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Thursday 16 October 2008 - EMBARGO LIFTED AT 7pm AEDT on Thu 16 Oct 08

RAPID ROUNDUP: 2008 PM's Prizes for Science – Australian scientific community responds

The 2008 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science is being announced at a black tie ceremony at the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra tonight (Thursday 16 October 2008).

The prize winners are:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: Professor Ian Frazer, Diamantina Institute for Cancer Immunology & Metabolic Medicine, Queensland

• Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Dr Carola Vinuesa, Australian National University

• Malcolm MacIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Professor Tanya Monro, University of Adelaide

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Ms Bronwyn Mart, Magill Primary School, Adelaide

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Mr Clay Reid, Clare High School, SA

For further details on the winners, including  citations, photos and videos go to:  www.scienceinpublic.com.au username: pmp, password: pmp2008

To organise interviews with recipients, please contact: Niall Byrne (Science in Public): 0417 131 977 or Leigh Exelby: 0422 396 111.

Below, colleagues and members of the Australian scientific community respond to the announcements. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories after the embargo is lifted.  Any further comments will be posted here. For any general enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us on (08) 8207 7415 or by email.
Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
On Ian Frazer:

Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Melbourne

“It is an enormous thrill to hear that Professor Ian Frazer of Brisbane has won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for 2008. His achievement is a monumental one – a vaccine against the dreaded human papilloma virus (HPV) which is the cause of cervical cancer in women. This vaccine has been brilliantly successful and the rollout in Australia has really led the world in terms of both uptake and freedom from any significant side effects. Frazer is currently working very hard to get this vaccine into the developing countries where the need is greatest. Over a quarter of a million women die each year from cervical cancer and most of these are in developing countries. The award to Frazer will be universally welcome right around Australia and around the world.”

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Professor Nikolai Petrovsky is Director of at Endocrinology at Flinders Medical Centre (at Flinders University) in Adelaide

“Vaccines remain the most cost effective means of improving public health.

Vaccine development by definition is a complex task which involves many contributors. However, prizes must go to individuals and hence this prize to Ian Frazer recognises his commitment and that of his research team and the teams of Merck, GSK and many other scientists globally to the task of making an effective vaccine against HPV and thereby against cervical cancer, which has been a remarkable achievement. Hopefully this recognition of Ian Frazer's achievements will flow into better government support of vaccine research and development in Australia not just by Ian Frazer but also by the many other less public but equally dedicated vaccine researchers.”

Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
On Carola Venuesa:

Professor Nikolai Petrovsky is Director of at Endocrinology at Flinders Medical Centre (at Flinders University) in Adelaide

“Dr Vinuesa is a deserving recipient of this award, having dedicated herself to the pursuit of science and having made many significant discoveries of relevance to understanding of functioning of the immune system. Her ability to maintain this prodigious output at the same time as having children is a testament to her dedication and love of science. Bravo Carola!”   

Malcolm MacIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
On Tanya Monro:

Dr Cathy Foley is President of the Australian Institute of Physics (she’s located in Sydney)

“The Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) is very proud that one of our outstanding members has won the Malcolm Macintosh Prize for the Physical Scientist of the year. Tanya Munro was the 2007/8 AIP Women in Physics Lecturer who committed to give talks to colleagues and school students as well as the general public about her work in optical fibres and their application. She is an outstanding physicist and shows that even with a busy schedule of running a research centre and maintaining life balance of work and family, she is able to demonstrate high impact and a significant scientific career. Tanya’s most cited paper on Holey Optical Fibres has been the basis for new applications and innovations for the use of optical fibres around the world in many new industries.

Congratulations Tanya.”

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Professor Bryan Gaensler is Professor of Physics in the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Sydney

“Tanya Monro is the epitome of the can-do attitude of the new generation of Australian scientists. After a lengthy stint overseas, Monro has been back in Australia for only three years, but has quickly built up a large and dynamic team at the University of Adelaide. Her novel approaches to fiber sensing technology are having a dramatic impact in industry, in defence, and in our everyday lives.  Monro is not just a successful scientist but is also a committed and dedicated mentor, as evidenced by the large number of enthusiastic students with whom she works.”

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Professor Ken Baldwin is Deputy Director of the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra

“Tanya Monro represents a group of rising stars in Australian science who will inspire future generations to contribute to our high international scientific profile.  Attracted back to Australia in 2005 to set up a new experimental facility in Adelaide for developing novel types of optical fibres using soft glasses, Tanya Monro has in a short time established a series of important research programs linking academia, government, industry and the defence sector.  

The new optical fibres being developed are deliberately designed with air-filled microstructures to allow precise control over their light transmission properties.  This will provide a new enabling technology for optical communications, novel lasers, and sensors to monitor chemical and biological processes.  

Tanya Monro has exhibited strong leadership in establishing the Centre of Expertise in Photonics in Adelaide, drive and enthusiasm in engaging with a range of sectors, and skill at communicating the excitement of science to the wider community.  She is a shining example of the type of new generation Australian scientist that the nation should be attracting back from overseas, having gained essential expertise and establishing networks which will serve the nation well into the future. 

Tanya Monro is a deserving winner of the Malcolm MacIntosh Prize, and has great potential as a scientific leader in this country.”

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools:
Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools:
On Science Education/Teaching:

Professor Ian Frazer, recipient of the 2008 Prime Minister's Prize for Science speaking on the importance of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Teaching.

“Science provides the knowledge that enables solutions to many of the challenges facing society today .

A quality science education for the next generation is the key to a scientifically literate community. Such a community, knowledgeable of the scientific method, can understand and accept that research will always be preferable to  intuition as a means of making decisions about what to do when faced with problems.  

Good science teachers encourage our natural inclination to experiment to see how the world works, and thus to learn by observation that science solves problems.  

Great science teachers also act as role models for the next generation of scientists.”

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Peter Russo is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Science Teachers Association

“The Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) is delighted to congratulate and acknowledge the awarding of the Prime Minister's Science Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools to Bronwyn Mart of Magill Primary School, SA and for Secondary Schools to Clay Reid of Clare High School, SA. Both of these teachers epitomise the dedication and commitment to the science teaching profession required to make a real difference to the lives of their students.

Both of these excellent teachers, through their work in the classroom and in the wider community, have highlighted the importance of nurturing curiosity in children as a key driver of engaging young learners in science and possibly into pursuing a rewarding career in the field. ASTA believes that this leadership in creative and innovative learning is crucial to the well-being of our nation.”