The 2025 Tracey Banivanua-Mar PhD Prize will open in November
The Australian Association for Pacific Studies (AAPS) is pleased to call for nominations for the 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 considered for publication in the AAPS Book Series with ANU Press.
The call for nominations will remain open until 28 February 2025. The winner will be notified by the end of March, and publicly announced at the annual Epeli Hau’ofa Lecture, to be held in April 2025 in Sydney.
Eligibility criteria and process for nominations
Theses submitted for consideration must have been submitted and passed in the period since 1 January 2024, 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@anu.edu.au. The subject line should state “Application for the Tracey Banivanua Mar PhD Prize”. The application must include:
- 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:
- 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.