Prime Minister’s Prizes for Australian Scientists and Innovators

The program contributes to the Government’s vision for an Australian society engaged in and enriched by science. Through this program and other science engagement activities

Government aims are:

• increasing Australian community engagement with the sciences, through activities and events
• increasing positive public sentiment and awareness of the contribution and achievements of Australian scientists and innovators
• improving communication between Australian scientists, the general public, business and government
• enhancing focus on building skills and capability in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and digital literacy, in Australian schools and communities
• increasing engagement and participation of a diverse range of Australians, especially those historically under-represented in STEM.

Categories

• There are five prizes for science and innovation (referred to as the Science Prizes), two prizes for science teaching (referred to as the Science Teaching Prizes).
  • Science Prizes
    • Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: It is awarded to one individual or one team of up to four individuals if the achievement is the result of a collaborative team effort.
    • Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation: It is awarded to one individual or one team of up to four individuals if the achievement is the result of a collaborative team effort.
    • Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: The Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year and Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year each recognise an exceptional achievement in science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society by early to mid-career scientists.
    • Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
    • Prize for New Innovators: The Prize for New Innovators recognises early achievement towards partial or full commercialisation or translation of scientific research with economic, social and, where relevant, environmental benefits
  • Science Teaching Prizes
    • Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
    • Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Field of Interest 

• The Science Prizes are awarded for achievement in any of the following fields, as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications 2020:
  • Division 30 Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
  • Division 31 Biological Sciences
  • Division 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
  • Division 34 Chemical Science
  • Division 37 Earth Sciences
  • Division 40 Engineering
  • Division 41 Environmental Sciences
  • Division 42 Health Sciences
  • Division 45 Indigenous studies, Group 4506 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sciences
  • Division 45 Indigenous studies, Group 4517 Pacific Peoples sciences
  • Division 46 Information and Computing Sciences
  • Division 49 Mathematical Sciences
  • Division 51 Physical Sciences

Prize Information

• Science Prizes
  • Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: Up to $250,000
  • Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation:  Up to $250,000
  • Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Up to $50,000
  • Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Up to $50,000
  • Prize for New Innovators: Up to $50,000
• Science Teaching Prizes
  • Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Up to $250,000
  • Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Up to$250,000

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for a Science Prize, a nominee must:
  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia (nominees currently living or studying overseas are not precluded from being nominated)
  • not be self-nominated
  • not be nominated in more than one prize category. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one category, they will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue.
• Previous nominees are eligible for renomination subject to meeting relevant eligibility criteria, submitting a new nomination form and the nominator and supporters providing evidence of any relevant achievements. Different individuals may nominate and support the nominee where appropriate.
• Past recipients of the Australia Prize (awarded from 1990-1999) are eligible for nomination.
• Prize nominees do not need to be a member of a professional association or to have received any prior award to be eligible.
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science and Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation:
  • be an individual or a member of a team with up to four individuals
  • hold an active position in research, academia or the private sector
• Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year and Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year:
  • be an individual
  • have realised their nominated research achievements and be nominated within 10 years (full-time or FTE) of completing their highest relevant tertiary qualification
  • have completed at least four years (full-time or FTE) of research in Australia.
• Prize for New Innovators:
  • be an individual
  • have made significant achievement towards the commercialisation or translation of their scientific research outcomes and be nominated within 10 years (FTE) of completing their highest relevant tertiary qualification
  • have completed at least two years (full-time or FTE) of research in Australia.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Past recipients of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science or the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation are not eligible to be considered for another award.
• Past recipients of any other of the Science Prizes may only be nominated for the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science or the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation.

For more information, visit Australian Government.