Nominations for Australia’s premier science awards and fellowships are now open to the nation’s top scientists and science teachers.

• 20 April 2010

It was with much excitement that I recently promoted the news that applications were being accepted for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science and the L’Oreal Australia For Women in Science Fellowships - two award programs that continue to reward and inspire each year.

The Prizes recognise the life-long commitment and achievements of recipients in their role using science to advance human welfare or to benefit society at large and I look forward to learning more about this year’s diverse range of nominees.

Past recipients of the major prize, the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, include Dr. John O’Sullivan who was responsible for work which provided the foundations for the invention of WiFi internet and Australia’s first female Nobel Laureate, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, who co-discovered telomerase, a finding that may prove to be crucial in the fight against cancer and other diseases.

Winners of the 2009 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science: (L-R) Mr Allan Wittome, Mr Len Altman, Professor Michael Cowley, Dr Amanda Barnard, The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Dr John O’Sullivan, The Hon Senator Kim Carr, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science & Research

The Prizes are awarded in five categories:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, worth $300,000 and awarded to an individual or up to four individuals jointly
• Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, worth $50,000
• Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, worth $50,000
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools, worth $50,000
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools, worth $50,000

Each year, I look forward to meeting not only the outstanding Australian scientists whose research impacts our lives, but also the science teachers who continually inspire their students to pursue and value science. Excellent science teaching cannot only be focused on creating a class of professors and researchers, but must also transit an enthusiasm for science by stimulating curiosity about the world and teaching ways to inquire and learn about the world through that curiosity. In our current education climate, in which science and math enrolments are falling in schools and universities Australia-wide, great teaching deserves to be rewarded.

For the fourth year now, L’Oreal Australia has sponsored three ‘For Women in Science’ fellowships, intended to help early-career female scientists consolidate their careers and rise to positions of scientific leadership. The fellowships are awarded to women who have completed their PhD in the last five years and play a valuable role in inspiring females to achieve excellence in science. I have no doubt that the three women chosen from the 2010 applications will be outstanding examples of the achievements women can make in science.

Meanwhile, as the nominations flow in thick and fast, I will be jetting off on my own scientific mission to the USA. While in America, I will be attending my last annual meeting of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Maryland. Having been a member representative and a Board member for 7 years, I decided to resign from the Association as the demands as the Chief Scientist grow ever more exciting and consuming.

From Maryland, I will visit the Hon Kim Beazley AC, Ambassador to the USA with the Australian Embassy. There I will be able to talk to Mr Beazley about my position as Chief Scientist, the role of my team, as well as having the opportunity to discuss current issues in science such as climate change, security and the science of learning.

From Washington DC, I’ll then be travelling coast to coast to meet with Professor Daniel Kammen, Professor in the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Kammen has done fantastic work on renewable energy technologies and environmental resource management and I am excited to meet with him to discuss our global future in the face of climate change.

I hope to provide updates on facebook throughout my trip, if you haven’t signed up yet, have a look at www.facebook.com/chiefscientist

Otherwise, I will be sure to include information on the outcomes of my visits in my next blog, so stay tuned.

Penny