National Transport Research Awards nominations open

Niva Thongkham, ARRB Knowledge Hub Professional, explains the nomination criteria of the upcoming National Transport Research Awards, which aims to transport attendees to the future.

The National Transport Research Organisation’s ambitious mission statement, ‘shaping Australia’s transport future’, highlights its inaugural awards night’s core concern.

Established by the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) this year, the awards aim to celebrate research excellence, with a specific focus on innovation and forward-thinking concepts.

Nominations are open to everyone from university researchers to road construction project managers.

Niva Thongkham, ARRB Knowledge Hub Professional, says the National Transport Research Awards build on the organisation’s previously successful ARRB awards. She adds that this year’s amplified approach highlights the award’s all-inclusive industry scope.

“We have taken the initial ARRB awards concept and expanded it to showcase a greater diversity of research and industry-implementation techniques from all corners of the industry,” she says.

“We’re going to take attendees to the edge of the horizon during this event, as we journey towards our collective transport future,” she says.

ARRB is currently calling for nominations in five categories: the Lifetime Research Award, the Research Rising Star Award, the Research Impact Award, the Research into Reality Award and the Road Construction Innovation Award.

According to Mike Shackleton, ARRB Chief Research Officer, the Lifetime Research Award recognises the contribution and outstanding leadership of an individual researcher who has worked in the road and transport sector for over 25 years.

“The award will be presented to an individual with an established history of rigorous first principles and applied research, and a track record of tangible research outcomes,” Dr. Shackleton explains.

“The winner will also have a demonstrated history of knowledge transfer and training activities that illustrates a commitment to developing and mentoring younger professionals in their field.”

Dr. Shackleton says the nomination applications should be 3000 words or less, and address how the individual has advanced the boundaries of road and transport research.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Research Rising Star Award will be presented to an individual under the age of 35 that has shown significant problem-solving progress over the last 12 months.

Dr. Shackleton says applicants will need to explain the significance of their research to the custodians of transportation systems. Applicants must also outline a post research implementation plan.

“Nominees should additionally provide a record of peer-reviewed publications and other efforts to transfer knowledge, such as conference papers, seminars and workshops,” he explains.

The Research Impact Award is designed to celebrate an individual researcher or team that’s research, development and implementation has led to significant improvements in operational quality.

Projects could range from research into skid resistance, to polymer binder grades and network management principles.

“Nominees should provide details on the research project itself, a description and quantification of its impact, a description of future implementation opportunities and a letter of endorsement from the research beneficiary,” Dr. Shackleton says.

“Alternatively, applicants can include a letter from at least one agency, local government or department that has benefited from the research.”

The fourth award on offer, Research into Reality, will be presented to a government body that has shown excellence in research translation.

“In the transportation sector, most translation requires leadership and commitment from a public sector body that applies research findings to real life projects,” Dr. Shackleton explains.

“This award is an opportunity for those bodies to nominate themselves or individual staff members for showing leadership and facilitating community benefit that would otherwise not have been possible.”

To nominate for this award, applicants must detail how their research application has solved a transport problem, while providing descriptive and quantitative examples of implementation impact.

“Nominees should also describe the work’s future benefit opportunities and provide a letter of endorsement from the head of the nominee’s organisation,” Dr. Shackleton explains.

The final award, the Road Construction Innovation Award, was established to showcase individual companies or peak bodies that have invested in research and development.

“Companies are welcome to nominate themselves and should outline a plan for maximising the uptake of research innovation,” Dr. Shackleton says.

“They should also let us know the deliverable financial, environmental and social benefits.”

Dr. Shackleton says he is looking forward to reviewing applications and presenting them to the judging panel.

“We encourage anyone excelling in the road and transport research sector to put forward a nomination and attend our gala dinner,” he says.