Sleep Science Communication Award

Congratulations to our winner, Samantha Bramich!

Please join us in congratulating 2024's Sleep Science Communication Award winner, Samantha Bramich! Through a unique and clever use of TikTok to communicate her work, Samantha's presentation embodied the importance of translating research and the essence of the Award. We also extend our congratulations to all of our finalists, including Laura Astbury, Nicole Grivell, and runner-up, Dayna Easton on their impressive presentations. At the Sleep Health Foundation, we're grateful to have these brilliant researchers spotlighting the importance of public education, accessibility and health literacy.

We also thank our judges, 2023's Award winner, Alex Shriane, runner-up, Alex Sweetman, and host, Olivia Henry, for managing the very difficult task of judging our finalists' presentations.

Meet the finalists

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Laura Astbury

Laura Astbury is a third-year Clinical Psychology PhD Candidate and Provisional Psychologist at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University. She has been a member of the Bei Sleep and Mental Health Group at the Monash University since 2018 and she received a bachelor's degree in psychology (with honours) from Monash University in 2020. Laura's research focuses on maternal and infant sleep and maternal mental health across the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Laura is also a clinician who delivers cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia during the perinatal period.

Samantha Bramich (WINNER)

Samantha Bramich has been a sleep scientist at the Launceston General Hospital for the past 12 years and completed a Master of Science in Sleep Medicine at the University of Sydney in 2019. She has a keen interest in the impact of sleep on health and disease and is currently a PhD candidate at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. Her research is focused on isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) and neurodegenerative disease, looking at the prevalence and profiles of iRBD in older Tasmanian adults. Sam and her research team launched the ISLAND Sleep Study in 2022 which now has over 2500 participants, and investigates both subjective and objective symptoms of neurodegeneration, along with using a novel home-based video polysomnography system to identify iRBD more easily in the community.

Meet Samantha

Watch her winning presentation

Dayna Easton (RUNNER-UP)

Dayna is a PhD candidate at the Appleton Institute at CQ University. Her research focuses on exploring individual differences in shift work adaptation, and fatigue management strategies to improve cognitive performance during overnight shifts. Dayna's work carries significant practical implications for optimising night shift rostering and performance.

Watching her presentation

Nicole Grivell

Nicole Grivell is an Implementation Scientist, Sleep Research Registered Nurse, and final year PhD student. Nicole works and studies at Flinders University and works as an Implementation Scientist at University of Melbourne. Her research interests include the development of new primary care models of care for chronic insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, the management of sleep disorders by primary care nurses, the sleep and breathing of people living with motor neurone disease, and consumer engagement in research. Nicole is passionate about facilitating the translation of research findings into practice to improve access to best practice care for the many Australians living with a sleep disorder and/or experiencing poor sleep.

What is the Sleep Science Communication Award?

Early career researchers, even those who are still completing their post graduate studies, who are attending Sleep DownUnder 2024 are invited to submit an entry to be considered for the 2024 Sleep Health Foundation’s Sleep Science Communication Award.  

We are looking for people to submit a 250-word brief mock press release about their research. Then if selected the next phase is to give a 5-minute pitch of their research and how they could see their research being translated into practice and enable it to have a positive impact on society. This will be held at Sleep DownUnder at a symposium on Saturday October 19^th 2024 at 1.45pm-3.15pm AEST. It could be in the form of a TED-talk type of presentation or a short video or animation to convey the main messages of their research topic- whatever suits best! Anything that is aimed at the general public and not a scientific audience is acceptable. 

Eligibility

The Award is open to all early career researchers (10 years post PhD) attending Sleep DownUnder 2024 as well as postgraduate students nearly the completion of their Masters or PhD. 

Entry process

Entry involves a two-stage process:  

1. Entrants submit a simple written mock ‘press release’ (max 250 words) to highlight their research and how it could make a positive impact. Entries will be judged by how effectively they communicate their research and its potential impact (see judging criteria below). Submissions to be sent to admin@sleephealthfoundation.org.au by 9am Monday September 2, 2024.  
2. Up to five finalists will be chosen from this initial stage to take part in the event and will be notified via email from the Sleep Health Foundation by Monday September 16, 2024.The five finalists will be invited to ‘pitch’ their research and how they predict their findings could be translated into significant and positive impacts on society as a whole. This pitch will be allocated as a 5-minutemaximum session.  This pitch can be a simple presentation, a slide show, or even a short video. The finalist can be creative about how they want to best represent themselves (see judging criteria below). 

Timeline

• Submissions are due by 9am Monday September 2, 2024 
• SHF to identify up to five finalists according to the highest scores according to the judging criteria rubric below. 
• SHF to notify the finalists on Monday September 16, 2024 and invite them to participate in the live event during the Sleep DownUnder program on Saturday October 19, 2024. 

Judging criteria

Stage 1: Judging criteria

• Did the ‘press release’ clearly describe the key results of the research including brief overview of methodology, conclusions, outcomes and implications? 
• Was the ‘press release’ written well; was it clear, legible, in plain language, concise and within the250-word limit?  
• Did the ‘press release’ provide a clear description of how this research will potentially contribute to our society?  
• Has the researcher been convincing about the promise of their science and how their findings might make a significant difference to society?  

Stage 2: Judging criteria (for the finalists selected to present on October 19th)

• Was the ‘pitch’ topic, key results, research significance, outcomes and impact communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?  
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention, i.e. was there demonstrated engagement from the audience and was it entertaining and creative? 
• How convincing was this researcher’s pitch on the potential delivery on the promise of their science? That is, how convinced are you that the outlined implications are possible? 
• How highly do you rate the finalist’s description of the need for this research, and its potential promised impact on society, compared to all other entries. 

Winners announced

• All participants will receive an email thanking them for their entry and letting them know whether they have been selected to take part in the Sleep Health Foundation Sleep Science Communication Award event on Saturday October 19^th, 2024. 
• The winners will be announced at the live event, at the conclusion of the event. 
• First place will receive a cash prize of $350, and runner up will receive a cash prize of $200. 

Please email any questions to Liv Patterson at admin@sleephealthfoundation.org.au.

Good luck!