The Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize
The Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize fund supports a prize to acknowledge the most outstanding research thesis by a University of South Australia Higher Degree Research Student leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The award aims to encourage the recipient to travel overseas and undertake research.
Prize criteria
The Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize will be awarded to the most outstanding research thesis passed and leading to a Doctor of Philosophy in the preceding calendar year. The prize is a prestigious honour and may not be awarded in a year should the selection committee consider there is no meritorious candidate.
Candidates for the award will be nominated by institute directors, directors of research centres or deans research (or equivalent), by the end of December, for presentation at a graduation ceremony in the following year.
The prize will be normally awarded to a thesis of excellence that is:
- passed without changes or only with minor changes of an editorial nature
- noted for the quality, international standing and location of the examiners and the content of their reports
- accepted or most likely to be accepted for publication
- likely to have a significant impact on communities beyond the University
Selection committee and management of the award
The selection committee consists of the following members who will recommend the winner to the Vice Chancellor and provide a brief report to the Foundation Committee:
- The Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President: Research and Innovation, or like member of the Senior Management Group
- The Dean of Graduate Studies, or like member of the University
- Emeritus Professor Ian Davey, or in the event of his unavailability, a senior respected University researcher from another Australian university as nominated by the Vice Chancellor
The selection committee is convened by the Graduate Research Centre Manager.
The Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize fund will be managed and administered by the Foundation Committee.
Value
The Ian Davey Research Thesis prize is $3,000.
The Foundation Committee will determine the level of the prize recognising that the intention is for the prize to be awarded in perpetuity.
Contributions to the fund may be accepted from various sources but the name of the prize shall remain unchanged.
About Emeritus Professor Ian Davey
Ian
Davey is a social historian, with special interests in demography,
childhood, schooling and education.
Born in Bendigo, Victoria, Emeritus Professor Davey began his academic career with a research focus on history and geography and worked as a school teacher after graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1967. He later completed a Masters degree and Doctor of Philosophy (1975) in the History of Education at Toronto University before returning to Australia to begin his academic career at the University of Adelaide. He was Chair of the University's Research Committee from 1987 to 1990. Between 1991 and 1994 he was the Inaugural Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Adelaide.
Professor Davey joined the University of South Australia in 1994, as Pro Vice Chancellor, Research. His contribution was significant, overseeing the establishment of a number of research institutes and centres. As Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and International from 1994 to 2003, he led the University's international engagement, nurturing relationships and supporting both research and internationalisation strategies. Professor Davey retired as Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President, Research and Innovation in 2006.
Professor Davey is the author of over 50 publications on aspects of the social history of childhood and education and has held Australian Research Council grants on the historical demography of fertility.
Professor Davey served on numerous boards of national research institutes and centres, including Co-operative Research Centres and the Australian Housing and Urban Research institute. Currently, he is a member of the Board of the CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment and chairs the Innovation and Economic Opportunities Group for the Mawson Lakes Joint venture. In 2006 he was the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (now Universities Australia) representative on the Department of Education, Science & Training's Research Quality Framework Development Advisory Group.
The Ian Davey Research Thesis Prize fund has been made possible by the generosity of Ian Davey.
Approved by Research Degrees Committee, 4 May 2006
Approved by Academic Board