Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

PM’s Prizes – Minister Greg Hunt’s speech

Minister Hunt’s Speech – 2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, fellow parliamentarians, members of the science and research communities, and to our teachers and our students.

It’s my great pleasure to join you tonight in recognising the achievements of the very best of Australian scientists, innovators and science educators.

I couldn’t agree more with the Prime Minister about the vital role of science in Australia and the Government’s unwavering commitment to science.

Great scientific research and learning is happening in Australia every day: in our universities, in our research institutions and in our schools.

But unlike some other activities, this work and the brains behind it do not often make front-page headlines.

Yet science matters because of the problems it solves and the quality of life it provides.

Science matters because of the crucial role it plays as a driver of our economy and a creator of wealth.

It is the fundamental source of the innovation that drives 60 per cent of our productivity.

And science matters because it enriches our lives with new discoveries and sources of wonder.

Our scientists should be given the recognition they deserve. That is why we are here tonight.  [continue reading…]

PM’s Prizes – press release from Prime Minister Turnbull

2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes reward innovation and science

19 October 2016 – www.pm.gov.au/media/2016-10-19/2016-prime-ministers-prizes-reward-innovation-and-science

Tonight we recognise some of Australia’s greatest scientists, innovators and teachers for outstanding achievements in their fields.

The $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science has been awarded to evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Shine of the University of Sydney in recognition of his work to ensure Northern Australia’s peak predators – snakes and lizards – are more likely to survive the cane-toad invasion.

Professor Shine has created traps for cane toads, taught quolls and goannas to avoid toads, and now plans to release small cane toads ahead of their potential arrival in new areas so predators survive their first meal of cane toad but have an aversion to eating them again. [continue reading…]

Fairness underpins efficiency: the profitable innovations saving Australia billions. 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation

Michael Aitken 

Michael Aitken (Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science/WildBear)Global stock markets are fairer and more efficient thanks to the work of Professor Michael Aitken. Now he’s applying his information technology and markets know-how to improve health, mortgage, and other markets. He says there are billions of dollars of potential savings in health expenditure in Australia alone, that can go hand in glove with significant improvements in consumers’ health. [continue reading…]

Conservation that works for governments, ecosystems, and people: 2016 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

Kerrie Wilson 

Kerrie Wilson (Photo credit: Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science/WildBear)What is the value of the services that ecosystems provide—services such as clean air, water, food, and tourism? And what are the most effective ways to protect ecosystems? Where will governments get the best return on their investment in the environment? These questions are central to the work of Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson. [continue reading…]

Media Kit

  • Reptile guru Rick Shine wants to release small cane toads to protect native snakes, lizards and quolls (Sydney)
  • Michael Aitkin is making stock markets fair and efficient; can he do the same for the health system? (Sydney)
  • Colin Hall’s plastic mirrors are the beginning of a new manufacturing technology, and jobs (Adelaide)
  • Kerrie Wilson is providing the evidence-base for good conservation decisions by putting a value on clean air, water, food, tourism and the other benefits that forests, rivers, oceans provide (Brisbane)
  • Richard Payne is re-engineering peptides from ticks, bacteria, and leeches to create new drugs for stroke, TB, and malaria (Sydney)
  • Suzy Urbaniak’s #therealclassroom in Perth’s Kent Street school is setting up students for jobs in mining, conservation, tourism and more
  • Gary Tilley is turning the next generation of primary teachers on to science at Seaforth school and Macquarie Uni in Sydney

[continue reading…]