Top honours for leading minds
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science 2019 winners have been announced.
The annual awards, handed out this year for the 20th time, recognise the contributions that Australia’s scientists, innovators and science teachers make to local scientific and commercialisation capabilities.
Prizes for research
- Prime Minister's Prize for Science awarded to Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger for her fundamental contributions to research in pure and applied mathematics. Her work explains the complex mathematics required for applications such as secure digital communication and encryption for the web.
- Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year awarded to Associate Professor Laura Mackay for identifying immune cells that protect against both infection and cancer.
- Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year awarded to Associate Professor Elizabeth New for pioneering imaging tools that allow scientists to see deeper into cells than ever before.
Prizes for innovation
- Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation awarded to Associate Professor Peter Czabotar, Professor David Huang, Professor Guillaume Lessene and Professor Andrew Roberts for their roles in inventing, developing and commercialising a breakthrough anti-cancer drug.
- Prize for New Innovators awarded to Dr Luke Campbell for inventing and commercialising headphones that learn and adapt to your unique hearing, delivering a personalised audio experience.
Prizes for science, mathematics or technology teaching
- Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools awarded to Mrs Sarah Finney for raising student interest and participation in science and advocating for a strengthened science curriculum in South Australia.
- Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools awarded to Dr Samantha Moyle for leading integrated learning in STEM at her school and being an effective and passionate role model for her students.