The MERGA Research Award is for an individual or a team that has made an outstanding contribution to mathematics education research in the previous three years. Normally, one award will be made each year and presented at the AGM, but the Executive may decide to make more than one award, or no awards, in any one year. An individual recipient will receive a trophy. Teams will receive one trophy to share, and a certificate for each member.
Past Winners
2023
Exploring mathematical sequences of connected cumulative challenging tasks
Peter Sullivan, Janette Bobis, Ann Downton, Sharyn Livy, and James Russo
2018
Developing Mathematical inquiry communities (DMIC) project
Roberta (Bobbie) Hunter, Jodie Hunter, Glenda Anthony, and Trevor Bills
2017
Numeracy Across the Curriculum Research Team
Merrilyn Goos, Vince Geiger, Shelly Dole, Helen Forgasz, and Anne Bennison
2017
Individual Award
Katie Makar
2014
Individual Award
Kim Beswick
2011
Early Numeracy Research Project ( ENRP ) Research Team
Doug Clark, Jill Cheeseman, Barbara Clarke, Ann Gervasoni, Donna Gronn, Pam Hammond, Marj Horne, Andrea McDonough, Pam Montgomery, Anne Roche, Glenn Rowley, Peter Sullivan, Ann Downton, Annie Mitchell, Rhonda Faragher, and Linda Parish.
Nomination process
A MERGA member or team may be nominated and seconded in writing by another MERGA member. The nominee(s) must accept the nomination in writing. Nominations must be submitted to the VP: Research by November 1 each year.
Selection process
The VP (Research) will call for nominations (a) at the conference, and (b) by newsletter each July. Nominations are due by November 1 each year.
The VP (Research) will establish a panel to judge received nominations. The VP (Research) will recommend membership of the panel to the Executive. The following Executive motion will be used to accept the VP’s nominations; “The Executive accepts the names of the assessing panel as submitted by the VP Research.”
The panel will comprise 4–5 MERGA members from a range of Australian states and New Zealand, including:
- The VP: Research as Chair;
- One early career researcher; and
- Some experienced MERGA researchers
The panel will make a decision by February 1 and propose the name(s) of the successful nominee(s) to the Executive. The membership, business and recommendations of the panel will remain confidential. Public announcement of award will be at the next conference.
The panel has the right to seek references or other further information through the VP Research.
Selection Criteria
It is expected that the recipient(s) of a MERGA Research Award will have demonstrated the following:
- Outstanding achievement in mathematics education within the previous 3 years;
- Research that has potential to make an impact (see Note 1 below);
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Evidence of dissemination using scholarly and/or professional avenues (see Note 2 below); and
- Research-related contributions to MERGA.
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Notes: [1] The impact may be the potential implementation of the research outcomes, re-shaping of relevant theory and/or debate, directions for future research, etc. [2] Avenues include books and book chapters, academic and professional journal articles, refereed conference papers, invited addresses, etc. The panel should consider the quality, quantity and diversity of such activities, although no criteria for any one of these three individual aspects are seen to be necessary. In particular, contributions to MERGA conference activities and publications are expected.
