The T. W. M. Cameron Outstanding Ph. D. Thesis Award

This is an annual award, established by the Canadian Society of Zoologists to recognize the author of an outstanding Ph. D. Thesis in Zoology submitted to a Canadian University.

This award was renamed in 1990.

The recipient of the award will be invited to present a lecture on the subject of the dissertation to the Annual General Meeting. He/she will be presented with a commemorative scroll at the time. In order to facilitate attendance of the recipient at the meeting, reasonable expenses for air travel at minimum rates and all accommodation and meals at the meeting will be paid by the Society, up to a maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000). When a recipient is located at a great distance from the site of the Annual General Meeting, it may be necessary to defer or waive the presentation or lecture. The Executive may consider applications by the recipient for increased expense reimbursement.

Funded through the Cameron Award fund of ZET. The CSZ will transfer funds each year from its general revenues to the Cameron Award fund of ZET to cover the cost of the award. The Committee may claim from the Treasurer reasonable expenses to cover shipping charges for return of theses.

Maximum of one per year. The award need not be made every year.

Nominations are to be made to the Chair of the Cameron Award Committee. For nomination, a thesis must have been accepted at a Canadian University within the period of July 1 of the year preceding the nomination deadline to June 30 of the year of the nomination deadline. Only one thesis may be nominated by a department, though more than one department in an university may nominate a thesis. A nominated thesis should be accompanied by a joint letter from the Chair of the Department and the Supervisor indicating their reasons for the nomination. Either three bound copies (hardbound or softbound) or three electronic copies (on CD or DVD) of the nominated thesis, and supporting letters must be sent to the Chair of the Cameron Award Committee.

15 August of each year.

The Cameron Award Committee will comprise three judges chosen from among members of the Society. Judges will be appointed by the Executive Council for a period of three years. To maintain continuity, one new judge will be appointed each year. The judges will have different zoological interests. The third year judge will normally be the Chair of the Committee.

Theses will be judged on the quality of the science and the quality of the presentation. The judges will be given complete discretion for methods of determining the outstanding thesis. They may seek advice from other zoologists concerning theses outside their area of expertise. The judges must make a unanimous recommendation to the Executive Council which will be the final arbiter for the Award. Council must be notified no later than the December Council meeting.

Following ratification, the President will notify the recipient and invite him/her to present the Cameron Lecture at the next Annual Meeting of the Society. The Chair will notify unsuccessful nominees.

The Secretary will prepare an appropriate scroll, to be presented to the recipient by the President at the Cameron Lecture. The Treasurer will reimburse expenses to the recipient once receipts are provided.

The award is a reimbursement of receipted expenses and should not normally have any taxation consequences. The Treasurer will verify appropriate taxation procedures and comply with them.