2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes finalists

University of Sydney

Olfactory misinformation is a new, humane approach to pest control. This team’s research focuses on sensory cues that attract animals – like the smell of wheat for mice or plants for wallabies – and distributes synthetic odours to confuse pest animals, effectively ‘hiding’ foods they damage. This approach has reduced pest damage by approximately 70%, without using poisons or traps.

University of Technology Sydney and South East Water

The Sustainable Wastewater and Waste Treatment Team’s closed-loop technology, which is being commercialised, dramatically reduces the environmental burden of wastewater treatment systems. Retro-fitted to existing treatment plants, it can cut carbon emissions, decrease waste generation and reduce the discharge of pollutants, including antibiotic resistance genes, pathogens and ‘forever chemicals’.

University of Sydney

Working with 204 individual collaborators, the Threatened Species Initiative has generated genetic data for 102 plant and animal species and made the information freely available via an online toolkit to support conservation management and action. By translating conservation genetics into a user-friendly, accessible resource, the initiative is aiding global efforts to halt biodiversity decline.

UNSW

Professor David Keith has developed the world’s first method to catalogue and describe all ecosystems on Earth. Adopted by the United Nations and already applied in Australia, the framework has been instrumental in formulating effective conservation strategies and is helping to maintain plant diversity in the face of increasing environmental change.

Botanic Gardens of Sydney

The Restore & Renew Knowledge Infrastructure Team’s project is the first tool globally to make genomic data available for restoration practitioners, community groups and others who are conserving native plants. With more than 89,000 samples added in five years, the growing database is already supporting the restoration and conservation of more than 130 Australian plant species.

University of Queensland; Monash University; and University of Sydney

With more than 18,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed annually in Australia, the ACRF Australian Centre of Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis leads efforts to improve early detection and build a national targeted melanoma screening program. Drawing from a multidisciplinary team, they utilise AI-assisted 3D imaging technologies to conduct the world's largest preventive melanoma study.

Macquarie University; Southern Cross University; University of Queensland; Australian National University; Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Flinders University

Bringing nine disciplines together, the Extinction vs Adaption Team solved long-standing primate mysteries by establishing why some species became extinct while others survived. Using novel dating techniques and fieldwork at multiple cave sites in Asia, they discovered why some species are more vulnerable to environmental changes. This knowledge will help to conserve threatened primate species.

James Cook University; CSIRO; and Victoria University of Wellington

Unexplained genetic links between octopus populations brought together geneticists and geologists from the Octopus and Ice Sheet Team to better understand the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Novel use of octopus DNA pinpointed the collapse of the ice sheet 120,000 years ago, enabling improved global sea-level rise projections and planning to mitigate against climate change

Monash University and OPTIMA

From 2007, the MiniZinc Team developed MiniZinc – an open-source, easy-to-learn modelling language to help engineers, mathematicians and scientists solve optimisation problems such as rostering, scheduling and resource allocation. It allows the quick generation of solutions, and the ability to try different methods for problem solving. During the past decade, MiniZinc has been downloaded more than 250,000 times.

Florey Institute; Australian National Imaging Facility; King’s College London; KU Leuven; and University of Antwerp

MRtrix3 software uses MRI scans to estimate the complex connectivity of the human brain white matter and its disturbance in disease. It addresses limitations with prior approaches, giving robust and biologically meaningful insight. It is now a research workhorse, cited in 2,000 scientific articles since 2018.

WEHI

Professor Gordon Smyth is the lead developer of the world’s most downloaded software package of its type – Limma – which has been used to make biomedical discoveries published in more than 70,000 scientific papers. Limma helps identify and interpret changes in DNA material, significantly improving the confidence in statistical information used in biomedical research.

Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne

For 80 years, the way people contracted the neglected tropical skin disease Buruli ulcer has remained a mystery. Now researchers have established that mosquitoes spread Buruli to humans. The Beating Buruli Team’s extensive fieldwork and use of advanced genomic methods have opened the door to effective public health interventions and disease control.

Monash University

This research team has developed computational systems that provide real-time, data-informed modelling to forecast disease spread and inform public health responses. Drawing on a range of disciplines, the Epidemiological Modelling Unit’s insights provide evidence to influence health policy and emergency decision-making and have supported COVID-19 management across the Asia-Pacific region.

University of Queensland; University of Melbourne; CONACYT; and University of Wollongong

StrepA bacteria – responsible for common throat infections – are also a major cause of childhood diseases such as scarlet fever and septicaemia which contribute to child deaths globally. Responding to a post-COVID-19 infection surge, researchers from the StrepA Outbreak Prevention Team are tracking disease spread to mitigate clinical impact and leading efforts to develop a much-needed vaccine.

Associate Professor Aaron McFadyen has developed new world-leading drone management technologies. In collaboration with aviation authorities and industry, these technologies are now embedded in automated flight planning, assessment and approval processes for drone operations. This has enhanced safety, efficiency and utilisation of airspace in Australia and overseas.

