Ariel Liebman Memorial Impact Award

With deep respect and admiration, we introduce the Ariel Liebman Memorial Impact Award, created to honour the legacy and contributions of the late Professor Ariel Liebman (Monash University), Chief Investigator in OPTIMA. In his memory, this award seeks to celebrate publications or software tools that have significantly contributed to optimisation technologies and embody the principles Ariel held dear: innovation, excellence, collaboration, and real-world impact. We hope this award not only honours his legacy but also inspires the continued pursuit of transformative contributions in optimisation research. Learn more about Ariel’s legacy here.

Rules for the Ariel Liebman Memorial Impact Award

The Ariel Liebman Memorial Impact Award recognises outstanding contributions in academic publications or software tools in the field of optimisation that demonstrate significant real-world impact, innovation, and alignment with the mission of OPTIMA.

 

Eligibility:

  1. Scope of Work:
    • The award is open to individuals or teams who have published research papers or developed software tools with substantial contributions to optimisation, with applications for industry.
    • The application can argue the case for significant future impact in either academia or industry applications.
    • The work must demonstrate clear future impact (scholarly and/or societal).
    • If the impact is measurable you should include evidence as part of your application.
  2. Affiliation with OPTIMA:
    • The applicant(s) must have been affiliated with OPTIMA at the time of the nominated work(s).
    • If the work involves external collaborators, at least one co-author must be a current or former member of OPTIMA.
  3. Acknowledgment of OPTIMA:
    • All submitted publications or software must explicitly acknowledge OPTIMA’s role or support in the affiliation section or acknowledgments of the work.
    • For publications: OPTIMA must be listed in the author affiliation or in the acknowledgments as a key contributor or supporter of the research.
    • For software tools: OPTIMA’s contribution must be clearly acknowledged in the credits, documentation, or within the tool’s description.
  4. Timing:
    • Eligible works must have been published or released since 23rd September 2021 (OPTIMA’s commencement date).

Submission Process:

  1. Documentation:
    • Submit a complete version of the publication (PDF) or access to the software tool (with proper documentation).
    • Include an impact statement (<500-words) outlining the practical implications and real-world influence of the work (scholarly and/or societal impact).
  2. OPTIMA Affiliation Proof:
    • Provide a brief description of the team’s or individual’s connection to OPTIMA, including past or present involvement.
  3. Impact Metrics:
    • Submissions must include quantifiable evidence of the work’s current or future impact, such as citations, industry adoption, policy influence, or measurable benefits achieved through the research or tool.
    • Research impact tools such as https://hivve.tech/ can be used to help measure impact.
  4. Submission Deadline:
    • All applications must be submitted by 30th Sepetember 2025 to be considered for the award.
  5. Multiple Entries
    • Multiple entries are permitted by the same individual or team if each entry represents a distinct and separate piece of work.
    • Each entry must adhere to all other submission guidelines and be presented independently for consideration.

Evaluation Criteria:

  1. Impact:
    • The work must demonstrate significant real-world influence, whether in advancing academic knowledge, influencing policy development, or being adopted by industry stakeholders.
  2. Innovation:
    • The work must offer novel approaches or technologies that contribute to solving complex problems in optimisation.
  3. Collaboration and OPTIMA Alignment:
    • Preference will be given to works that highlight interdisciplinary collaboration and align with the strategic goals of OPTIMA.
  4. Acknowledgment of OPTIMA:
    • Submissions that fail to properly acknowledge OPTIMA’s contribution as outlined in the rules are not eligible for award.

Award Details:

  • The award will be granted annually at the Centre’s Annual Strategic Meeting.
  • You must nominate the names of all OPTIMA members who will receive a share in the cash prize.
  • The winning entry will receive $2000 and a single plaque, along with formal recognition at the annual OPTIMA Centre’s Annual Strategic Meeting, and social media posts.
  • Non-OPTIMA contributors will be entitled to receive a certificate of recognition, but they will not be included as beneficiaries of the $2000 or the plaque.

Apply:

  • Applications must be submitted via the OPTIMA form https://go.unimelb.edu.au/vxg8
  • 2025 applications must be submitted by 11.59 pm on 30th September 2025