Scientific solutions to real industrial and health problems were awarded one of the highest honours in Australia this week - the 2013 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.
 |
Announced at Parliament House in Canberra, the recipients of this year’s awards were celebrated for their achievements fighting cancer with numbers, studying the potential for natural plants compounds as the basis of a new line of drugs and a quantum computer created in a high tech basement that could make the construction and testing of new drugs child’s play.
Three scientists and two science teachers were awarded with the prizes that are working to develop new solutions and inspire the next generation of researchers.
Maths whiz Professor Terry Speed, who is a statistician and mathematician with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne and the University of California at Berkeley received the overall Prime Minister’s Prize for Science. While Terry’s not expecting to see “Statistician cures cancer” any time soon, he knows that the right mathematics and statistics would help researchers understand the underlying causes of cancer and reduce the need for surgery. More information on Professor Terry Speed.
Life Scientist of the Year Associate Professor Angela Moles and Physical Scientist of the Year Associate Professor Andrea Morello, both from UNSW, are also working on future applications with real benefits for the health industry. Andrea Morello’s work on the building blocks of a quantum computer will help the pharmaceutical industry in constructing and test new lines of drugs. More information on Professor Andrea Morello.
Angela, whose has the enviable task of travelling around the world studying rainforests and other natural ecosystems, is hoping to improve some very out-dated views on ecology, some of which could improve techniques in drug development. More information on Professor Angela Moles.
Other important winners included the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching that were presented to Richard Johnson (Primary Schools) and Sarah Chapman (Secondary Schools).
You can find out more about each winner here.
ANSTO CEO Dr Adi Paterson, who attended the awards ceremony, said it demonstrated the important role science plays in our lives.
“Congratulations to all winners. This year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are more proof that Australia is at the forefront of scientific teaching, research and industrial applications”.
Published: 01/11/2013