Campion-Ma-Playoust Award
The Campion Ma Playoust Memorial Award was instituted by a motion of the Annual General Meeting of the Society in December 1975. It is presented for the best contribution for an oral and/or poster presentation at the National Scientific Meeting by a student member or a member under thirty years of age at the time of the Meeting.
Marc Playoust was President of ASMR in 1967. He was tragically killed in a road accident after the 1972 National Scientific Conference held in Adelaide. Marc had an enviable academic and scientific record as well as being engaged in politics and philosophy. He had been a source of great strength to the Society, serving on the Board of Directors from 1964-1968. He was Treasurer from 1965 until taking on the Presidency in 1967.
Marc Playoust made a vital contribution to ASMR as one of the principle forces behind the structuring of the constitution and the financial viability of the Society. At the time of his death Marc was 37 years old and had just completed theologicial training to be ordained a priest.
In 1973, a swimming accident at the Surfers Paradise NSC claimed the lives of two young members, Clair Campion of Adelaide and Marcus Ma from Sydney. Marcus was at the time, Honorary Secretary of the Society. Both young people were well known and respected
In remembering the history of the award, Professor John Funder (ASMR president, 1979) recalls:
“The ASMR meeting in December 1973 was at Surfers Paradise, and was one of the most emotionally charged meetings I have ever been to. Memories were fresh of the death of Marc Playoust, a former ASMR President who while returning to Sydney from a meeting interstate was killed in a horrific car accident, and the Society instituted the Playoust Award in his memory.
At the Surfers Paradise meeting, after dinner one evening, a group decided to go swimming, and the sandbar on which they were standing gave way: two of their number, Claire Campion and Marcus Ma, did not return. Claire was a young investigator, a candidate for the Playoust Award: in honour of the two members whose lives were cut short at Surfers, the Award became the Campion Ma Playoust Memorial Award shortly thereafter.”
If you wish to be considered for this award, please tick the appropriate boxes during the registration process.
Other Awards at NSC
Best Oral Presentation
Best Poster Presentation
Other Awards to be specified
ASMR Peter Doherty Leading Light Award
Named in recognition of Nobel Laureate, Professor Peter Doherty, whose scientific achievements and commitment to science advocacy continues to inspire the research community, this award celebrates the achievements of mid-career researchers (5 – 12 year post-doctoral) in Australia. The award will recognise a single piece of work undertaken by a mid-career researcher within the past 5 years (i.e. after September 23rd, 2017).
Applications are open to researchers from all fields of health and medical research and can include, but is not limited to, clinical, public health or biomedical research.
Applicants must be between 5 and 12 years post-PhD (with career interruptions taken into account), and must be an ASMR member at the time of submission.
The decision of the judging panel is final.
The winner will present the ASMR National Scientific Conference in November 2022.
Applications are open!
Download instructions and submission template!
The deadline for applications is 4pm, Friday September 23rd 2022.
For any further information on the award please contact Dr Melissa Cantley.
