Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has presented awards to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of two early career scientists at the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science awards held at Parliament House, Canberra.
South Australian physicist Professor Tanya Monro was awarded the $50,000 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year for her invention of new kinds of optical fibres, and Canberra bioscientist Dr Carola Vinuesa was awarded the $50,000 Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year for her contributions to immunology.
Professor Monro, and her team from the Centre of Expertise in Photonics at the University of Adelaide have created a new class of optical fibres which have air holes or tunnels along their length.
"These holey optical fibres have thousands of potential applications in industry, health, agriculture and defence. Ultimately, it is planned that the fibres will be used to create sensors that could be used at the point of care to detect viruses such as influenza or HIV," Senator Carr said.
Dr Vinuesa leads a team at the ANU's John Curtin School of Medical Research that has revealed key steps in how our immune system produces high quality, long lasting antibodies to fight disease.
"This research has shown how a defect in a single gene, which she discovered and named roquin, can lead to the production of imperfect antibodies that create autoimmune diseases such as lupus. The great promise of this advance is that it will open up new opportunities for drug discoveries to fight such autoimmune diseases."
"The world class research conducted by both award recipients highlights the expertise that exists in the Australian scientific community. It also shows the potential we have to make critical scientific breakthroughs which will benefit all Australians and contribute to the betterment of humanity as a whole," Senator Carr said.
At the ceremony, the Prime Minister awarded three key prizes:
• The $300,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Science was awarded to Queensland’s Professor Ian Frazer for his creation of vaccines which protect against cervical cancer.
• The $50,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools was awarded to Adelaide teacher Bronwyn Mart for the development of ground-breaking teaching programs which tap into the curiosity of children and demonstrate the importance of science education in primary schools.
• The $50,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools was awarded to Clare Valley (SA) teacher Clay Reid, celebrating 20 years of inspirational science teaching and leadership among the science teaching community.
"Science is central to our everyday lives and it holds the key to a better, more prosperous and fairer society for all Australians. These awards reinforce the importance of science and highlight its capacity to change our world.
"All award recipients should be justifiably proud of their achievements and their contribution to Australian science," Senator Carr said.
Curriculum vitaes of all award recipients are attached, high resolution photographs can be obtained from Susan Charles
(0434 077 594).
Further Information is available from the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science website
Media contacts: Patrick Pantano, Minister's Office, 0417 181 936
Susan Charles, Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, 0434 077 594