In the lead up to the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science, some of our alumni share what they’ve been up to since receiving their prize.
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger AC, Dr Elisa Mokany and Adj Prof Alison Todd AM, and Professor Elizabeth New.
Inspiring women in STEM
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger AC has been a trailblazer for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). She reached the top of her field in fundamental mathematics by developing algorithms for computer systems that scientists all over the world use every day.
She now hopes to inspire the next generation of women and culturally diverse scientists and mathematicians to make their mark.
‘Diversity is important because Australia needs more talented passionate people in STEM. If you ignore half the population in whichever way you divide it – by gender, by race, by economic accessibility – you are wasting resources. We can't afford to do that.
‘I hope my work will normalise the position of women in mathematics and women in STEM more broadly, so that we can have a more diverse STEM workforce in the future.’
Since receiving the 2019 Prime Minister's Prize for Science Cheryl has lectured at international universities and received more accolades.
These include a Companion of the Order of Australia and the inaugural Ruby Payne Scott Medal and Lecture from the Australian Academy of Science. Cheryl was also a finalist for Western Australian of the Year Award in 2021 and Western Australian Senior Australian of the Year in 2022.
Learn more about the accomplishments that led to Cheryl to receive the 2019 Prime Minister's Prize for Science.
Show transcript
[Music plays and an image appears of the Australian Government Coat of Arms and the Prime Minister’s Prize For Science badge and text appears: Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger, The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Celebrating 20 years]
[Image changes to show Cheryl Praeger standing at the front of a classroom writing on a whiteboard and the camera zooms in on Cheryl’s hand as she writes a mathematic equation on the whiteboard]
Professor Cheryl Praeger: I’ve always loved mathematics right from when I was a kid in school.
[Image changes to show Cheryl talking to the camera and then images move through of a facing, rear, and then close facing view of Cheryl looking at the whiteboard]
I had no idea that one could have a career in mathematics but I just wanted to study it for as long as I possibly could.
[Image changes to show Cheryl looking at a book and then the image changes to show a close-up shot of Cheryl talking to the camera]
My passion is the mathematics of symmetry.
[Images move through of Cheryl walking in a building courtyard, a flower, a building arch, the sun shining through trees, Cheryl sitting at a table looking at a book, and Cheryl with a student]
Symmetry is all around us in the natural and in the built environment, from the spiral galaxies that we see in the heavens down to the small spiral shells on the beach and we measure it in mathematics with groups.
[Image changes to show Cheryl and some colleagues around a table]
Finite Group Theory is the study of the symmetries of structures.
[Image changes to show a profile and then facing view of Cheryl talking and then the image changes to show Cheryl walking through a building archway, and then Cheryl walking along in a park]
Finding the building blocks of a finite group we do by splitting it into two parts and each of these two parts is itself a group and we continue splitting and splitting until we can’t split anymore
[Image changes to show the sun shining through tree leaves and then the image changes to show Cheryl looking at the tree and the image shows lines moving along the trunk and out to the branches]
…just like the branches of a tree and the leaves of that tree are the finite simple groups.
[Images move through of Cheryl looking up, the sun shining through trees in a courtyard, Cheryl working on a computer, and a close-up of Cheryl’s hand making notes]
My contribution has been to study the way groups act on structures and to develop algorithms which have been incorporated into powerful computer systems in group theory.
[Image changes to show Cheryl talking to the camera and the camera zooms in on Cheryl’s face and then the image changes to show Cheryl talking to a group of students seated at tables]
These systems are used extensively by mathematicians and other scientists for investigating symmetric structures.
[Image changes to show Cheryl and the students watching a male write on a whiteboard and then the image changes to show two female students listening]
They allow those systems to run much faster than they have any right to.
[Image changes to show Cheryl and the male looking at the whiteboard while other students continue working on tables in the foreground]
What I love about mathematics is the way that it explains the world, it makes sense of the world.
[Image changes to show Cheryl talking to the camera and then images move through of Cheryl explaining something to the group of students again]
Receiving the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science is a wonderful statement about the importance of mathematics.
[Camera zooms in on Cheryl’s face as she talks and then images move through to show her colleagues seated at a table listening, and then Cheryl and two of her colleagues walking down some stairs]
It also recognises the achievements of me and my colleagues and students in the mathematics of symmetry.
[Image changes to show Cheryl talking to the camera and then the image changes to show a rear view of Cheryl writing on a whiteboard]
In the future we will see the advent of quantum computers and that will completely change the world.
[Camera zooms out to show Cheryl at the front of a classroom writing on a whiteboard and then the image changes to show Cheryl walking through a building archway towards the camera]
It will produce a new range of mathematics problems which will need to be solved urgently and it will be incredibly exciting
[Image changes to show Cheryl talking to the camera]
…and I look forward to being part of that journey.
