The Whitley Awards have been awarded annually since 1979 by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales (RZSNSW). They commemorate Gilbert Whitley, an eminent Australian ichthyologist, and are presented for outstanding publications, either printed or electronic, that contain new information about the fauna of the Australasian region.
For a publication to receive a Whitley Award it must either make a significant contribution of new information, present a new synthesis of existing information, or present existing information in a more acceptable form. All texts must contain a significant proportion of information that relates directly to Australasian zoology. Moreover, all submissions must have been published within 18 months of the awards entry date.
A presentation ceremony is held each year in September at the Australian Museum in Sydney when the authors and publishers of the winning titles receive their awards.
Awards Certificates of Commendation may be awarded to publications judged as the best in various categories including, but not limited to, illustrated publications, textbooks, field guides, reference works, historical zoology, periodicals, handbooks, children’s publications, CD-ROMs, limited editions and videos.
Whitley Medal
The Whitley Medal may be awarded to a publication deemed to be of superior quality that makes a landmark contribution to the understanding, content or dissemination of zoological knowledge. The Whitley Medal is the top award in zoological publishing in Australia and is not necessarily awarded every year, though sometimes more than one medal may be awarded. +Whitley Medal Winners: 2000 to 2024YearTitleAuthorPublisher 2024Mammals of the South-west PacificTyrone Lavery and Tim FlanneryCSIRO Publishing2023Prehistoric AustralasiaMichael Archer, Suzanne Hand, John Long, Trevor Worthy and Peter Schouten (illustrator)CSIRO Publishing2022Australian Deserts: Ecology and LandscapesSteve MortonCSIRO Publishing2020Hawkmoths of Australia: Identification, Biology and Distribution Maxwell Moulds, James Tuttle and David LaneCSIRO Publishing2019Zobi and the Zoox: A Story of Coral Bleaching Ailsa Wild, Aviva Reed, Briony Barr & Gregory CrocettiCSIRO Publishing2018Australian Echinoderms: Biology, Ecology and Evolution Maria Byrne & Timothy O’HaraCSIRO Publishing2017The Australian Bird Guide Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Clarke, Jeff Davies, Peter Marsack & Kim FranklinCSIRO Publishing2016Handbook of the Mammals of the World - Volume 5 Monotremes and MarsupialsThe Fishes of New Zealand Volumes 1-4 Don E. Wilson and Russell Mittermeier (editors)Clive Roberts, Andrew Stewart and Carl Struthers (editors)Lynx EdicionsTe Papa Press2015Biology and Evolution of CrocodyliansGordon Grigg, David KirshnerCSIRO Publishing2014Tadpoles and Frogs of AustraliaMarion AnstisNew Holland Publishers2013Field Guide to the Dragonflies of New Guinea / Buku Panduan Lapangan Capung Jarum untuk Wilayah New Guinea (Brachytron vol. 16)Vincent Kalkman, Albert OrrNederlandse Vereniging voor Libellenstudie2013Ecology of Australian Freshwater FishesPaul Humphries, Keith Walker (editors)CSIRO Publishing2012No medal awarded2011Australian Land Snails Volume 1: A Field Guide to Eastern Australian SpeciesJohn Stanisic, Michael Shea, Darryl Potter, Owen GiffithsBioculture Press2010A Guide to the Beetles of AustraliaGeorge Hangay, Paul ZborowskiCSIRO Publishing2009Boom & Bust: Bird Stories for a Dry CountryLibby Robin, Robert Heinsohn, Leo Joseph (editors)CSIRO Publishing2008A Fragile Balance: The Extraordinary Story of Australian MarsupialsChristopher Dickman, Rosemary Woodford Ganf (illustrator)Craftsman House2007Australia’s Mammal Extinctions: A 50,000 Year HistoryChris JohnsonCambridge University Press2006Adelaide: Nature of a City - The Ecology of a Dynamic City From 1836 to 2036Christopher Daniels, Catherine Tait (editors)Biocity2005Life of MarsupialsHugh Tyndale-BiscoeCSIRO Publishing2005Freshwater Fishes of North-Eastern AustraliaBrad Pusey, Mark Kennard, Angela ArthingtonCSIRO Publishing2004Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive ManagementStephen JacksonCSIRO Publishing 2004Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian DreamtimePeter Murray, Patricia Vickers-RichIndiana University Press2004Beneath Southern Seas: Sharks, Rays, Seahorses & Other Fishes of Australia's Unique Coast [videorecording]George Evatt (Director)Coral Sea Television2003The Waterbug Book: A Guide to the Freshwater Macroinvertebrates of Temperate AustraliaJohn Gooderham, Edward TsyrlinCSIRO Publishing2002Tadpoles of South-Eastern Australia: A Guide With KeyMarion AnstisNew Holland Publishers2001The Last Tasmanian Tiger: The History and Extinction of the ThylacineRobert PaddleCambridge University Press2001Butterflies of Australia: Their Identification, Biology and DistributionMichael F. BrabyCSIRO Publishing2000Marsupial NutritionIan HumeCambridge University Press
See also Whitley Awards (UK) List of biology awards
References
External links About the Whitley Award List of past winners