Awards

The Mike Gibney ECM Award for Impact in Nutritional Science

This award recognises early career nutritionists, who have translated nutrition evidence to impact and who have demonstrated leadership, collaboration and interdisciplinary working to advance nutritional science

This prestigious award is named in honor of Professor Mike Gibney, an esteemed nutritionist who was always supporting early career nutritionists in developing their careers. Mike was passionate about translating nutrition science to practice, across industry, public health, policy or education. Mike loved collaboration, and worked with colleagues around the world in academia, industry, regulation, NGOs, across the food sector.

The application portal for the Mike Gibney Award is open. The deadline for applications is midnight, 13 April 2026. 

Please see the criteria tab for further information on the application process.

Apply here

The winner of the Mike Gibney Award will receive their award at the Society’s Summer Congress 21-24 July 2026, Newcastle University. 

The winner will expected to deliver a talk, drawing upon their professional experience. 

The talk can focus on either:
a) providing ‘top tips’ for securing and progressing in a career in their field, or,
b) outlining an innovative and creative project they have led.  

In addition, the winner will be invited to provide an article for the Nutrition Society Gazette summarising key points from their presentation.

Please note that on acceptance of the award, you must be available to present at the conference.

 

Applications will be judged by a panel consisting of the Chair of the Early Career Membership Committee, The Council Member for Industry, The Council Member for Policy and the Honorary Secretary of the Nutrition Society.  In the event that these individuals are either unavailable or conflicted, alternative panel members may be nominated.

  • Applicants must be a member of the Society prior to application.
  • Applicants must be within 6 years of graduation of most recent relevant degree (or equivalent).
  • Applicants can request that career breaks such as parental leave or long-term illness are taken into account when assessing eligibility.

Applications are invited from all members who meet the below criteria, including those who work in academia, industry, public health, policy or applied practice. You will be asked to provide short supporting statements as follows:

  • Evidence of Impact: Please provide a summary of evidence of your influence in your area of Nutrition.  This may include, but is not restricted to, innovative and creative approaches to influencing practice, policy, product development, leadership, mentoring and training of others. (500 words)
     
  • External Visibility and Knowledge Exchange: Please provide details of contributions you have made to conferences, CPD events, professional societies, advisory boards or regulatory bodies and/or creating educational resources.  (300 words)
     
  • Networking and Collaboration: Please provide details of successful networking and development of interdisciplinary partnerships. Outline how you have leveraged your network and partnerships to benefit your colleagues, employer and/or society more generally. (300 words)

 

Applicants should be aware that this award is focused on how your work has impacted on your area of interest rather than specifically research publications and funding awards. Applicants in a research-based role may also wish to consider the Julie Wallace Award as an alternative.

The application must be accompanied by a full CV including education and employment history, evidence of awards received, career highlights, Society membership.

If you have any queries or would like to find out more, please contact the Society's Events Officer at [email protected]

How to apply?

Applicants for the award should submit:

  1. A full CV including evidence of publications and any scholarships or awards received
  2. A statement of achievements within each category of the above judging criteria (up to 1000 words in total)
  3. A summary of the proposed lecture
  4. The names, addresses and emails of two Proposers who are familiar with the applicant’s work and who will support the application.

When will I hear if my submission has been accepted?

Applicants will hear the outcome of the Mike Gibney Award by mid-May.