The Healy–Hunter Award honours the founders of the Australian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference; Professor Tom Healy (The University of Melbourne) and Professor Bob Hunter (University of Sydney), who first organised such a conference in 1967. The conferences have been held regularly since this time. 

The Award, which highlights and recognises the most outstanding student oral presentation at the conference, consists of a commemorative medal and a contribution towards the travel costs of attending an international conference. In 1998, a Royal Australian Chemical Institute Award Trust was formed as a result of the generous financial support of many Australian surface and colloid science researchers and research groups. Students enrolled at an Australian university are eligible candidates for this award.

Guidelines

All staff attending the student conference are eligible to vote. Supervisors may vote for their own PhD students if so desired. In judging the award, staff consider the quality of science, oral/visual skills, and construction and flow of the presentation. In the event of a tie in the voting, the Chair of the RACI Division of Colloid and Surface Science (or nominee) will have the casting vote. The award can be won only once by any individual.

Previous winners of the Healy–Hunter award: