Best Australian science photos of 2011

The nation's top science and nature photos are revealed at the 2011 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

A RECEDING GLACIAL CAP stained with algae and backed by a brewing storm is captured in a magnificent photograph that has won the Australian Museum 2011 Eureka Prize for Science Photography.

The winning shot was one of ten finalists among other images that included a mother harlequin bug watching on as her eggs hatch, a night shot of the Milky Way stretching out behind the Pinnacles in Western Australia's Nambung National Park, and a white-bellied sea eagle swooping down and grabbing an epaulette shark.

On Tuesday night, 900 people attended the 22nd Eureka Prizes which praised the best of Australia's science-related research, education and journalism. Seventy-nine finalists were there to compete for $240,000 of prize money awarded over 25 prize categories.

Outside of the science photography category, award winners included scientific research on how whipping racehorses is ineffective, research into the deadly cancer afflicting Tasmanian devils, work on combatting cane toads from the University of Sydney's Rick Shine, and a journalistic television expose unveiling Japanese whaling corruption.

Eureka Prizes recognise Australia's leaders in science

"For 22 years, the Eureka Prizes have been providing public recognition of the sometimes little-known achievements of Australia's scientific community," said Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum. "Already, this year's winners are influencing the way we think and act in realms as diverse as computer science and the Melbourne Cup."

John Pickrell, Australian Geographic's deputy editor, was a finalist for the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism, for his piece State of the Nation. The cover story of issue 100 of Australian Geographic, the article is about the decline of Australia's species over the last 300 years, and new conservation solutions to help stem the decline. The winners of the prize were Dr Jonica Newby and Lile Judickas for a segment on ABC's Catalyst TV show.

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FULL LIST OF EUREKA WINNERS

SCIENCE
Leadership & Commercialisation
Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger
Research: Drugs with less side effects.

Outstanding Mentor of Young researchers
Professor Jian-xin Zhao
Research: Geographical data techniques for human origins and climate change.

Leadership in Science
Professor Ben Eggleton
Research: Field of photonics. Improving internet speed in an energy efficient way.

Commercialisation of Innovation
Dr Wojciech
Research: Eco-technology so as to eliminate the need for toxic solvent-based car paint.

Outstanding Young Researcher
Dr Angela Moles
Research: The cause of differentiations in size of plants and animal offspring.

Environmental Research
Associate Professor Kathy Belov, Dr Menna Jones, Professor Hamish McCallum, Mrs Anne Maree Pearse, Associate Professor Greg Woods
Research: The contagious cancer affecting Tasmanian devils.

Science in Support of Defence or National Security
Professor Abdesselam (Salim) Bouzerdoum
Research: Radar imaging systems that allow humans to see through walls.

Research that Contributes to Animal Protection
Hon Associate Professor David Evans, Dr Bidda Jones, Prof Paul McGreevy, Dr Andrew McLean
Research: The ineffectuality of whipping a racehorse.

Water Research and Innovation
Professor R. Quentin Grafton, Professor Tom Kompas, Dr Hoang Long Chu, Dr Michael Stewardson
Research: A river-flow model for future irrigation.

Scientific Research
Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, Dr Andrea Morello
Research: The electronic-spin of a single atom for the purposes of creating a ground-breaking computer.

Ethics Research
Dr Paul Biegler
Research: The drug free treatment of depression.

Innovative Use of Technology
Dr John Arkwright, Dr Philip Dinning
Research: A new fibre-optic catheter for expanding understanding of the human colon.

Innovation in Computer Science
A/Prof David Moss
Research: A laser for overcoming energy bottlenecks in on-chip and chip-on-chip communication.

Research by an Interdisciplinary Team
Professor Mark A. F. Kendall
Research: A Nanopatch vaccination that eliminates the need for needles.

Innovative Solutions To Climate Change
Dr Chris Dey, Professor Manfred Lenzen, Dr Joy Murray
Research: The environmental cost of human consumption and production.

Medical Research Translation
Professor Murray Esler, Associate Professor Markus Schlaich
Research: The elimination of high blood-pressure with a surgical treatment using radio-waves.

Infectious Diseases Research
Professor Alan Cowman, Dr Julie Healer, Mr Sash Lopaticki, Dr Wai-Hong Tham, Ms Jennifer Thompson, Mr Tony Triglia
Research: A vaccine for malaria.

SCHOOL SCIENCE
Science or Mathematics Teaching
Mrs Anita Trenwith
A new science curriculum for special education children.

Sleek Geeks Science Prize - Primary School
Anastasia Kennett

Sleek Geeks Science Prize - Secondary School
Brandon Gifford
Snake's ability to detect thermal radiation with infrared.

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION & JOURNALISM
Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research
Professor Rick Shine
Researching and presenting information on cane toads that adds to the ongoing debate.

Science Journalism
Ms Lile Judickas, Dr Jonica Newby
Male pregnancy, or 'Sympathetic Pregnancy', in the partners of expecting mothers.

Science Photography
Mr Jason Edwards
An image of a glacial cap that reveals the numerous effects of global warming.

Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge
Mr John Cook
Software that detects and reports false information on climate change that is published online.

Environmental Journalism
Ms. Yumiko Asada, Ms Mavourneen Dineen, Ms. Yayoi Euchi, Mr. Jun Matsuzono, Mr. Garth Thomas, Mr Mark Willacy
The team researched the story of two Greenpeace correspondents who unveiled Japanese whaling corruption and found themselves in police trouble.