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Melbourne and Sydney lead as hotspots for innovation in Australia

Nature media release

According to the Nature Index, Melbourne was Australia’s leading city in terms of high-quality science output in 2015, followed by Sydney. The index also shows that Brisbane saw the fastest growth in output between 2012 and 2015, and is home to the highest-placed institution in Australia, The University of Queensland (UQ), which made the largest contribution by share of authorship to high-quality papers than any other institution last year. Overall, Australia’s high-quality research output has grown considerably, up by 10% in just three years, placing it 12th in the index’s global standings.

2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

The 2016 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science recipients are:

Defending Australia’s snakes and lizards: Prime Minister’s Prize for Science Professor Richard Shine (The University of Sydney)
Making stock markets fair and efficient: Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation Professor Michael Aitken (Capital Markets CRC)
Re-engineering nature to fight for global health: Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year Professor Richard Payne (The University of Sydney)
Turning the next generation of primary teachers on to science: Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools Mr Gary Tilley (Seaforth Public School).
Creating new manufacturing jobs by replacing glass and metal with plastic: Prize for New Innovators Dr Colin Hall (University of South Australia)
Conservation that works for government, ecosystems and people: Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year Associate Professor Kerrie Wilson (University of Queensland)
Turning students into scientists, setting them up for jobs in mining, conservation, tourism and more: Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools Ms Suzy Urbaniak (Kent Street Senior High School)

PM’s Prizes – Prime Minister Turnbull’s speech

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

From: www.pm.gov.au/media/2016-10-19/speech-2016-prime-ministers-prizes-science-awards-presentation-dinner

It’s great to be here among friends; to celebrate the outstanding achievements in science, from teachers that have inspired a generation of young scientists, to world-class researchers that are pushing the very frontier of human knowledge.

You have all helped Australia become a leading science nation and my Government’s commitment to science, our investment in the skills of our children and grandchildren and in Australia’s critical research infrastructure will help to attract and retain some of the world’s great talent.

One of the most remarkable things about tonight’s event is the calibre of the audience; it’s wonderful to share this evening with some of Australia’s brightest minds. We’d be hard pressed to find a greater collection of scientists, academics and teachers – not just in Australia but anywhere in the world.

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. [Read more…] about PM’s Prizes – Minister Greg Hunt’s speech

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. [Read more…] about PM’s Prizes – press release from Prime Minister Turnbull

Defending Australia’s snakes and lizards: 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

Richard Shine

Northern Australia’s peak predators—snakes and lizards—are more likely to survive the cane-toad invasion thanks to the work of Professor Richard Shine. [Read more…] about Defending Australia’s snakes and lizards: 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

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

Michael Aitken

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. [Read more…] about Fairness underpins efficiency: the profitable innovations saving Australia billions. 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation

Creating new manufacturing jobs by replacing glass and metal with plastic: 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovators

Colin Hall

Dr Colin Hall and his colleagues have created a new manufacturing process that will allow manufacturers to replace components made from traditional materials like glass, in cars, aircraft, spacecraft, and even whitegoods—making them lighter and more efficient. [Read more…] about Creating new manufacturing jobs by replacing glass and metal with plastic: 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for New Innovators

Re-engineering nature to fight for global health: 2016 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

Richard Payne

Richard Payne makes peptides and proteins. He sees an interesting peptide or protein in nature, say in a blood-sucking tick. Then he uses chemistry to recreate and re-engineer the molecule to create powerful new drugs, such as anti-clotting agents needed to treat stroke. [Read more…] about Re-engineering nature to fight for global health: 2016 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

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

Kerrie Wilson

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. [Read more…] about Conservation that works for governments, ecosystems, and people: 2016 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

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