
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
Flinders University Logo Flinders University Logo
  • Study

    Study areas

    • Business
    • Computer science and information technology
    • Creative arts and media
    • Criminology
    • Defence and national security
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanities and social sciences
    • Innovation and enterprise
    • International relations and political science
    • Languages
    • Law
    • Medicine
    • Nursing and midwifery
    • Psychology
    • Science
    • Social work
    • Sport

    I am...

    • a high school student
    • a non-school leaver
    • a future honours student
    • a future postgraduate student
    • a future research student
    • a future online student
    • a future Indigenous student
    • an international student
    • a parent
    • a school counsellor/teacher
    Explore
    Admission pathways
    Apply
    Contact us
  • Study

    Study areas

    • Business
    • Creative arts
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health sciences
    • Humanities
    • Information technology
    • Law
    • Medicine
    • Nursing
    • Psychology
    • Public health
    • Science
    • Social sciences
    • Social work

    International websites

    • China
    • Vietnam
    Explore Flinders
    Apply
    Contact us
  • Research

    Research areas

    • Engineering and technology
    • Health and medical
    • People and society
    • Science, environment and natural resources
    • Emerging research - Defence

    Fearless Research

    • Research Changing Lives

    I am...

    • a potential collaborator
    • a researcher
    • a potential research student
    • a current research student
    Research@Flinders
    Institutes and centres
    Partner with us
    Participate
  • Research

    Research areas

    • Engineering and technology
    • Health and medical
    • People and society
    • Science, environment and natural resources
    • Emerging research - Defence

    Fearless Research

    • Research Changing Lives

    I am...

    • a potential collaborator
    • a researcher
    • a potential research student
    • a current research student
    Research@Flinders
    Institutes and centres
    Partner with us
    Participate
  • Engage

    I want to...

    • Engage with us
    • Connect with students
    • Locate a clinic
    • Book a campus venue
    • Find a tender
    • Give to Flinders
    • Work at Flinders
    • Participate in a research study
    • See what's on
    • Shop Flinders merchandise
    • Explore Indigenous education

    Related links

    • Flinders New Venture Institute
    • Alumni
    • Health2Go
    • Flinders University Museum of Art
    • Flinders One Sport and Fitness
    Business and government
    Community
    Culture
    International
  • Alumni

    I want to...

    • Join an alumni network
    • Establish an alumni network
    • Share a memory
    • Access career services
    • Order a transcript
    • Give to Flinders
    • Update my details
    • Find a classmate
    • Shop Flinders merchandise
    Our alumni
    Benefits and services
    Get involved
    Stay connected
  • Giving

    Donate today

    • Donate online
    • Donate by mail
    • Giving online FAQs (PDF)
    • Staff Workplace Giving Program
    • Contact us

    Ways to give

    • Give in celebration or in memory
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Giving from overseas
    • Give a cultural gift
    • Get involved

    Donate to
    Why give
    Our donors
  • About

    The 2025 agenda

    • Vision and mission
    • Our strategic plan
    • Our values and ethos
    • Flinders Village

    Governance and leadership

    • University Council
    • Chancellor
    • Vice-Chancellor

    Our organisation

    • Colleges
    • Library
    • Professional services
    • Staff directory
    • Sustainability at Flinders

    Campus and locations

    • Bedford Park
    • Tonsley
    • City Campus
    • Flinders in the NT
    • Health and Medical Research Building
    Fast facts
    History
    Structure
    Contact us
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
  • You have no saved courses.

    Continue to explore your course options.

     
    Explore our courses

    Your saved courses

    {{{courseName}}}
    mail_outline
    delete
    View all saved courses
  • Quick links 
    • Current students
    • Staff
    • Library
    • Flinders dashboard (Okta)
    • Ask Flinders
    • Flinders Learning Online (FLO)
    • Parking
    • Campus map: Bedford Park
    • Staff directory
    • Jobs at Flinders
    • Shop Flinders merchandise

 
  • Study 

    Study areas

    • Business
    • Computer science and information technology
    • Creative arts and media
    • Criminology
    • Defence and national security
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanities and social sciences
    • Innovation and enterprise
    • International relations and political science
    • Languages
    • Law
    • Medicine
    • Nursing and midwifery
    • Psychology
    • Science
    • Social work
    • Sport

    I am...

    • a high school student
    • a non-school leaver
    • a future honours student
    • a future postgraduate student
    • a future research student
    • a future online student
    • a future Indigenous student
    • an international student
    • a parent
    • a school counsellor/teacher
  • Events 
    • Future student events
    • Livestream Information Sessions
    • Postgraduate information sessions
  • Explore 
    • The Flinders experience
    • Live on campus
    • Explore combined degrees
    • New courses in 2025
    • Scholarships
  • Admission pathways 
    • Year 12 entry
    • TAFE/VET to uni
    • Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
    • Indigenous Admission Scheme
    • Course pathways
    • Military academic pathways
    • Foundation Studies
  • Apply 
    • Apply for an undergraduate degree
    • Apply for a postgraduate coursework degree
    • Higher Degree by Research
    • Apply for an honours year
    • Internal transfer
    • Credit transfer
    • Scholarships
  • Contact us 
    • Book a chat
    • Book a campus tour

James Moore Memorial Palaeontology Prize for High School Students

palaeo-sophie-gavin.jpg

Enter now - Entries close 5:00 PM Wednesday 17 September 2025 

Congratulations to the 2024 James Moore Memorial Prize winners Matilda Coventry (metro), Ethan Davidson (metro) and Jack Wilson (regional).

