The following is a list of SANIRE awards and criteria to be met by the recipients of these awards:
International awards:
Müller Award
This is an ISRM award made once every four years at the ISRM Congress, in recognition of distinguished contributions to the profession of Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. The previous winners included Dr Neville Cook and Dr Evert Hoek from South Africa. The award honours the memory of Prof. Leopold Müller, the founder and first president of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). The first award was given in 1991.
Criteria:
Candidates for the award must be nominated by the National Groups of the ISRM and therefore SANIRE has a responsibility in this regard. Nominations close 18 months before the date of the Congress at which the award is to be made. Nominations should consider previous Rocha, Franklyn, Napier and Salomon award winners.
Award:
The ISRM award consists of a work of art typical of the culture of the country hosting the ISRM Congress, accompanied by a silver medallion with a portrait of Leopold Müller and the engraved name of the recipient and date and title of the award. To promote high level and renowned contributions to the industry, SANIRE will in addition to the ISRM prize (art piece and silver medal) present the South African award winner with a certificate in recognition of the award as well as a 1 oz Gold Kruger Rand. The SANIRE award will only be presented to the candidate after the official award reception at the ISRM Congress where the recipient shall deliver the Müller Lecture, which shall be published in the proceedings of the Congress.=
Franklyn award
This is an ISRM award made annually at the ISRM International Symposium (except for those years when the 4-yearly ISRM Congress is held) in order to honour the memory of Prof. John Franklin, president of the ISRM from 1987 to 1991. The purpose of the award is to recognise a mid-career ISRM Member who has made a significant contribution to a specific area of Rock Mechanics and/or Rock Engineering and must be a resident of the host country. The first award was given in 2012.
Criteria:
- The nominee must be based in the region where the national group will be hosting the International Symposium,
- The candidate must be mid-career (below 55 years of age),
- The recipient will be required to give a keynote lecture on the subject of his/her expertise,
- Nominees should have a PhD and nominations considered should preferably be previous Rocha, Napier and Salomon award winners.
Award:
The ISRM Franklin award winner will receive a certificate from the ISRM and free registration at the International Symposium. The ISRM Franklin Lecture will be published in the ISRM News Journal. To promote high level and ongoing contributions to the industry, SANIRE will in addition to the ISRM prize (certificate) present the South African award winner with a certificate in recognition of the award as well as a 1 oz Gold Kruger Rand. The SANIRE award will only be presented to the candidate after the official award reception at the locally hosted ISRM International Symposium where the recipient shall deliver the Franklyn Lecture.
Rocha medal
The Rocha medal is awarded annually by the ISRM for an outstanding doctoral thesis in the field of Rock Mechanics or Rock Engineering. The prize has been awarded since 1982 to honour the memory of Past-President Prof. Manuel Rocha who organized the first ISRM Congress. He was also the leader responsible for transforming the International collaboration carried out in an amateurish way into a real International scientific association, having for the purpose settled the fundamental lines that have guided and supported the ISRM activity along the years.
Criteria:
To be considered for the award, a candidate must be nominated within two years of the date of the official doctoral degree certificate. Nominations shall be by the nominee, or by the nominee’s National Group, or by some other person or organization acquainted with the nominee’s work. Nominations for each successive year’s award should be received before 31 December of each year.
Award:
As the official South African National Group of the ISRM, SANIRE should ensure that suitable candidates from South Africa are nominated each year (if applicable). To promote local and exceptional research, SANIRE will in addition to the ISRM prize (bronze medal and a cash prize) present the South African award winner with a certificate in recognition of the award as well as a 1 oz Gold Kruger Rand. The SANIRE award will only be presented to the candidate after the official award reception at the applicable ISRM International Symposium where the recipient will also present as a key note speaker the content of the PhD study.
National awards:
Napier award
The Napier Award is the most prestigious prize awarded by SANIRE. The award was instituted to honour the outstanding Rock Engineering contribution made by Prof. John Napier over many decades. His expertise in displacement discontinuity boundary element methods is world- renowned and he developed the codes MINSIM and TEXAN. These codes have been used extensively in South African hard rock tabular gold and platinum mines for countless layout designs. As a further contribution to the Rock Engineering community, Prof. Napier was the supervisor and advisor of many PhD students. This led to the incredible achievement of four of these candidates being awarded the prestigious ISRM Rocha medal for the best PhD thesis in the world. This record is unmatched in any country. His lifelong interest in the field of Rock Mechanics is noteworthy and his legacy is honoured with this award.
