The SMI Memorial Awards recognise outstanding contributions and innovative research by Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students within SMI and the broader UQ community. This year’s ceremony will be held in conjunction with the SMI Higher Degree by Research Conference, taking place on the final day of the program as a celebratory close to this flagship student event.
The Awards program will feature presentations from each of the winners, student poster displays, and valuable networking opportunities with HDR students.
The Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is fortunate to have received several bequests and donations, which enables us to support students during their research studies.
This year's awards include:
- Ian Morley Prize (2026 winner German Lastra Yanez) - awarded to a research student from the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) or Julius Kruttschnitt Research Centre (JKMRC) on the basis of academic achievement, work experience, leadership and contribution to the life of the Centre.
Bill Whiten Memorial Prize (2026 winner Loreto Codeceo) - to support a research student engaging in process control and model development at UQ to complete their thesis or participate in a local or international conference.
Alban and Barbara Lynch Award (2026 winner Abdulraheem Okehi Anumah) to support the development of an exceptional SMI student facing financial need or disadvantage.
Michael F Young Memorial Prize (2026 winner Carolina Carvajal) established to support a research student from SMI's Julius Kruttschnitt Research Centre (JKMRC) to travel to another university or research centre to enhance their experience.
Dee Bradshaw Travel Scholarship (2026 winner Bioantika) to support a mineral processing research student travel to an approved international institution to develop their research capabilities and experience.
- Dan Alexander Memorial Prize (2026 winner Consuelo Garcia Zavala) to support SMI research students to seed fund the commercialisation of their research.
The WMC2023 Scholarship (2026 winners Amriti Mohith, Bahar Karamzadeh and Victor Tolentino) available to UQ postgraduate students in a field related to responsible mining and mineral resources development, who have a clear need for financial support.
Sponsors
Platinum sponsor: JKTech
Bronze Sponsor: Mining3
Bronze Sponsor: ARC COE Minerals
About SMI HDR Memorial Awards
The SMI Memorial Awards includes presentations from the award recipients, student poster displays, and a keynote address. The Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is fortunate to have received several bequests and donations, which enables us to support students during their research studies.