The Prizes honour Australians who have made significant contributions to building a more prosperous and progressive society through scientific achievements and science education.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research Chris Evans today encouraged the science community to nominate outstanding colleagues for the Prizes.

The Prizes are part of the Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia strategy to foster greater scientific engagement.

Science and innovation are key drivers to improve Australia’s living standards, health, productivity and environment.

The Gillard Labor Government highly regards our scientific community for the tremendous contribution it makes to build a richer, fairer, cleaner and safer nation.

In the past, the Prizes have been awarded for Australian discoveries such as wireless LAN technology and the bionic ear and for achievements in areas like immunology, quantum technology and astronomy.

Past Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science recipients Elizabeth Blackburn AC and Brian Schmidt went on to be awarded Nobel Prizes in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

Other past recipients include Ezio Rizzardo and David Solomon, John Shine AO, John O’Sullivan, Ian Frazer, Graeme Clark AC and the late Frank Fenner AC.

The prizes are awarded in five categories:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science ($300,000);
• Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year ($50,000);
• Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year ($50,000); 
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools ($50,000); and 
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools ($50,000).

As well as the cash component, each of the five Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science comprise a gold or silver medallion and a lapel pin similar to that presented to recipients of Australian Honours like the AO.

Nominations close on 27 April and the Prizes will be announced later in the year.

People can find further information on the Prizes and nominate online by visiting www.innovation.gov.au/scienceprizes.

Two Expert Working Group reports were released today on topics key to the sustainable future of Australia and its people: Australia and Food Security in a Changing World and Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections.

The reports were developed at the behest of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council which provides independent advice on major national issues in science, engineering and technology and their contribution to the economic and social development of Australia.

While developed independently of each other, the two reports do overlap on a number of issues, including the impact of climate change, the importance of water, and the need to build a resilient Australia.

“We charged the cross-disciplinary, expert groups that authored these reports to take a holistic approach, to look at the big picture, and not just a single piece of the science-society interface.

“The independent, scientific reports they produced are ground-breaking and vital to the future of the nation.  I am delighted that they have been released today so that they can inform not only government decision-making, but also public discourse,” Australia’s former Chief Scientist and Executive Officer of PMSEIC, Professor Penny Sackett said

Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections

The interplay between energy, water and carbon in human activities has been made more complex and more pressing by the need to mitigate climate change risk through reducing carbon emissions, whilst continuing to supply energy, water and nutritious and affordable food to a growing population.

“Our energy systems use water; water systems use energy; current energy generation is greenhouse gas (GHG)-intensive; and land uses for food, fibre and energy production all require water.

“Solutions in any one area must take into account implications for the others.  Ideally solutions, whether on the scale of national governments, cities, or rural areas, would be developed integrally. 

“For example, traditional desalination to increase urban water supplies may significantly add to GHG emissions, which can exacerbate climate change, “Professor Sackett said.

A key recommendation of the PMSEIC energy-water-carbon report is to implement consistent principles for the accounting and pricing such as water, energy and carbon emissions into the atmosphere.  

“Consistent accounting and pricing principles are required to ensure our finite resources are used effectively, efficiently, and in ways that are consistent with long-term sustainability and resilience. 

“The implementation of integrated smart networks for energy and water, which is also recommended in the report, will go a long way in enabling the application of these principles,” Professor Sackett remarked.

Another set of recommendations put forward in the report describes positive steps to achieve enhanced resilience and sustainability of our built environments and landscapes. 

“Essentially what this means is that Australia, as a nation composed of individual communities linked by common challenges of water, energy and climate, should develop the ability to recover from shocks such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, while adapting through learning and innovation, and undergoing transformation as required,” Professor Sackett explained.

Australia and Food Security in a Changing World

Australia is currently a net exporter of food, with considerable expertise in food production under resource constraints and in the face of climate variability. However the PMSEIC report suggests increased challenges to this important Australian industry including: land degradation, population growth, long-term climate change, competition for arable land, scarcity of water, and nutrient and energy availability.

“Food security does not just mean having enough food in a typical year.  It means having reliable and sustainable access to acceptable, nutritious, and affordable food at all times.     

“Australians expect this security, and about 40 million non-Australians internationally rely on our country to secure their food as well.”

“The food security report recommends a visionary approach that brings together regulatory and funding agencies, research organisations and industry, to achieve strong outcomes in economic growth and population health centred on food.

“These steps include urgent new investment in food science and technology that will spur future transformational change in healthy and efficient food production; increasing our human capacity to provide a suitably skilled workforce for the food sector; and translating community awareness of food into better food choices,” Professor Sackett said.

Both expert reports address long-term, transformational issues for Australia that affect the whole nation and thus will require a whole-of-government response.  They will be discussed further with the Prime Minister and other Council members at the next PMSEIC meeting, scheduled for 4 February 2011.

Read Australia and Food Security in a Changing World

Read Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections

The report focuses on the fundamental questions that influence our ability to learn and highlights the opportunity for Australia to transform its practices related to learning, with the aim of enhancing life-long learning outcomes for all Australians.

It also uses science to challenge a number of commonly held beliefs about how the brain functions, learns and ages. 

The central recommendation of the report is the establishment of a Science of Learning Program, to be delivered through a number of interdisciplinary and inter-professional Science of Learning Centres.

