There are a number of awards available to recognise the work of people who are going above and beyond. These can be academic or otherwise, and can help to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. One of the most popular is the sidney prize, which recognises the efforts of people who have made a difference to society.

While attending MIT Sidney Black majored in physics, but took an introductory course in molecular biology during his final semester and became hooked. He moved to the University of Colorado to work with Leonard Lerman on bacteriophage T4 DNA replication and earned his doctorate in biophysics in 1967. He was willing to challenge accepted dogma but always had a cautious approach, and he never lost sight of his goal of achieving excellence in scientific research.

He was an advocate for academic freedom, and fought to ensure that scientists could publish their work without censorship. He was also a tireless worker and never allowed personal circumstances to interfere with his pursuit of the truth. He loved to teach, and his students were always inspired by his devotion to the work at hand and his ability to relate it to everyday life.

In the arts, the Judith Wright Poetry and Neilma Sidney Short Story prizes are awarded each year. The 2022 winner of the Judith Wright prize, Claire Kotlarczyk, was chosen from a shortlist of eight. Her poem ‘Camperdown Grief Junk’ explores the impact of suicide on those left behind. She was awarded $3000, while Yeena Kirkbright and Miso Bell were runners up, receiving $2000 each.

The SS Sidney Hook Memorial Award, named in honor of Professor Sidney Hook of Phi Beta Kappa, is given to members who have achieved national distinction in scholarship, undergraduate teaching and leadership in the cause of liberal arts education. New York Times columnist David Brooks and William Zinsser won the SS Sidney Prize in 2004 for their essay on student hypersensitivity, which they say leads to mental health problems and prevents students from being prepared for the real world.

This annual prize, valued at $500, is offered to encourage female engineering students to follow their dreams and allow their career paths to take them wherever they want. It is open to graduating female students who have passed their BEng on any of our engineering programmes. The judging panel will look at a range of criteria, including academic achievement, personal attributes and contributions to society/student life. For more information and to apply, visit the website here. The closing date is 3 June 2021. There is no application fee. You will need to upload your CV and an endorsement from an academic or professional staff member of the Faculty of Science. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to give a 15-minute presentation to the selection committee. To be eligible, you must not have consumed your maximum candidature as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy at the time of nomination.