplace obligations could include:

Initiation of or participation in school science activities, teacher development programs or parent presentations.

Significant public science presentations or involvement in community science events (e.g., Festival of Ideas, National Science Week)

Author or contributor to popular science books or books for schools, Television or Radio documentary, or online blog.

Writer or initiator of regular column or presenter of regular series/segment or blog (mainstream media, science journal, online etc.).

Engaged or featured in national mainstream, state, local or regional media.

Other evidence of a strong interest in, and commitment to, science promotion within the broader community and policy sphere.

When outlining your communication activities, be as detailed as possible. Try to include what your specific involvement was in the activity (organiser, presenter, etc.) and why you are proud of it (wide reach, good feedback, repeat invitations, etc.).

Please note, the selection committee will weigh your academic achievements and your outreach and community engagement impact equally.

Nominations will be judged by a selection committee in each state or territory according to consistent national guidelines.

The Chair of each selection committee will be appointed by AIPS and will have voting rights.

The Chair, in consultation with AIPS, will appoint an independent selection committee comprising, where possible, at least four academics/researcher leaders, one government representative, one education sector representative, and one additional representative who may represent the community, communications or industry sector. In smaller states and territories, the selection committee may comprise of less members (ACT, TAS).

In the Northern Territory, the selection committee as delegated by AIPS will be compiled in consultation with the NT government.

The selection committees will be guided by the selection criteria, taking into account the relevant age and experience of the nominees.

At the discretion of the Chair, a shortlisting process may be conducted with the support of AIPS. All nominations will remain available to the selection committee upon request.

The selection committees will reach their decision solely on the material submitted by the nominees and nominators.

Nominees will have their research achievements, and outreach and engagement opportunities and the impact of these weighted equally.

To assist the selection panels clearly outline the impact of your outreach activities.

All nomination information and material remain the property of the Tall Poppy Campaign and will remain strictly confidential.

The deliberations of the selection committee will remain confidential.

The decisions of the selection committees in the selection of the Award recipients are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Details on members of selection committees will only be made public at the time of the announcement of the Awards in each state and territory.

Please note, as a Young tall Poppy recipient - Young is qualified as in terms of research career and not biological age.

Recipients of the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards (Young Tall Poppies) will become science ambassadors and must, as a condition of award agree to:

Undertake at least two voluntary outreach activities as part of the Tall Poppy Campaign programs targeting school students, teachers, the general public, media, federal or state MPs, policymakers, and in a range of science promotional activities over 2025/26.

Be listed as an expert in their field with the Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) and SCIMEX for potential media approaches as automatically qualified to be listed by winning their award.

Be listed on the AIPS website and made mention on AIPS social media channels.

In addition, winners are expected at the time of the closing date of application to:

Be in their respective state for 6-12 months following the award ceremony or advise of a change in their Australian state or territory as soon as possible to enable their engagement in their new location.

Abide by any conditions of prizes in their state or territory.

Attend the award ceremony in their respective state.

Do you have further questions? You may watch an information session that we made last year  

Click here for link to recording

Nominations are open from February - April

Selection panels meet June/July

Winners announced August

Award Ceremony held between August - October