Further detail on the Science of Learning Program can be found in the short  impact statement.  Click here to download the statement.

In describing the Science of Learning Centres, Australia’s Former Chief Scientist, Professor Penny D Sackett said “the Centres would have a transformational impact on learning by advancing the scientific understanding of effective learning techniques; generating knowledge to inform education policy and practice; and by testing innovative approaches in real world environments to maximise learning outcomes.

“It is expected that the research findings from these Centres could lead to improvements in equity, educational practice and practitioner development.  All of which, should narrow the achievement gap and maximise Australia’s economic productivity.

“By adopting the recommendation from the report to establish Science of Learning Centres, we can deliver a society of effective life-long learners who have the ability to engage in the rapidly developing knowledge society that is the global future.”

The Centres, if established, would cover Australia geographically and socio-economically; and would build on the work already being conducted across Australia by Departments of Education, researchers and other educational groups. 

It is also expected that input into the Centres would be harnessed from parents, carers, learners, community leaders, formal and informal educators, and researchers from different disciplines.

Click here to download a copy of the full report.

The 2009 presentation ceremony for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science was held in the Great Hall, Parliament House in Canberra on 28th October 2009.

The annual Prizes are Australia’s celebration and recognition of excellence in both theoretical and practical applications of science and teaching that contribute to improving the standards of Australia’s present and future scientific capabilities and aspirations.

Prizes are awarded in five categories:
1.    Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
2.    Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
3.    Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
4.    Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
5.    Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

This year’s recipients of the awards are:

(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

Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: John O’Sullivan

John O’Sullivan, Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sydney has won Australia’s greatest scientific honour, the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science 2009 for his many achievements in astronomy and wireless technologies.

This award recognises in particular his research into the reduction of atmospheric distortion of electromagnetic signals that contributed significantly to the development and commercialisation of the now ubiquitous technology that features within nearly every WiFi device and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) across the world making them both fast and reliable.

Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Michael Cowley

Dr. Michael Cowley has dedicated his career to understanding the contributing factors to a condition that affects nearly two and a half million Australians: obesity.  He is the creator of biotech company, Orexigen, which is currently trialling four obesity treatments that utilise his breakthrough knowledge of the effects of the hormone lepatin on the brain which has the ability to increase or decrease weight.

Dr. Cowley continues to work with colleagues at Monash University to develop therapies that break the relationship between obesity and increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Amanda Barnard

For Amanda Barnard great academic success of a first class honours degree followed by a PhD in Physics from RMIT University in 2003, have fuelled an already burgeoning career.

Specialising in the supercomputer study of nano-particle materials on a minute scale, Dr. Barnard defied peers when she created particles in the virtual world to test how their stability would be affected when interacting in various environments.  This work is vital as it reduces the risk and increases knowledge before the development of such particles in the real world.

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Allan Wittome

The rural Badgingarra Primary School students of Allan Wittome understand science as an everyday part of their lives through the great enjoyment they receive from their teacher’s practical applications within and outside of the classroom.

They enjoy active participation in competitions, awards programs and community projects including the Earthwatch Teach Live Whale Sharks of Ningaloo. With Mr Wittome’s guidance and motivation, the students were the first primary school to partake in the F1 in Schools project that brings science off the page and into the imagination of the students.

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Len Altman

The resurgence in Australian geoscience teaching emanates from Marden Senior College in South Australia, where Len Altman is continuing his 36 year teaching career guiding the academic and career paths of not only secondary schoolchildren, but also adult learners and recent immigrants.

Geoscience is needed not only for the mining and minerals industries, but is vital in understanding the challenges that lie ahead as a result of climate change particularly with regards to water security. Concerned with whole of life learning, Len Altman frequently organises multiple events and opportunities for students and teachers at all levels of education and led the creation of Geoscience Pathways, a website demonstrating the essential contribution of geoscience to modern society.

Please visit the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science website to find out more about the individual prizes and award recipients.

The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) was established under the former Government in 1997 as the Government’s principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation and relevant aspects of education and training.  The precursor to PMSEIC was the Prime Minister’s Science Council established by the Hawke Labor Government in 1989.  This was then followed in 1992 by the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council.

Given the appointment of a new Chief Scientist in 2011, the Government took the opportunity to consider the arrangements for the future conduct of PMSEIC.  The revised arrangements, announced on 20 January 2012, aim to ensure that PMSEIC remains relevant and able to maintain the best connection between scientific advice and policy. 

New membership structure

The new structure will:

• Make membership more streamlined.
• Meetings will be more regular at three times a year.
• The work program will include short term and long-term projects requiring disinterested scientific advice to government.

The new arrangements will ensure that the work program is more relevant to the needs of government, especially when considering longer-term policy outcomes.

Short-term projects

The Chief Scientist will draw on expert advice to provide further scientific advice to government on an immediate or short-term policy response. The relevant Minister will assist in an advisory role. The Chief Scientist would normally report back to PMSEIC within the next meeting cycle.

Long-term projects

The Chief Scientist will commission the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACoLA) to undertake in-depth, interdisciplinary research and produce a report on long-term issues requiring further research and advice. The relevant Minister will provide advice and the Chief Scientist will report back within 12 months.

Please visit the PMSEIC website to find further information including who the current members are, as well as reports and presentations that have been produced by the Council.