Nominations open for 2026 H Barry Collin Research Medal

Nominations are now open for Optometry Australia’s 2026 H Barry Collin Research Medal. This prestigious award recognises outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge in optics, vision science, or clinical optometry by a person who is an Australian citizen or a graduate of an Australian optometry school, or who has done a significant part of his or her research in an Australian institution.

The medal is accompanied by a monetary prize of $5,000 and the recipient is required to submit a paper for publication in Optometry Australia’s journal, Clinical and Experimental Optometry.

The award is named after distinguished optometrist, academic and researcher, Emeritus Professor H Barry Collin, who was Editor-in-Chief of Clinical and Experimental Optometry for nearly a quarter of a century. Prof Collin received the Order of Australia for services to optometric education in the South Pacific.

The 2025 winner and 19th recipient of the award was Professor Michael Collins for his sustained and significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in optometric research, notably in the areas of contact lenses, visual optics, ocular imaging and myopia development and control. More details on his achievements can be read here.

How to nominate

Nominations can be made by a single person or group, and must include details of the name, position, qualifications, and contact details of both the nominators and nominee. A curriculum vitae and overview statement of no more than 1,500 words on the nature, scope, and importance of the research by the nominee is also required.

Additional information about the nomination process is available here.

Nominations close 27 February 2026. Submissions should be sent to Optometry Australia’s Publication Content and Strategy Manager, Jaclyn Chiang, via email at j.chiang@optometry.org.au.