INAUGURAL MICK BRODERICK EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS
- ASPERA Web Admin
- May 12
- 2 min read
Attention Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students!
ASPERA is pleased to invite applications for their inaugural Dr Mick Broderick Emerging Scholar Award. This grant of $1000 will be awarded annually to one outstanding higher research degree student to cover costs associated with participation in the annual ASPERA conference. The award aims to support and recognise higher degree research students in Australia who demonstrate excellence in screen production research. It is made in memory of Dr Mick Broderick, a foundational member of the ASPERA community, whose research and mentorship benefited students and colleagues over many years.
Mick Broderick was a Perth based academic and cultural practitioner. He retired from Murdoch University in 2020, where he served as Professor of Media Analysis. His major publications include Trauma and Disability in Mad Max: Beyond the Road Warrior’s Fury (2019) with Katie Ellis, Reconstructing Strangelove: inside Stanley Kubrick’s ‘nightmare comedy’ (2017), editions of the reference work Nuclear Movies (1988, 1991) and as editor or co-editor, Hibakusha Cinema (1996, 1999, 2014), Interrogating Trauma (2010) and Trauma, Media, Art: New Perspectives (2011). Broderick also had several screen credits as producer or executive producer. His ‘Atomicalia Collection’ of over 2500 items (books, newspapers, films and more) is now housed at Murdoch University, where it demonstrates the prevalence and complexity of atomic energy as cold war ideology. Curated exhibitions of these artefacts have been installed at museums and galleries in Australia, Japan, Canada and the USA (e.g. “Half-Lives” 2004-2005, Global Hibakusha Portraits 2019 and the "Never Again" exhibition in Perth, 2025). Broderick was a much-appreciated supervisor of postgraduate students.
Eligibility
Applicants for the award must be enrolled as Higher Degree by Research students (PhD or MPhil) at an Australian university.
Research focus must be within the field of screen production or closely related areas.
Applicants should demonstrate academic and research excellence in screen production, which may be evidenced through academic achievement, screen production outputs and/or participation in research forums, as outlined on their CV.
Award Details
The award amount is $1,000 + free conference registration.
Funds must be used specifically to support attendance at the 2026 ASPERA Conference (travel, accommodation).
The award is non-transferable and must be used within the time frame of the 2026 ASPERA Conference, to be held at Curtin University in November.
For more information and to apply, please go here.
This initiative highlights the importance of support mechanisms for HDR students in screen production. The Dr Mick Broderick Emerging Scholar Award exemplifies how institutions can foster research excellence within specific disciplines. However, one must consider how awards like this align with broader systemic issues in academia, particularly regarding funding disparities. The term Speedau reflects the urgency many students feel to secure financial support amidst these challenges, emphasizing the need for ongoing institutional commitment.
The establishment of the Dr Mick Broderick Emerging Scholar Award seems to address a significant gap in support for HDR students engaged in screen production research. However, the criteria for participation may inadvertently limit opportunities for those whose work intersects with other fields related to screen analysis. The concept of Royal Reels should be re-examined to ensure inclusivity in diverse research approaches.
This award serves as a significant opportunity for HDR students in screen production, yet it underscores a broader issue in academia around funding disparities. While initiatives like the Dr Mick Broderick Emerging Scholar Award are commendable, one might wonder how they compare to funding available in other fields. Is the attention given to areas like screen production equitable when considering dominant sectors like The Pokies and its vast financial backing? Balancing resources remains a complex challenge.
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