Criteria:
The award is typically made every four years in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of Rock Engineering. Candidates must meet at least the criteria specified below. As this is the most prestigious prize from SANIRE, no award will be made if the candidates do not meet these requirements:
- World-class research in Rock Mechanics over a period of many years. This will typically be candidates who devoted their entire career to Rock Mechanics research.
- The research should have contributed significantly to the development of aspects such as new design criteria, analysis methods, design methodologies or new technology.
- Should have published extensively in local and International journals and these publications should have typically received numerous local awards such as the SANIRE Salamon prize or SAIMM medals.
- Should be recognised by the International Rock Mechanics community for significant technical contributions,
- Should typically be towards the end of a career or retired (>60 years of age).
Award:
The awards will consist of a trophy and certificate as well as a 1 oz Gold Kruger Rand.
Honorary Fellowship (Lifetime Achievement Award)
This is the most respected award of SANIRE and is awarded to those individuals who made a lasting technical contribution to the field of Rock Mechanics. It may include individuals from academic environments, the practical side of Rock Mechanics or those who were instrumental in implementing new Rock Mechanics knowledge or techniques in the workplace. The efforts of those who managed to grow Rock Mechanics departments through the marketing of the discipline to mine management and elsewhere through managerial contributions will also be considered. Typically one award will be given every year to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
It is awarded to individuals in a mature stage of their career (typically retired) with a long and distinguished track record in Rock Mechanics. Candidates should also preferably be associated with SANIRE. The nomination must be motivated by a SANIRE Member or Fellow for consideration by Council.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the annual general meeting (AGM). The lifetime achievement award also implies that the recipient will no longer be liable for any membership fees.
Honorary Membership (Lifetime Achievement Award)
This award was initiated in 2015 to honour the long term dedication of individuals who typically functioned behind the scenes, but were instrumental in delivering a significant service to the Rock Engineering industry. Typically one award will be given every year to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
It is awarded to individuals in a mature stage of their career (typically retired) These individuals are recognised by their peers for their long term contribution to the Rock Engineering industry. Candidates should also preferably be associated with SANIRE. The nomination must be motivated by a SANIRE Member or Fellow for consideration by Council.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM. The lifetime achievement award also implies that the recipient will no longer be liable for any membership fees.
Practitioners Award
This award is presented to practising Rock Engineers who have made a sustained practical contribution in the workplace, but are not necessarily inclined to publication and presentation at conferences or meetings. The contribution of these individuals is recognised by their peers and colleagues, although not necessarily celebrated on the operations. Their effort in providing safety-related or other notable impacts in the workplace is considerable. Nominations can include individuals at any level within the Rock Engineering department. Typically one award a year will be given to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council. Previous recipients of the award can be re-nominated and can therefore again be awarded this accolade.
Criteria:
Nominations for this award will be called for by the respective Branch Chairperson during the period from January to July each year. Candidates should be Associate Members or Members of SANIRE. Motivations should be done in writing detailing the individual’s contributions. The nominations will be reviewed and approved by the Council members. Also, the achievements of the recipients of this award should be recognised by clients or peers.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM.
Rockstar award
The award is given to up and coming “younger generation” Strata Control Officers or Rock Engineers. The intent is to acknowledge the valuable work individuals are doing on their operations to improve systems, technologies, mining practices and applications. These candidates are working towards making a name for themselves in industry and through their interventions and participation is recognised by peers and colleagues. Typically one award a year will be given to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council. Previous recipients of the award can be re-nominated and can therefore again be awarded with this accolade.
Criteria:
Nominations for this award will be called for by the respective Branch Chairperson during the period from January to July each year. Candidates should be Associate Members or Members of SANIRE and must be 35 years of age or younger. Motivations should be done in writing detailing the individual’s contributions. The nominations will be reviewed and approved by the Council members. Also, the achievements of the recipients of this award should be recognised by clients or peers.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM.
Salamon Award
The Salamon prize is awarded to a South African author(s) of the best technical paper published during the preceding year. Although preference will be given to papers published in accredited refereed journals, outstanding papers in conference proceedings will also be considered. Typically one award a year will be given to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
To be eligible, the author should be an Associate Member, Member or Fellow of SANIRE. During the period January to July, the SANIRE council member tasked with awards and prizes will, with the assistance of the other council members, collect a limited number of quality papers published during the preceding year. These papers will be reviewed and rated to decide on the winning paper and if the paper is of a suitable quality.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM. At the AGM the recipient of the award must give a key note lecture on the content of the paper. To further encourage research and the continuation of high quality South African technical publications, SANIRE will offer to the award winner (first author) a sponsorship to the value of R30 000 to attend an International Symposium (registration, flights, accommodation). The recipient must, however, present at the Symposium to receive the sponsorship. The SANIRE council does, however, reserve the right to change the terms of this award should it be required.
