The Australian Museum is now accepting nominations for the Eureka Prizes, Australia’s premier national science awards. Researchers have until 7pm AEST Friday 6 May to nominate for one of 15 prizes across the categories Research and Innovation, Leadership, and Science Communication.

“The Eureka Prizes are some of Australia’s most prestigious awards for science research, and Macquarie is at the forefront of Australia’s great scientific research,” says Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). “I expect we will be well represented on the awards night and I encourage all of our researchers, especially our early career researchers, to get in contact with their faculty leadership and put their names forward.”

Peter Nelson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Performance and Innovation) and Professor of Environmental Studies, leads the selection team for the Eureka Outstanding Early Career Researcher prize.

“I’d say that in the ECR (Early Career Research) category most of the applicants would be worthy winners and that even getting on to the short list is a major achievement,” says Professor Nelson. “These accolades can be individually career defining moments and enhance Macquarie’s growing reputation and visibility in impactful research.”

In the past two years Macquarie researchers have demonstrated impact at the Awards with a number of wins and finalists. In 2015, Professor David Raftos from the Department of Biological Sciences received the inaugural Rural Research and Development Corporations Eureka Prize for Rural Innovation for his work safeguarding and improving Australia’s iconic oyster industry. A team including Adjunct Professor Dayong Jin from the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences received the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research.

A further two academics were announced as finalists: Associate Professor Andrew Barron from the Department of Biological Sciences and The Bee Team (with the University of Sydney) and Dr Lee Spitler from the Department of Physics and Astronomy. In 2014 Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes was honoured with the Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research.

If you are interested in being nominated for the 2016 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, please contact your Faculty Research Manager.