Established in 2002, this award commemorates the work done by the academic staff appointed between 1949 and 1972 towards the development of a broadly-based Department of Microbiology, with the support of tutorial, research, technical and administrative staff and graduate students. Staff were: Emeritus Professor V. B. D. Skerman (general microbiology, taxonomy, microbial data), Professor W. J. Halliday (immunology), Emeritus Professor K. J. C. Back (microbial metabolism), Dr J. G. Atherton (virology), Dr H. W. Doelle (fermentation technology), Dr A. C. Hayward (phytobacteriology), Dr G. H. G. Davis (medical bacteriology), Dr D. S. Teakle (plant pathology) and Dr I. C. MacRae (applied and environmental microbiology)
Eligibility: students completing the BSc or third year in the BAdvSc(Hons) program in the field of microbiology
Criteria: highest overall mark for eight units from BIOL3003, MICR3001, MICR3002, MICR3003 and MICR3004
The recipient's entitlement to the prize is conditional on them successfully enrolling in the BSc(Hons) or in the fourth year in the BAdvSc(Hons) programs in microbiology in the following year
Value: up to $1000