Ortlepp Award
The Ortlepp prize is awarded for the best “young” South African technical publication during the preceding year. Although preference will be given to papers published in accredited refereed journals, outstanding papers in conference proceedings will also be considered. Typically one award will be given a year to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
To be eligible, the author should be an Associate Member or Member of SANIRE. The candidate must be 35 years of age or younger. During the period January to July, the SANIRE council member tasked with awards and prizes will, with the assistance of the other council members, collect a limited number of quality papers published during the preceding year. These papers will be reviewed and rated to decide on the winning paper and if the paper is of a suitable quality.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM (main author only). To further encourage “young” research and the continuation of high quality South African technical publications, SANIRE will offer to the award winner a sponsorship to the value of R30 000 to attend an International Symposium (registration, flights, accommodation). The recipient must, however, present at the Symposium to receive the sponsorship. The SANIRE council does, however, reserves the right to change the terms of this award should it be required.
Dick Stacey Award (New)
The “Dick Stacey Award” will be awarded annually for an outstanding Masters thesis or dissertation in the field of Rock Mechanics or Rock Engineering. Typically one award will be given every year to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
To be considered for the award, a candidate must be nominated within one year of the date of the official Masters degree certificate. A request for nominations will be issued by the SANIRE President. Nominations shall be by the nominee or by some other person or organization acquainted with the nominee’s work. Nominations for each successive year’s award should be received before 31 December of each year. Candidates should be Associate Members or Members of SANIRE (in good standing).
A thesis / dissertation summary of between 3,000 and 5,000 must be submitted, detailing enough information to convey the full impact of the thesis, accompanied by selected tables and figures, and information on word count. In addition, one copy of the Masters degree certificate must be submitted. Should the nominee be awarded the prize, the nominee will be requested to submit an article (8 pages) describing the work, for publication in the SANIRE newsletter or journal
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate and a 1 oz Silver Kruger Rand will be presented by the SANIRE President during the annual general meeting (AGM). The SANIRE council does, however, reserve the right to change the terms of this award should it be required.
Lelanie Prinsloo Technological Innovation Award (New)
The “Lelanie Prinsloo Technological Innovation Award” will be awarded to a SANIRE affiliated South African manufacturing company or member who has made a significant contribution towards innovation or new research or development in Rock Engineering practice. Typically one award will be given every year to a deserving individual, although at the discretion of the SANIRE Council.
Criteria:
To qualify for the award, the company or person must be affiliated with SANIRE (membership in good standing). The award will consider one or more of the achievements in engineering practice:
• development and application of new equipment or testing system;
• development and application of a new testing method;
• development and application of new technology;
• development and application of new material;
• promoting good practices with innovative technologies and management to reduce time and cost of a rock engineering project;
• promoting good practices with innovative technologies and management to enhance health and safety in a rock engineering project.
A request for nominations will be issued by the SANIRE President. Nominations can be submitted by any SANIRE affiliated South African manufacturing company or member. The nomination will be in the form of a brief, descriptive report, not exceeding 1,000 words, addressing the nominee’s achievements. The development or application must be recent (not older than 24 months).
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate, trophy, one-year free SANIRE RockTalk newsletter advertising, will be presented by the SANIRE President during the annual general meeting (AGM). Also, the recipients of this award will be nominated by SANIRE for the ISRM Technological Innovation (John Hudson) award, should all the criteria be met. The SANIRE council does, however, reserves the right to change the terms of this award should it be required.
Student Awards
An award is given every year to the students who achieve the top marks in the final year Rock Mechanics module at both the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand. The student awards consist of a cash prize (R1 500) and a certificate which is handed to the candidates at the university / faculty award ceremony.
Candidate awards
The achievements of candidates partaking in the Strata Control and Rock Engineering exams are celebrated yearly by rewarding the top performers of both exams (October previous year and May current year). Awards consider the Strata Control Metalliferous, Strata Control Coal, Paper 1, Paper 2 and the best of the Paper 3 examinations.
Criteria:
The candidate with the best overall result for each paper category for each exam sitting is considered for the award. The candidates must also score above 75%.
Award:
The award, consisting of a certificate and a trophy will be presented by the SANIRE President during the AGM.
RE tickets obtained for both exams
In recognition of the excellent achievement, candidates who have obtained their Rock Engineering ticket during the past year will be listed / communicated at the AGM.