Entries Now Open: The ARDC Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software

We are thrilled to announce entries to the inaugural Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software, sponsored by the ARDC, are now open. 

The new Eureka Prize, co-designed by the Australian Museum and the ARDC, will recognise and celebrate the role of developing and maintaining software as a critical part of modern research and scientific discovery. 

Rosie Hicks, CEO of the ARDC, said, “Those working on the frontiers of research need highly specialised software to create, handle and analyse data, and therefore rely on it. Despite being an increasingly essential element in the scholarly research infrastructure ecosystem, this software is often invisible.

“This award will recognise the role of developing and maintaining software as a critical part of research and innovation in Australia.” 

We are seeking entries from developers and maintainers of established research software, which includes research software engineers, researchers who code. Nominees can come from backgrounds as diverse as academia, government, industry, citizen science groups, and not-for-profit organisations. 

“Software is such a pervasive part of modern life that we don’t often stop to think about where it comes from, the incredible work that goes into its development or the continued effort required to keep it working,” said Mrs Hicks.

This is an exciting opportunity for developers and maintainers of research software to be recognised and rewarded for their significant contributions to research in Australia. 

The new Eureka Prize is part of the ARDC’s national agenda to recognise research software as a first-class research output. We’re engaging widely with Australia’s research sector to deliver the agenda.

Recognise Software that Accelerates Research

If you’re grateful for software that has enabled your research, contact the authors and encourage them to enter the Eureka Prize. Or maybe even go that step further and nominate them yourself!

The $10,000 Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software is open to both individuals and teams that include an Australian or Australia-based developer or maintainer. Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others.

Software, software projects, software contributions are complex and come in many forms. The eligibility criteria for this award are broad allowing for many types of software, and even levels of contribution to a larger effort. See the eligibility criteria for more detail. 

For more information, visit the Australian Museum page describing the entry criteria for research software. The Australian Museum Eureka Prize team has also prepared a few other resources for potential entrants:

• the recording of and slides from the 1 March information session for entrants
• FAQs about the eligibility, entry materials, online entry form and timeline
• tips on preparing submissions
• tips on preparing assessor reports.

Entries close on 14 April. Learn more and apply now >

The ARDC is funded through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) to support national digital research infrastructure for Australian researchers.