The achievements of the country’s leading scientists, research-based innovators and science teachers were celebrated last week at the 2021 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.
Among those celebrated was Public Servant, astronomer and engineer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Keith Bannister, who was awarded the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.
Chief Executive of CSIRO, Larry Marshall congratulated Dr Bannister (pictured), who was recognised for his research into the phenomenon of fast radio bursts.
“At CSIRO, our people are our greatest asset, so this is a well-deserved honour for Keith and his team, whose work has had a transformative impact on the world’s understanding of our place in the Universe,” Dr Marshall said.
“Fast radio bursts are short, sharp pulses of radio waves lasting a few milliseconds that are very difficult to detect,” he said.
“Dr Bannister and his team identified that the bursts come from distant galaxies and can be used to answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions.”
Dr Marshall said Dr Bannister modified the way the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope could be used to find more radio bursts more efficiently and then designed an innovative system for ASKAP that could narrow down the origin point of each incoming burst.
Also among the prize winners was evolutionary biologist and virologist at the University of Sydney, Edward C. Holmes who won the Prize for Science for his ground-breaking work in COVID-19 research.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said that last year, Professor Holmes was the first person in the world to publicly share the COVID-19 virus’ genome sequence.
Mr Morrison said Professor Holmes’ research into emerging viruses played a critical role in Australia’s pandemic response.
He said other prize winners were:
* Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture at Barker College, who was awarded the Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools;
* Megan Hayes, STEM specialist and primary teacher at Mudgeeraba Creek State School: Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools;
* Sherene Loi, Medical Oncologist and Head of the Translational Breast Cancer Laboratory at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre: Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year; and
* Michael Bowen, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer for Kinoxis Therapeutics: Prize for New Innovators.