UNSW

The UNSW Night Time Solar Team has demonstrated groundbreaking technology that allows for the generation of solar power even at night, tapping into the energy radiated from the Earth’s surface as it cools down after sunset. The key is a semiconductor device that harnesses thermal infrared radiation to produce electricity.

University of Sydney

Using stem cell biology and tissue engineering, Dr Ann-Na Cho has invented a lab-grown human brain model that enables more comprehensive neuroscientific research than traditional animal models. The innovative tissue-engineered models mimic human brain physiology and pathology. She has contributed to the study of the impact of COVID-19 infection on the brain, and neurodegeneration studies.

University of Sydney

Motivated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Mengyu Li’s research quantifies the true cost of global demand for services and consumer goods – for example, food and energy. Through advanced computer modelling, her work maps intricate international supply chains, revealing their toll on society and the environment, while suggesting sustainable pathways for the future.

University of Technology Sydney

Dr Wei Wei’s research focuses on reducing the aviation industry’s reliance on fossil fuels through innovations including biogas and fuels made from resources, such as carbon reclaimed from biowaste. By harnessing these new technologies and processes, she hopes to create a more sustainable future for both the aviation and waste-management sectors.

Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO

The Bluelink Global Ocean Science Team has developed the world’s most accurate global ocean forecast system, predicting its sea level and three-dimensional temperature, salinity and ocean currents. The large performance gains over previous Australian and comparable international systems provides the Australian Defence Force with information superiority for seaborne operations that safeguard Australia.

Queensland University of Technology

Professor Clinton Fookes has a longstanding track record in pioneering novel technologies in vision and signal processing, machine learning and AI, in service of Australia's national security. These unique defence capabilities significantly enhance situational awareness and decision-making, enable superior threat detection and augment human abilities and safety in the field.

University of Technology Sydney

Detecting malevolent agents in social media and news sources will always be a challenge, but one made easier by Associate Professor Marian-Andrei Rizoiu. Instead of looking for harmful online content, his new sophisticated algorithm analyses responses and reactions that content provokes from those consuming it – a paradigm shift for covert agent detection that doesn’t endanger free speech.

University of Sydney

Solar power is a critical renewable energy. Standard silicon solar cells do not fully convert higher-energy light to electricity, thereby limiting their efficiency ceiling to 30%. Professor Anita Ho-Baillie’s ground-breaking research combines – or ‘tandems’ – silicon cells with other materials to form double- or triple-junction cells, boosting efficiencies towards 40-50%.

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute

Bowel cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and rates are surging among younger adults globally. Research by the Novel Immunotherapy Targets for Bowel Cancer Team has identified specific immune cells and molecules that play an important role in controlling immune defence against bowel cancer, paving the way for new immunotherapies.

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Defects in immune cell development affect up to five in every 10,000 births globally. These inborn errors of immunity cause rare diseases that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Professor Stuart Tangye’s research identifying novel immune defects and mechanisms of disease has significantly improved diagnosis, helping target treatment for more than half of diagnosed cases in Australia.

UNSW

As millions of solar panels come to the end of their life, Professor Yansong Shen has developed a recycling system for solar panels that diverts all waste from landfill and provides materials for new panels. The work has led to more than 10 patents and is expected to begin commercial scale production by December 2024.

CSIRO and Nuseed

In the most complex genetic engineering of a plant to reach commercial production, the Sustainable Omega-3 Oil Team has produced and commercialised omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from canola crops. This could save the need for unsustainable harvests of wild-caught fish, and double the world’s supply of omega-3, which is essential for good health.

University of Queensland

Tackling two pressing global issues – climate change and renewable energy – Professor Xiwang Zhang and Dr Zhuyuan Wang have developed an innovative electricity nanogenerator that captures CO2 and generates electricity simultaneously. This new technology manages the transport of oppositely charged ions during CO2 capture, providing a clean and green method for energy generation.

Monash University and Alfred Health

Professor Joseph Doyle is committed to achieving the World Health Organization goal of eliminating viral hepatitis, which affects more than 300 million people globally. Through partnerships spanning hospitals, universities, community and government, he has innovated and implemented new models of testing, care and treatment, to improve outcomes for the 300,000 Australians living with viral hepatitis.

University of Technology Sydney

Motivated by the belief that everyone is entitled to healthy ageing, Dr Jiao Jiao Li leads transdisciplinary research in regenerative medicine to find new treatments for bone and joint diseases, turning medical discoveries into new therapies for patients. She is also a leader and enabler in STEM engagement and career building for others, particularly under-represented groups.