The high school students will go on a palaeontology expedition with the Flinders team in 2025 and each receive $400 prize money.

Are you a high school student?

Are you hooked on fossils?

Do you want to go on an expedition with Flinders palaeontologists?

The James Moore Memorial Palaeontology Prize is awarded annually for one regional and one metropolitan secondary school student from South Australia, as well as one student from interstate. Winners take part in a fossil field trip and assist in curating fossils at the Flinders Palaeontology Lab.

James Moore was a student at Flinders University who devoted his studies to learning about remains of prehistoric creatures in the Flinders University Palaeontology Laboratory. He became hooked on fossils as a high-school student when he grasped the opportunity to participate in Flinders palaeontology expeditions to collect the bones of ancient megafauna.

He loved the thrill of travelling to remote sites and back through time to discover remains of weird and wonderful animals from Australia’s past.

Born and raised in Whyalla, James was passionate about engaging with school students, and encouraging them to interact with scientists and to participate in research.

Sadly, James died in 2014 at the age of just 24. The prize was created in his honour and continues to be supported by community donations to inspire school students to unearth their fascination for fossils. Learn about supporting the prize.

Previous Expeditions

  • Wellington Caves, NSW
  • Alcoota megafauna fossil site, 250km north east of Alice Springs
  • Bone Gulch, near the Murray River in western NSW
  • Naracoorte Caves, SA

What did the prize winners love about the experience?

“The feeling of bringing the ancient remains of long-gone beasts into the light for the first time in 6-to-8 million years is almost indescribable. The first fossil I pulled from the ground, the tibia of an Ilbandornis woodburnei (giant flightless bird), was especially special, even if it was a bit fragmented. I just loved being in the central Australian desert, looking over the Mitchell grass plains, following dry riverbeds and sitting under the breathtaking night sky.”

Antoni Camozzato from St Michael’s College, Henley Beach

antoni-camozzato-james-moore.jpg
Laluloy_at_Ongeva.jpg

“The experience I had in Alcoota, learning about Australian megafauna and identifying what bones belonged to which animal, was exhausting, gratifying and fulfilling.”

Laluloy Bucar from Edward John Eyre High School, Whyalla

“I’ve often thought that being the first person to uncover fossils that have not been seen for thousands to millions of years would be exciting, and winning the James Moore Memorial Prize gave me the opportunity to experience the real thing.”

Keisha Hadland from Kangaroo Island Community Education

keisha-james-moore.jpg
sophie-field-james-moore.jpg

“It was such a new experience for me. I loved sorting the bones and being in the caves – it was so much fun – and I’d never previously thought much about studying palaeontology as a specific subject, but now I’m really keen.” 

Sophie Field from Reynella East High School

Details

Entries close 5:00 PM Wednesday 17 September 2025

  • Open to Year 10 and 11 secondary school students (any age within these year levels) from anywhere in Australia
  • The prize is a 1 week field trip with the world-leading Flinders University Palaeontology team in April or May of the following year of entry (e.g the field trip for the 2025 prize winners would occur in 2026).
  • Prize money of $400 per winner, plus costs associated with the field trip are covered by the James Moore Memorial Palaeontology Prize.
  • If you have further questions and would like to know more details, email gavin.prideaux@flinders.edu.au

Flinders palaeontology news

See all Flinders Palaeontology Lab news

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online

Information for

  • Future students
  • Alumni
  • Media
  • Business and community
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • External contractors

Directories

  • Contact us
  • Campus and locations
  • Staff directory
  • Colleges
  • Library
  • Research Institutes and Centres

Follow Flinders

Facebook - Flinders University
Instagram - Flinders University
TikTok - Flinders University
LinkedIn - Flinders University
Bluesky - Flinders University
YouTube - Flinders University
Brand SA logo Innovative Research University logo Indigenous communities

Website feedback

Disclaimer

Accessibility

Privacy

CRICOS Provider: 00114A      TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097      TEQSA category: Australian University

Last Updated: 12 Mar 2025

FOREVER FEARLESS

This website uses cookies

Flinders University uses cookies to ensure website functionality, personalisation and a variety of purposes as set out in its website privacy statement. This statement explains cookies and their use by Flinders.

If you consent to the use of our cookies then please click the button below:

Accept all cookies and continue

If you do not consent to the use of all our cookies then please click the button below. Clicking this button will result in all cookies being rejected except for those that are required for essential functionality on our website.

Reject all non-essential cookies and continue