The 2027 Tracey Banivanua Mar PhD Prize is now open for nominations!
The Australian Association for Pacific Studies (AAPS) is pleased to call for nominations for the 2027 AAPS Tracey Banivanua Mar PhD Prize. Named after the late Pacific historian, colleague and friend to many within the AAPS community, the prize recognises the most outstanding PhD thesis by an AAPS student member working in the field of Pacific Studies. The winning thesis will be selected by a panel of judges in the field, on the basis of its scholarly excellence and its contribution to AAPS’ vision for a vibrant, critical, creative, and decolonial Pacific Studies. Theses from any disciplinary background—and particularly those using cross- or trans-disciplinary approaches—are welcome to be submitted for consideration.
The winning thesis will receive a prize of $1000 AUD, and an opportunity to be mentored in developing publications from their thesis.
The call for nominations will remain open until January 30, 2027. The winner will be notified by March 1, 2027 and publicly announced at the annual Epeli Hau’ofa Annual Memorial Lecture, as part of the biennial conference held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from March 30 – April 2, 2027.
Eligibility criteria and process for nominations
Theses submitted for consideration must have been submitted and passed in the period since 1 January 2026, within the 2026 calendar year, and with any required revisions accepted (although the PhD need not have been formally awarded yet). Nominees must be members of the AAPS at the time of nomination. Self-nomination is allowed.
Applications should be sent to the AAPS Secretary at talei.mangioni@sydney.edu.au. The subject line should state: “Application for the 2027 Tracey Banivanua Mar PhD Prize – [First name, Last name]”. The application must include as separate PDF documents that are numbered from 1-5:
- A completed nomination form
- A copy of the thesis
- Copies of the examination reports
- A letter of reference from one of the PhD supervisors
- Notification of the thesis being passed and/or the PhD being awarded
Submissions will be short-listed and judged by a panel of AAPS members.
Past Winners:
- 2026 – winner Dr Mere Taito, with one highly commended awardee – Dr Philippa Louey.
- 2025 – winner Dr Adriana Māhanga Lear, with two highly commended awardees – Dr Ashlea Gillon and Dr Josephine Goldman.
- 2024 – winner Dr Marco de Jong, with one highly commended awardee – Dr Timaima Tuvuki.
- 2023 – winner Dr Bianca Hennessey, with two highly commended awardees – Dr Nicholas Hoare and Dr Emma Powell.
- 2021 – winner Dr Bonnie Etherington, with one highly commended awardee – Dr David Lakisa.
- 2020 – winner Dr Melinda Mann, with two highly commended awardees – Dr Léuli Eshraghi and Dr Lucy Davies.