Research on feeding the world wins PM’s Prize for Science
WORK ON UNDERSTANDING photosynthesis and improving crop yields in a warming world has won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
In a career that has spanned more than 40 years, Professor Graham Farquhar’s research has transformed our understanding of photosynthesis, led to the development of drought-resistant wheat varieties and probed a mystery about declining evaporation rates and wind speeds around the world.
The winners were announced on Wednesday night at an awards dinner hosted by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Parliament House in Canberra.
The top prize of $250,000 went to Graham, who is based at the Australian National University. Watch the video to learn more about the winning research.
The full list of winners:
Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
Graham Farquhar, Australian National University
Feeding the world and asking where the wind went
Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation
Graeme Jameson, University of Newcastle
How trillions of bubbles earned nearly $100 billion for Australia
Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
Cyrille Boyer, University of New South Wales
Making polymers with light
Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
Jane Elith, University of Melbourne
Where are the animals we want to conserve and the invaders we want to control?
Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools
Ken Silburn, Casula High School
Bringing students to science
Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
Rebecca Johnson, Windaroo State School, Logan, Brisbane
Improved primary science teaching at no extra cost