[Music plays and the image changes to show Cheryl standing under the veranda of a building and turning and smiling at the camera]
[Image changes to show the Australian Government Coat of Arms and the Prime Minister’s Prize For Science badge and text appears: Prime Minister’s Prize for Science Professor Cheryl Praeger, The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Celebrating 20 years]
Tackling global problems
Dr Elisa Mokany and Adj Prof Alison Todd AM from SpeeDx received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation for commercialising their ground-breaking molecular diagnostic tests. Their tests diagnose cancer and infectious diseases, and help tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest public health threats of our time. According to the CSIRO, over a million people die from antimicrobial resistances. This figure is predicted to increase 10-fold by 2050 if we don’t do anything to stop it.
Since receiving the prize, Elisa and the team at SpeeDx have been working tirelessly to help combat the spread of antibiotic resistance. Elisa continues to commercialise SpeeDx’s innovative diagnostic tools to improve medical treatments. This ensures patients get the right treatment the first time and reduces the spread of bacterial resistance to treatment.
‘One of the biggest motivators for me is thinking about my children and my children’s children. We’re creating a scenario where they won’t have access to antibiotics. That’s where the world is heading.
‘What we hope to do through SpeeDx is provide a simple test to ensure patients are using an antibiotic that will work.’
While already approved for use here in Australia and Europe, the company is expanding to provide these tests in the United States.
‘Since [receiving] the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, what I’ve really seen is recognition of our work on a global scale. I’ve had people sending messages asking to be involved in our research from around the world, and really wanting to talk more and learn more about SpeeDx.’
Learn more about the accomplishments that led Dr Elisa Mokany and Adj Prof Alison Todd AM to receive the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation.
Show transcript
[Music plays and the Coat of Arms and an image appears of a Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation badge and text appears: 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, SpeeDx, Dr Elisa Mokany, Adjunct Professor Alison Todd]
[Image changes to show Adjunct Professor Alison Todd on the right talking to the camera, and Dr Elisa Mokany on the left listening]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: I’m Adjunct Professor Alison Todd.
[Image shows Elisa talking on the left while Alison listens]
Dr Elisa Mokany: And I am Dr Elisa Mokany.
[Image changes to show Alison and Elisa descending some stairs inside a building and walking towards the camera]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: And we're the co-founders of SpeeDx.
[Image changes to show a close view of Alison talking to the camera]
SpeeDx is tackling two of the major problems of modern medicine: cancer and antibiotic resistance.
[Image changes to show a view looking up at the National Innovation Centre, and then the image changes to show a researcher at work in a laboratory, and the camera zooms in on her hands]
Dr Elisa Mokany: At SpeeDx, we make tests that look to address unmet medical needs.
[Image changes to show Elisa talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a close view of Elisa talking to the camera]
So these tests could be for oncology or infectious diseases.
[Images move through to show test tubes in a tray, Alison, Elisa and another researcher at work, and then hands pushing a door shut on a machine in the laboratory]
And they look to do more than just tell you what you're sick with. They look to provide information for your doctor or your clinician on how to treat you and get you better, quicker.
[Images move through to show Alison and Elisa looking at test tubes in a tray, a close view of the tray, and then Elisa holding up a test tube and Alison looking at it]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: Our inventions have been incorporated into hundreds of commercialised products for research and clinical diagnostics.
[Images move through to show a close view of liquid being syringed up from a test tube, and a researcher working at a table in the laboratory]
Dr Elisa Mokany: SpeeDx has developed over 45 tests that are sold across 19 countries.
[Image changes to show a close view of Alison talking to the camera]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: One in two men and one in three women will develop cancer in their lifetime.
[Images move through to show a medium view of Alison talking to the camera, a robotic machine filling test tubes, and five test tubes with different coloured lids next to a box of SpeeDx]
To date, nearly 4 million patients have received a test powered by our technology, which guide the most appropriate therapy to give them the best chance of a positive outcome.
[Image changes to show a side view of Alison and Elisa walking through a building]
Dr Elisa Mokany: We are part of an Australian Research Council hub to combat antimicrobial resistance.
[Image changes to show Elisa talking to the camera, and then the image changes to show a close view of Alison wearing PPE while she works]
This has brought together 21 groups across the globe in industry, academia and institutes to help address the rising challenges of antimicrobial resistance.
[Image changes to show Alison syringing liquid into a test tube in a tray]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: I've just always really loved DNA.
[Image changes to show DNA symbols on a computer screen]
I play with it as if it were molecular Lego and trick it into revealing its innermost secrets.
[Image changes to show Alison talking to the camera]
I do this with a team of spectacular co-inventors.
[Images move through to show Alison and Elisa and colleagues in conversation, Alison and a colleague walking towards the camera, and Elisa and a colleague walking towards the camera]
Dr Elisa Mokany: At SpeeDx, we pride ourselves on nurturing the next generation of scientists.
[Image changes to show Alison and Elisa working in a laboratory, and then the image changes to show Alison pointing to information on a Smart screen]
I myself was a PhD student for Alison, who was brought on to invent some really cool technology, which then could lead to the starting of SpeeDx.
[Image changes to show Alison talking to the camera]
Adjunct Prof Alison Todd: We are extremely honoured and humbled to receive the Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation.
