Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded scholars took home the prestigious awards at the 2023 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science.
Among the honourees, Professor Michelle Simmons from the University of New South Wales received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, carrying a reward of A$250,000.
Simmons directs the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Computation and Communication Technology and has made groundbreaking contributions in quantum computing.
ARC Chief Executive Officer, Judi Zielke, lauded the winners, highlighting the effectiveness of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) in fostering world-class research.
The ARC congratulates Professor Michelle Simmons AO, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (@QuantumC2T), for being awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Science.More on ARC-funded award winners: https://t.co/2IVDcDPngh https://t.co/ido9XgzKN3
— ARC (@arc_gov_au) October 17, 2023
Other awards
Professor Glenn King from the University of Queensland secured the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation for his role at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science.
The centre is globally recognised for its work on peptides and proteins, with applications spanning health, agriculture, and industry.
Monash University’s Professor Chris Greening was conferred the Frank Fenner Prize of Life Scientist of the Year.
Previously an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award recipient, Greening now leads research in carbon utilisation and bacterial persistence at the ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling.
Professor Yuerui Lu from the Australian National University won the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.
His research in nanoscience and nanotechnology has been supported by ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and two Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grants.
Associate Professor Lara Herrero from Griffith University received the Prize for New Innovators for her pioneering research in mosquito-transmitted viruses.
According to Zielke, these awards "demonstrate that ARC’s NCGP is value for money and delivers world-class research recognised at the highest levels.”
The accolades offer strong validation of ARC’s funding strategies and underline the international calibre of Australian scientific research.