About the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious awards for outstanding
achievements in scientific research, research-based innovation and science teaching.
- The Prizes acknowledge the achievements and success of Australian scientists and innovators, and the benefits of their work to both Australia and the rest of the world.
- The Prizes also recognise the critical role primary and secondary school educators play in inspiring and encouraging students to take an interest and consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM). - Recipients of the 2023 Prizes will be announced on Monday 16 October by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, and Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP.
- Each year, the Prizes encourages nominations of diverse candidates, including those from a different range of backgrounds, disciplines, career stages and geographical regions.
- Recipients of the Prizes:
− gain the opportunity to share their important work across fields of scientific research, research-based innovation and throughout education in schools
− encourage emerging and established scientists, researchers, innovators and teachers, from all walks of life, to persevere in their field and reach their personal and professional goals
− inspire Australians to engage with science, particularly young Australians, young women and girls, and people from diverse backgrounds. - Recipients are important role models and join an alumni of the very best in Australian science.
- Each recipient receives prize money between $50,000 and $250,000
Nominate for the 2024 Prizes
- Nominations for the 2024 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science will open soon.
- There are seven prizes for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science:
− There are five Science Prizes spanning diverse career stages and disciplines, including science, technology or mathematics
− There are two Science Teaching Prizes, for educators who play a critical role in inspiring and encouraging students to take an interest in STEM and STEM careers. - Being a nominee or a recipient has many benefits for scientists, research-based innovators and educators:
− It acknowledges the value they are contributing by their work.
− It shines a light on their outstanding achievements
− It can motivate them to continue in their field
− It can open opportunities for their work and their networks. - Whether or not they become a recipient, being nominated for the Prizes is a meaningful acknowledgement of their contribution to science, innovation and teaching.
Diversity in Nominations is Important
- The Australian Government is committed to improving the diversity of nominees for the Prizes.
- Recipients of the Prizes become important role models for future scientists, innovators and educators.
- The Prizes encourages more nominations of people from a range of diverse groups, especially women, First Nations people, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, people from regional and remote parts of Australia, people with disability and older Australians.
- Increasing the number of women nominees for the Prizes will help: inspire more women and girls through education; recruit and retain women in STEM careers; and make women in STEM visible.
- More broadly, the Australian Government is focused on improving gender equity in STEM education and careers. Increased representation of women in the STEM ecosystem improves our country’s talent pool,
delivers business benefits from enhanced diversity, and builds and sustains our economy. - If Australia is to maximise its innovation, we need to draw on and value the diverse perspectives currently underrepresented in our STEM community.
Prize Categories
Science Teaching Prizes
- Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools Awarded for excellence in primary school teaching in any area of science that is part of the teacher’s state or territory science, mathematics or technology syllabus. The recipient is awarded $50,000 in prize money.
- Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools Awarded for excellence in secondary school teaching in any area of science that is part of the teacher’s state or territory science, mathematics or technology syllabus. The recipient is awarded $50,000 in prize money.
Science Prizes
- Prime Minister’s Prize for Science Awarded for a significant advancement of knowledge through science. It can be awarded to an individual or a team of up to four individuals to recognise a collaborative effort. The recipient is awarded $250,000 in prize money.
- Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation
Awarded for the innovative translation of scientific knowledge into a commercially available product, service or process that has had economic, social, and where relevant, environmental benefits. It can be awarded to an individual or a team of up to four individuals to recognise a collaborative effort. The recipient is awarded $250,000 in prize money. - Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year Awarded for an exceptional achievement in life science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society. This prize is awarded for achievements made within 10 years (full time or full time equivalent) of completing relevant studies. The recipient is awarded $50,000 in prize money.
- Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year Awarded for an exceptional achievement in physical science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society. This prize is awarded for achievements made within 10 years (full time or full time equivalent) of completing relevant studies. The recipient is awarded $50,000 in prize money.
- Prize for New Innovators Awarded for an early achievement towards partial or full commercialisation or translation of scientific research with economic, social, and where relevant, environmental benefits. This prize is awarded for achievements made within 10 years (full time or full time equivalent) of completing relevant studies. The recipient is awarded $50,000 in prize money.
The Nomination Process
Who can be nominated?
- Nominees and recipients are Australians who:
− are from diverse backgrounds, including gender, First Nations, cultural, LGBTIQA+, age, disability and geographic location
− can inspire young Australians to become more engaged in STEM
− have made a meaningful contribution to science, innovation or teaching
− may be at a variety of career stages, including early career, mid-career or later career
− could be from academia, research, industry or education sectors
− may come from a variety of disciplines.
Nominees of the Science Teaching Prizes:
- must teach science, mathematics or technology, but do not need to be a specialist in these subject areas
- must teach Kindergarten to Year 12
Nominees of the Science Prizes can work in the fields of:
Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences; Biological Sciences; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Chemical Sciences; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Health Sciences; Indigenous studies, Group 4506 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sciences; Indigenous studies, Group 4517 Pacific Peoples sciences; Information and Computing Sciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physical Sciences.
All nominees must be Australian citizens or permanent resident of Australia; be located in any state or territory from across Australia; and be willing to be nominated.
Who can be a nominator?
- Nominations are made by the nominee’s peers across science, innovation, and science, technology and mathematics teaching communities.
To submit a nomination for the Science Teaching Prizes you must:
- Be the principal at the current school of achievement, or
- include the principal at the current school of achievement as a ‘supporter’.
- personally know of the nominated achievement be able to offer informed opinions about its worth.
- Provide evidence necessary to support the nomination.
- Not be related to the nominee.
To submit a nomination for the Science Prizes you must:
- Be personally knowledgeable of the nominated achievement and offer informed about its worth
- Hold professional qualifications in the same or closely-related field as the nominee.
- Provide evidence necessary to support the nomination.
- Not be related to the nominee.
- Ensure the nominee is willing to be nominated.
How do you nominate?
- Look at previous recipients of the Prizes to inspire you on who to nominate at industry.gov.au/PMPrizes.
- Start compiling your nomination early so you are ready when nominations open.
- Remember:
− Whether or not they become a recipient, nominating someone for the Prizes is a meaningful acknowledgement of their contribution to science, innovation and teaching.
− Increasing the number of women nominees for the Prizes will help: inspire more women and girls through education; recruit and retain women in STEM careers; and make women in STEM visible.
To nominate for the Science Teaching Prizes, visit business.gov.au/scienceteachingprizes, complete the Stage 1 application form, and include:
- An achievement summary addressing the assessment criteria (4500 characters, approx. 600 to 900 words).
- The contact details of two nominee supporters.
- The nominee’s CV.
To nominate for the Science Prizes, visit business.gov.au/scienceprizes, complete the Stage 1 application form, and include:
- An achievement summary addressing the assessment criteria (3000 characters, approx. 400 to 600 words).
- The contact details of two nominee supporters.
- The contact details of two independent referees.
- The nominee’s CV.
- If your nominee is shortlisted to become a recipient, they will move to Stage 2, and further information will be requested to support their nomination.
- You will be advised under embargo and in the strictest confidence if your nominee is the selected recipient for the Prize category you have nominated them for.
More Information
- To find out more about the Prizes, visit industry.gov.au/PMPrizes
- Get the latest news about the 2023 Prizes, including when 2024 nominations are open, on X (@ScienceGovAu), Facebook (@IndustryGovAu) and LinkedIn (/department-of-industry)
- You can also join the conversation online by using the hashtag #PMPrizes.
- For more information, contact pmprizes@industry.gov.au.
- The Prizes are an activity of the Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Program. Read more at: industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/science-engagement
- As at 12 October 2023