[Images move through to show a close view of Alison writing on a tablet, Elisa watching Alison as she writes, Elisa talking to the camera, and Elisa and Alison turning and smiling at the camera]
Dr Elisa Mokany: What this recognises is two female scientists who developed some innovative DNA technology, which then turned us into entrepreneurs and enabled us to build a company based on this novel technology.
[Music plays and the image changes to show the Coat of Arms and the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation badge and text appears: 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, SpeeDx, Dr Elisa Mokany, Adjunct Professor Alison Todd]
Pioneering treatments
Professor Elizabeth New from the University of Sydney received the 2019 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year for pioneering new chemical imaging tools. She developed molecules that act as fluorescent sensors, allowing scientists to observe the location of chemicals within healthy and diseased cells.
Since receiving her prize, Elizabeth has been working to improve cancer treatment for people undergoing platinum chemotherapy. More than half of all cancer patients worldwide use this form of chemotherapy but it has debilitating and toxic side effects.
‘Platinum chemotherapies are…still the frontline chemotherapy so if we can help improve the way that dosages are administered, we can help reduce the unfortunate toxic side effects. I think it will have a huge impact on so many lives.’
Preliminary clinical trials are underway to determine how Elizabeth’s chemical imaging tool can solve these problems.
Her next steps include a sabbatical in Jordan at the Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East. She will focus on increasing the impact of her award-winning work by applying it to new modalities.
‘[Receiving] the prize in 2019 has given me the opportunity to speak more broadly about my research and that has led to new collaborations.’
Learn more about the accomplishments that led Elizabeth to receive the 2019 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.
Show transcript
[Music plays and an image appears of the Australian Government Coat of Arms and the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year badge and text appears: Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, Associate Professor Elizabeth New, The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Celebrating 20 years]
[Image changes to show turrets on the university building and then the image changes to show a side and then facing view of Elizabeth walking along a path at the university]
Associate Professor Elizabeth New: I’m a Chemical Biologist at the University of Sydney
[Image changes to show Elizabeth talking to the camera]
…and my research interests are in developing chemical tools that allow us to see things in cells that we’ve never seen before.
[Images move through of a view through a glass window of Elizabeth looking into a microscope, a close-up shot of Elizabeth looking through the microscope, and Elizabeth looking at a computer]
When I was ten my parents showed me a drop of blood under the microscope and I remember being fascinated by seeing all of the different types of cells.
[Image changes to show Elizabeth talking to the camera]
I’m still amazed by the power of microscopy in allowing us to understand what’s going on inside a body.
[Images move through of Elizabeth and a colleague in a lab looking at a computer screen, a close-up view of their faces, and then the computer screen, and then Elizabeth swirling liquid in a beaker]
And now in my research, we’re able to develop imaging tools that allow us to look even deeper into the cell to see the very molecules
[Images flash through of Elizabeth adjusting a dial on some equipment, and then the beaker of liquid floating in water in a machine]
…that are responsible for health and that also cause disease.
[Images flash through to show Elizabeth talking, test tubes in a tray, Elizabeth looking at the tray, the tray lit up with fluorescent light, and Elizabeth picking up a test tube from the tray]
We develop small molecules that can enter a cell and they can light up or fluoresce in the presence of a chemical that causes disease.
[Image changes to show a profile view of Elizabeth talking to the camera]
So, an analogy I use is the children’s book “Where’s Wally?” where the real challenge is to find Wally from amongst all the other people in the picture.
[Image changes to show a facing view of Elizabeth talking to the camera]
Imagine how much easier it would be if we could give Wally a torch and turn off the lights.
[Images move through of Elizabeth holding up a test tube and looking at it with a torch in a darkened room and the test tube can be seen glowing with fluorescent light]
We’d very easily see where he is. And that’s exactly what we do in cells.
[Images move through of Elizabeth and a colleague looking at a computer screen, and then Elizabeth seated at a park table outside of a building working on a computer]
It’s really exciting now that our imaging tools are being used by researchers all over the world to investigate many different diseases and answer questions that we’ve not even thought of.
[Images move through of Elizabeth walking down a corridor towards the camera, and then Elizabeth and a colleague talking and looking at some equipment]
Our imaging tools are being used to uncover new ways that Parkinson’s disease can be treated.
[Image changes to show Elizabeth talking to the camera and then the image changes to show Elizabeth talking with various colleagues]
To me, this prize is really recognition of the hard work and the dedication of all those who share this research journey with me.
[Images move through to show Elizabeth and a colleague walking through the laboratory, Elizabeth and a colleague looking at a screen and talking, and then Elizabeth and a group of students at a table]
My two goals in the coming years are to find ways for more researchers around the world to use our imaging tools and to support the next generation of scientists.
[Music plays and the image changes to show Elizabeth standing outside the university and smiling at the camera]
[Image changes to show the Australian Government Coat of Arms and the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year badge and text appears: Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, Associate Professor Elizabeth New, The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, Celebrating 20 years]
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Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science 2024
Follow us on Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn and #PMPrizes to find out who will receive a prize. We’ll announce the 2024 recipients live on socials and invite you to engage with our posts to congratulate the recipients. We’ll publish details about all the recipients on our website on the evening of 8 October.