Mine owner Barminco considered the stunt a safety issue and a breach of its "core values of safety, integrity and excellence, " according to a dismissal letter cited by the paper.
The Award aims to promote excellence in research by young hydrologists and will be granted for an outstanding paper published by IAHS in a period of two years previous to the deadline for nominations.
The paper's editors "view the wonderful bounty of prizes as a real tribute to the newsroom's excellence and dedication, " Executive Editor Jill Abramson told the staff.