Two Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science have won awards in this year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, as well as $250,000 each, for their pioneering work in plant science and chemical engineering.
Professor Graham Farquhar has won the prestigious Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his research which has led to more durable, water-efficient crops, and his discovery that wind and evaporation rates are slowing around the world. Professor Farquhar also recently won the Academy’s prestigious Macfarlane Burnet Medal and lecture.
Professor Graeme Jameson, who is also a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, has won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation for his invention of the Jameson Cell, a froth flotation technique used to concentrate ore bodies and metallurgical coal that has added billions of dollars to the value of Australia’s mining and energy industries.
“Both Fellows have made remarkable achievements in their fields. Not only have they contributed significantly to our scientific understanding but their work has led to practical outcomes that have made a difference to Australia and its economy,” Academy President Professor Andrew Holmes said.
“Their success clearly shows that when science and industry work together, Australia reaps the rewards.”
Professors Jameson and Farquhar will receive their awards tonight at a ceremony at Parliament House. The Australian Academy of Science also congratulates this year’s other winners:
“Each of these six remarkable individuals has advanced the sum of human knowledge, and inspired many people of all ages to engage with science, to inquire, and to learn. On behalf of the Academy, I congratulate them,” Professor Holmes said.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
