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The Australian science community has come together to celebrate the contributions of 12 of the country’s leading scientists, innovators and science teachers.

This year’s recipients reflect Australia's commercialisation capabilities, with joint recipients in the Prize for Innovation and Prize for New Innovators categories – a first for the Prizes.    

Award-winning STEM reporter, Rae Johnston, MC’d the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science at Parliament House on Monday 21 November. Guests from across the Australian science, research and technology community attended the presentation dinner.

The 2022 prize recipients were announced by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia and the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science.  

Highlights from the presentation dinner will be made available at Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science in the coming weeks.

2022 Science Prizes

Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

Professor Trevor McDougall AC from UNSW has received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

Professor Trevor McDougall has had a transformative impact on the study of oceanography and ocean thermodynamics, and in furthering our understanding of the role of the ocean in regulating the Earth’s climate.

Read more about Professor Trevor McDougall AC.

Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation

Adjunct Professor Alison Todd and Dr Elisa Mokany from SpeeDx have received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation.

The prize recognises the commercialisation of their innovative molecular diagnostic tests for infectious diseases and cancer, which are distributed worldwide.

Read more about Adjunct Professor Alison Todd and Dr Elisa Mokany.

Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation

Dr Nick Cutmore, Dr James Tickner and Mr Dirk Treasure from Chrysos Corporation and CSIRO have received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation.

The prize recognises the commercialisation of PhotonAssay. PhotonAssay is a fully automated technology to measure the presence of gold and minerals in ore samples, overturning centuries-old laborious and hazardous chemical methods.

Read more about Dr Nick Cutmore, Dr James Tickner and Mr Dirk Treasure.

Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year

Professor Si Ming Man of the Australian National University has received the 2022 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.

Professor Si Ming Man’s work has advanced our understanding of the fundamental process of inflammation. He has made significant progress towards discovering new therapies for inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Read more about Professor Si Ming Man.

Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year

Dr Adele Morrison of the Australian National University has received the 2022 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.

The prize recognises her innovative modelling of the Southern Ocean to understand how ocean circulation impacts Earth’s climate system.

Read more about Dr Adele Morrison.

Prize for New Innovators

Associate Professor Brett Hallam of UNSW has received the 2022 Prize for New Innovators.

The prize recognises his commercialisation of innovative technology that has dramatically improved the performance of solar cells and boosted the performance of the global energy economy.

Read more about Associate Professor Brett Hallam.

Prize for New Innovators

Dr Pip Karoly of the University of Melbourne and Seer Medical has received the 2022 Prize for New Innovators.

Dr Pip Karoly has made life-changing discoveries that are improving the lives of millions of people living with epilepsy through never-before-seen seizure forecasting technology.

Read more about Dr Pip Karoly.

2022 Science teaching prizes

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools

Mr George Pantazis of Marble Bar Primary School has received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.

Mr George Pantazis has used an innovative approach with two-way learning that empowers students to become teachers and showcase First Nations science and art to the world.

Read more about Mr George Pantazis.

Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Ms Veena Nair of Viewbank College has received the 2022 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Ms Veena Nair has inspired her students through demonstrating the practical application of science and has helped increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds who choose to study engineering and technology after school.

Read more about Ms Veena Nair.

Now open

2023 prize nominations are open!

Nominations have also opened for the 2023 Prime Minister's Prize for Science.

Do you know someone worthy of recognition? Help us uncover outstanding achievers in your community by nominating them today.

Read the eligibility and nomination guidelines for science prizes and science teaching prizes on business.gov.au.

Nominations close Thursday 9 February 2023 5:00pm AEDT.