The nation’s most outstanding scientists have been honoured at the 2017 Australian Museum Eureka Prize dinner in Sydney.

August 30, 2017

Australia’s top scientists have hung up their lab coats for a night of glamour at the Australian Museum Eureka Prize dinner.

Dubbed the “Oscars of Australian science”, the best and brightest of Australian science were recognised at Sydney’s Town Hall on Wednesday night, the 28th year of the awards.

Fifteen prizes worth $10,000 each were handed out for excellence in science, research and innovation, scientific leadership and engagement, and school science across a broad spectrum – from environmental and innovative technologies, to national security, citizen science and for the first time, data science.

Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay said the winners were tackling some of the greatest challenges facing humanity and the planet.

“Australian scientists are world leaders in discovering ways to combat climate change, disease and threats to national security,” she said.

The winners include scientists who used insect wings to develop life-saving technology to combat killers such as golden staph infections, while another team is behind a blood test twice as effective at detecting bowel cancer than any other method available.

A Queensland team was awarded for its Eureka moment in reducing the damaging impact of sediment runoff into the Great Barrier Reef, with organisers saying the environmental research may be Australia’s “best chance of doing something timely to help save the Reef”.

Also recognised were the global health experts, physicists and engineers who are helping reduce millions of newborn and child deaths due to lung infections, by manufacturing medical-grade oxygen without the need of electricity.