About this award
Ochre is a natural clay pigment, predominantly Ferric oxide.
In Australia, we commonly find Brown Ochre FeO(OH), Yellow Ochre FeO(OH).nH2O, and Red Ochre Fe2O3.
These Ochres were prepared in grinding groves (Australia’s first mortar & pestles) before being used by the Traditional Owners for ceremonial purposes with body painting and rock art.
This scientific process is just one of many and solidifies that the First Nations people were truly Australia’s first chemists.
This award of up to $500 is designed as an encouragement award, with the applicant choosing how best to use the prize.
The candidate must be a person of Indigenous Australian or Torres Strait Islander descent and have a genuine interest in Chemistry.
The application will be judged predominantly on how the prize money will be used, in a beneficial or innovative way, relating to science.
The award is open to all ages – from high school to post-retirement.
The applicant must be a financial RACI member for a minimum of 6 months, or for high school students, their school must be an affiliate member.
Please provide some information about yourself, your goals, and how you would use this award to highlight science within your community (no more than 1 PDF page).
After the closing date, no further nominations for the award shall be accepted.
If in the opinion of the Board there is no candidate who has sufficient merit, the Board may refrain from making an award. The decision of the Board is final and no discussions or correspondence will be entered into.