ALERT: Nominations are now open for the 2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
Help us recognise Australia’s best scientists, innovators and teachers, by nominating them for one of the Prime
Minister’s Prizes for Science.
We’re looking for:
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The heroes of Australian science whose significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge through
science deserves recognition;
Exceptional innovators from science and industry who have enhanced our economy, translating scientific
knowledge into a substantial commercial impact;
Early to mid-career scientists whose research are already making, and will continue to have, an impact to
our lives; and
Science teachers —at primary and secondary level—who are dedicated to effective and innovative science
teaching.
These leaders in science and science education will share in $750,000 of prize money, which will be presented by the
Prime Minister and the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science at a gala dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament
House, Canberra.
2016 sees the addition of a new prize to Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. $50,000 will be awarded to the recipient
of the Prize for New Innovators. This prize recognises an exceptional early achievement in the commercialisation of
scientific research that has had substantial beneficial economic, social and (where relevant) environmental impacts.
The 2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are:
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Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation
Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
Prize for New Innovators (new award for 2016)
Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools
Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
It’s simple to nominate in the first (shortlisting) stage, with an online form which requires:
• details of a nominator, nominee (s) and two supporters
• an achievement summary of no more than 1000 words
• a two page curriculum vitae
• proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency
Further requirements for the five science prizes:
• details of three external referees (two of which must be international)
• for the Frank Fenner, Malcolm McIntosh, and New Innovators Prizes, evidence that their research career
spans no more than 10 years (or full time equivalent) from completion of highest degree and certified copy
of their testamur
Shortlisted nominees will be asked to provide further material in the final stage.
Science Prizes and Science Teaching Prizes Nomination Guidelines are at www.science.gov.au/pmscienceprizes .
If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
Meet the 2015 recipients of the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
Dr Graham Farquhar AO – 2015 Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for
Science
Graham Farquhar’s work has transformed our understanding of the world’s
most important biological reaction: photosynthesis. His models of plant
biophysics have been used to understand cells, whole plants, whole forests,
and to create new water-efficient wheat varieties. Graham is Distinguished
Professor of the Australian National University’s (ANU) Research School of
Biology and Chief Investigator of the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Translational
Photosynthesis.
Laureate Professor Graeme Jameson AO – 2015 Recipient of the Prime
Minister’s Prize for Innovation
Graeme Jameson’s technologies use trillions of bubbles to add nearly $100
billion to the value of Australia’s mineral and energy industries.
He created the Jameson Cell in the 1980s to concentrate base metals such as
copper, lead, and zinc. Graeme took flotation; a century old technology
developed in Broken Hill and transformed it. A turbulent cloud of minute
bubbles are pushed through a slurry of ground- up ore where they pick up mineral particles and carry them to the
surface. The technology found many more applications, most profitably in the Australian coal industry, where the
Jameson Cell has retrieved fine export coal particles worth more than $36 billion. Graeme is Laureate Professor of
Chemical Engineering at the University of Newcastle and Director of its Centre for Multiphase Processes.
Dr Jane Elith – 2015 Recipient of the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the
Year
Jane Elith is one of the most influential environmental scientists in the world,
though she rarely ventures into the field. She develops and assesses species
distribution models, which are used by governments, land and catchment
managers, and conservationists around the world—in short, for applying the
lessons of ecology. In Australia for example her models can help farmers
restore damaged soils, map the spread of cane toads, and compare the implications of development options in the
Tiwi Islands for threatened plants and animals that have largely disappeared from the mainland. Jane is an
Australian Research Council Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s School of Biosciences and a member of
the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis.
Associate Professor Cyrille Boyer – 2015 Recipient of the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
Cyrille Boyer uses light to make new and complex polymers.
His ideas are built on the revolutionary RAFT techniques for which David
Solomon and Ezio Rizzardo received the 2011 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
His latest technology uses light and chlorophyll to catalyse the creation of
polymers using up to ten building blocks. He’s using it to create nanoparticles
that can carry drugs into the human body to break down bacterial biofilms
associated with implants, cystic fibrosis, and sticky ear. His patented
technologies will herald a new era of smart polymers and eventually he believes he will be able to reconstruct
complex polymers such as proteins and even DNA. Cyrille is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the
School of Chemical Engineering at the University of New South Wales.
Ken Silburn – 2015 Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in
Science Teaching in Secondary Schools
Ken has transformed science teaching at Casula High School in Sydney’s southwestern suburbs. Two-thirds of Year 11 and 12 students choose science subjects
thanks to his work. Ken has transformed the way his students engage with
science, through extension programs, interactive and hands-on activities, and a
great deal of encouragement. In the classroom, Ken focuses on what his
students are most interested in or fascinated by, and makes it a big part of his
science teaching curriculum. A highlight is the use of space science as a core element of the classes.
Rebecca Johnson – 2015 Recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence
in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
Fifteen years ago Rebecca Johnson, from Windaroo State School, initiated a
new method for teaching science more effectively in primary schools without
costing the government anything extra. With a fully resourced science room
Rebecca, with her teaching partner, teach science to every student at Windaroo
State School. Because of this designated space and the importance that has
been assigned to this subject area, the children are able to experience a depth
of science learning usually reserved for high school. Almost a hectare of the school grounds have been turned into
teaching gardens which, under Rebecca’s guidance, the students created and built. Here they work with real-life
examples of what they are learning about in the classroom and they sell the harvest to staff.
Read more about past prize recipients at: www.science.gov.au/pmscienceprizes