Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

We're joined today in the gallery by winners of the Prime Minister's science awards, held in the Great Hall last night. It was a wonderful event. I congratulate Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska of the Queensland University of Technology, who won the Prime Minister's Prize for Science for her study of air quality, which provided vital insights in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 and redefined our understanding of air quality.

The Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation was won by Dr Vikram Sharma. The inaugural Prime Minister's Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems was particularly well received yesterday evening by Professor Michael Wear from Western Australia. The Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools was won by Mrs Paula Taylor and in Secondary Schools by Mr Matt Dodds for his creative teaching methods. His speech was particularly well received. The Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year was won by Professor Yao Zheng, the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year by Dr David Khoury and the Prize for New Innovators by Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo.

On behalf of the government and also on behalf of all Australians, I want to congratulate the incredible winners of the prizes for science. Every researcher, scientist, innovator and teacher there has made a truly remarkable contribution to Australian science. It was very uplifting to be in a room with a group of Australians who have devoted their lives to curiosity, to discovery and to the teaching of science not only for the benefit of all Australians but also for the benefit of future generations.

Across the spectrum, it was a wonderful evening, and I congratulate all the winners. It's important that, as a nation, we don't just celebrate our sporting achievements, which often get a big rap, but also acknowledge that Australia punches way above its weight with Nobel laureates and in other areas of innovation in science as well. Last night was a chance to celebrate that.

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