The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems Prize (Australia)

The Prize will be awarded to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led project that benefits Australian Indigenous peoples, communities or place, and contributes to solving a significant challenge through the practice and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems. The project will demonstrate sincere connection and respectful engagement with community and Australian Indigenous peoples, and elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.

Aims

• Through this program the 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.

Prize Information

• For the Knowledge Systems Prize grant opportunity, the grant will be $250,000 in prize money.
• The prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and prize money. Where they award the prize to a group (up to 4 nominees) each member will receive a medallion, lapel pin, award certificate and an equal portion of the prize money.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for this Prize, nominees must:
  • be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
  • be:
    • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; or
    • members of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led team (including family groups); or
    • representatives of a community group
  • not be self-nominated
  • not have a concurrent nomination in the 2025 Science Prizes or the Science Teaching Prizes
  • practice knowledge systems as part of a project with a demonstrable benefit to Australian Indigenous peoples, communities and/or place and to Australia more broadly.

Ineligibility Criteria

• A nominee is not eligible for this prize if they are:
  • non-Indigenous, regardless of whether they work in partnership with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples within the nominated project.
  • an Indigenous researcher who is not practicing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems as a significant part of their nominated project
  • a past recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science or the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation.

Nomination Criteria

• Nominators must ensure the nominee:
  • is willing to be a nominee
  • will provide the evidence necessary to support the nomination; and
  • understands the obligations that come with the prize.

For more information, visit Australian Government.