Five Academy Fellows have been acknowledged for excellence in research, innovation and leadership at the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes award night held on 4 September in Sydney.
Professor Gordon Smyth was awarded the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software for the development of the world’s most downloaded software package of its type – Limma – which has been used to make biomedical discoveries published in more than 70,000 scientific papers.
Limma helps identify and interpret changes in DNA material, significantly improving the confidence in statistical information used in biomedical research. Professor Smyth is a leading statistician and bioinformatician and was elected to the Academy in 2021.
The Eureka Prize for Sustainability Research was awarded to the Sustainable Omega-3 Oil Team from CSIRO and Nuseed, including Professor Surinder Singh.
The team was recognised for their innovative production and commercialisation of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from canola crops, which could save the need for unsustainable harvests of wild-caught fish and double the world’s supply of omega-3.
Professor Kate Jolliffe was recognised for her exemplary research and leadership with the prize for Outstanding Mentor of Researchers.
Professor Jolliffe has made world-leading contributions to the fields of supramolecular and organic chemistry, in addition to supporting the foundation of the international ‘Women in Supramolecular Chemistry’ network. Her committed mentorship has resulted in more than 150 researchers appointed to senior academic and industry roles.
Congratulations to Academy Fellow Professor @kate_jolliffe who has been awarded the @UTSresearch Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Researchers. @Sydney_Uni @Sydney_Science #EurekaPrizes https://t.co/jcupD5KpT8 pic.twitter.com/BYIIS9NKUw
— Australian Academy of Science (@Science_Academy) September 4, 2024
Conservation scientist Professor David Keith’s significant contributions to his field saw him awarded the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Botanical Science.
Professor Keith led the development of biodiversity risk assessment ‘Red List’ methods and a global ecosystem typology which were adopted as global standards by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The prize for Leadership in Science was awarded to 2024 Fellow Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond for his commitment to research and innovation ecosystem reform.
His research has advanced our understanding of key factors governing molecular assembly and particle and surface interactions in liquids, and has enabled the development and application of advanced high-performance materials.
Professor Drummond will be officially inducted into the Academy of Science Fellowship at this year’s Science at the Shine Dome, held in Canberra from 9 to 12 September.
The Academy congratulates all recipients and nominees of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
