The awards recognise achievements at all levels – from students to early career researcher to established researchers. They also promote the value of measurement to society.
There are 5 measurement awards.
Barry Inglis Medal
This award recognises professionals with a sustained record of achievement. The medal is named after Dr Barry Inglis, the NMI’s first CEO and Chief Metrologist, for his significant contribution to Australian measurement science and infrastructure. The winner receives $2,000.
Measurement Achievement Encouragement Award
Formerly the NMI Prize, this award recognises early to mid-career professionals for measurement-related achievements. The winner receives $1,000 plus $1,000 off an NMI training course or service.
NMI Measurement Impact Award
This award celebrates measurement-related achievements demonstrating real-world impact. The winner receives $1,000 plus $1,000 off an NMI training course or service.
People’s Choice Award
The audience votes during the National Science Week awards ceremony. The winner receives $500.
NMI-Questacon Student Measurement Award
For school students awarded jointly by NMI and Questacon. New in 2023. The winner receives $250 plus a Questacon family pass.
Past winners
Barry Inglis Medal
- 2023 Prof Mark Taylor
- 2022 Oliver Jones
- 2021 Joseph Berry
- 2020 Warwick Bowen
- 2019 Wojciech Chrzanowski
- 2018 Derek Abbott
- 2017 Andre Luiten
- 2016 Mike McLaughlin
- 2015 Graham Jones
- 2014 Bruce Forgan
- 2013 Not awarded
- 2012 Not awarded
- 2011 Philip NH Nakashima
- 2010 Ken Baldwin
- 2009 Michael E Tobar
- 2008 John E Sader
Measurement Achievement Encouragement Award (formerly the NMI Prize)
- 2023 Dr Zhiwei Sun
- 2022 Neil Robinson
- 2021 Not awarded
- 2020 Renée Webster
- 2019 Maxim Goryachev
- 2018 Arman Siahvashi, Michael Vanner
- 2017 Not awarded
- 2016 Suelynn Choy
- 2015 Alessandro Rossi
- 2014 Douglas Little
- 2013 Daniel Creedon
- 2012 Sharath Sriram
- 2011 Michael J Biercuk
- 2010 Not awarded
- 2009 Eric F May
- 2008 Paul L Stanwix
People's Choice
- 2023 Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team
- 2022 Rounak Manoharan
NMI Measurement Impact award
• 2023 Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team
Nominating for the awards
NMI awards
Applications are open to:
- individuals or groups who have made one or more significant measurement-related achievements
- activity conducted in Australia or where the primary applicant is an Australian citizen.
You can nominate yourself or be nominated by someone else.
Applications are not open to employees of NMI and their immediate family members. Applicants should be willing to take part in the award event, either live or by pre-recorded video.
Measurement-related achievements can be in any scientific or technical field, as long as the measurement of something tangible is central to the achievement. Examples could include:
- designing a new measurement method
- improving our understanding of measurement science
- applying measurements in a new way to address an industry challenge or societal concern.
Assessment criteria
A panel will assess applications against these equally weighted criteria:
- degree and significance of impact, for example, whether the achievement had a local, national or international effect
- benefit to Australia, in particular Australian science, industry or community
- scientific or technical novelty.
We will only give an award if we receive applications of sufficient quality.
Awards for students
Applications are open to:
- Australian students from years 5 to 10 inclusive (attending school or being home-schooled)
- individuals or teams with up to 4 members.
You can nominate yourself or be nominated by someone else.
Applications are not open to children of NMI or Questacon employees.
Your application should showcase something you have done involving measurement. Examples could include:
- coming up with an idea for measuring something more effectively or in an innovative way e.g. measuring distances using only what is in your lunchbox
- finding a way to make things work better e.g. designing a way to minimise power use at home
- investigating the world around us e.g. measuring pollution in your local waterway.
Latest news
National Measurement Institute
Innovation in human health, atomic clocks and industry celebrated at the 2023 measurement awards
Prof Mark Taylor, Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team and Dr Zhiwei Sun take out the National Measurement Institute’s top honours.
National Measurement Institute
Join the fun at the 2023 NMI Measurement Awards!
Help the National Measurement Institute (NMI) celebrate and recognise measurement excellence. Book your free ticket for this online event on 18 August.