National Measurement Awards

2025 measurement awards

NMI presents 4 awards that recognise all levels of measurement achievement. They also promote the value of measurement to society.

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 in prize money.

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 in prize money 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 in prize money plus $1,000 off an NMI training course or service.

People’s Choice Award

The audience will be invited to vote for one of the short-listed finalists during the National Science Week event. The winner receives $500 in prize money.

Nominating for the 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.  

Applicants for the Encouragement award must also be in their first 15 years of formal employment in that profession, with allowances made for career interruptions.

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.

Applications can be based on measurement-related achievements 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.

No nominee can be listed as a winner for multiple awards in the same year. The exception is the People’s Choice award, as this can be won by any finalist. 

Finalists and winners are welcome to re-apply in future years and may win again in a different category if appropriate. Re-applications in the same category can only be considered if they are based on entirely different work, as material cannot be re-used.

Submitting your application

Download the application form and send a completed copy to NMIcomms@industry.gov.au.

We will confirm we have received your application by email.

Past winners

Barry Inglis Medal

• 2024 - Vincent Wallace and Withawat Withayachumnankul
• 2023 - 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)

• 2024 - Pei Lay Yap
• 2023 - 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

• 2024 - Arman Siahvashi
• 2023 - Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team
• 2022 - Rounak Manoharan

NMI Measurement Impact award 

• 2024 - Arman Siahvashi
• 2023 - Adelaide University Atomic Clock Team