Uluu and University of Western Australia

An oceanographer and entrepreneur with a long-term commitment to reducing ocean plastic pollution, Dr Julia Reisser has earned leadership roles on scientific research missions and at global organisations working to eliminate plastic waste. She is co-founder and co-chief executive of Uluu, a Perth startup that is turning seaweed into a biodegradable, climate-positive alternative to plastic.

RMIT University

A transformational leader, Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond has revamped research and innovation ecosystems in public and private institutions, so they are more efficient and effective. He has established molecular assembly design rules and experimental methods to fast-track discovery and application, leading to new, high-performance materials for use in medicine, energy storage and the resources sector.

University of Adelaide

Professor Mark Hutchinson is an innovative science leader who has advanced entrepreneurship, creating startups and influencing government policy, with generational impact on Australia’s science and technology landscape. He is recognised as a transformative leader through his STEM advocacy, efforts to foster a culture of inclusivity and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

Macquarie University

Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen has established synthetic biology as a thriving discipline in Australia. He has exponentially grown it in scale and expertise, establishing the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and the Australian Genome Foundry, fostering nine start-ups that have raised more than A$180 million of venture capital, positioning Australia as a field leader.

University of Sydney

Associate Professor Haryana Dhillon’s career focuses on building capacity in psychological and behavioural support services to create a workforce ready to meet future healthcare challenges. A psycho-oncology leader and mentor for more than two decades, they empower professional development for staff through education, practical support and by providing clinical research opportunities.

University of Adelaide

Committed to creating career development opportunities for researchers, Associate Professor Wendy Ingman’s mentorship extends well beyond her own lab. She established the University of Adelaide’s Career Development Committee to provide skill-building workshops, coaching and networking events and is an advocate for national policy changes to improve institutional support and job security for researchers.

University of Sydney

Professor Kate Jolliffe’s research and leadership have enhanced Australia’s standing in the relatively young field of supramolecular chemistry. To help close the gender gap she supported the foundation of the international ‘Women in Supramolecular Chemistry’ network. Her committed mentorship has resulted in more than 150 researchers appointed to senior academic and industry roles.

Students have named 17 new insect species across Australia since 2019 through Insect Investigators’ multi-state school-based program that combines insect surveys with DNA sequencing and taxonomy. The 1,800 students from 54 schools have helped increase knowledge of Australia’s biodiversity by documenting more than 5,000 insect species using DNA.

After bushfires burnt 50% of Kangaroo Island in 2019/2020, a University of South Australia partnership with several NGOs engaged citizen scientists to construct, deploy and monitor 760 pygmy-possum and bat nest boxes. Data on the role of nest boxes from the Kangaroo Island Nest Box Project has led to a scientific paper and wildlife conference presentations.

Flinders University

More than 3,500 tourists and locals have contributed to Passport to Recovery, providing critical insights into Kangaroo Island’s recovery after the 2019/2020 bushfires. It brings 12 programs together in one website and app, including initiatives on native bees, roadkill and koala movements. Ongoing data collection will also help other areas in Australia recovering from fires.

Macquarie University

From Play School to politics, Dr Vanessa Pirotta’s advocacy for threatened ocean ecosystems speaks to diverse audiences. A wildlife scientist specialising in whale research, she is a trusted source for the media, an author and a builder of citizen science communities, educating Australians to inform better decision-making about our oceans’ future.

Deakin University

In the face of dual climate change and extinction crises, Professor Euan Ritchie is a sought-after voice. From writing popular articles and influential opinion pieces, live-tweeting field research and creating the much-loved ‘Australian Mammal of The Year’ competition, he guides policy and fosters public understanding of nature, wildlife and how science can help overcome environmental challenges.

University of Melbourne

An accelerator physicist and science communicator, Associate Professor Suzie Sheehy uses empathetic storytelling to reshape perceptions of science, connecting discovery with innovation, and highlighting the under-appreciated role of women researchers. She engages the public as a media commentator, keynote speaker and author of bestselling popular science book The Matter of Everything, published in 12 languages.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald

With graphics, feature articles and a podcast episode, Sherryn Groch exposed backroom deals never previously made public on deep-sea mining and presented new research on its potential radioactive risk to the environment. Her investigative journalism uncovered stolen research, the exploitation of developing nations and nefarious links with Australian companies.

Published by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 and 11 September 2023

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Presented in six 25-minute audio episodes, Hello AI Overlords was inspired by the emergence of easy-to-use AI tools in 2022. Featuring interviews with leading experts, it showcases the human stories that shaped today’s AI technologies. Subjects include accidents caused by driverless cars and a man wrongly convicted by this emerging technology.

Broadcast by ABC Radio National and published as a podcast, October - November 2023.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald

Liam Mannix spent four months investigating the A$20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, interviewing whistleblowers and confidential sources. The resulting articles ran on the front page of The Age and revealed that huge sums from the fund were spent on politically linked projects in closed, non-competitive tenders, often influenced by lobbying rather than the quality of the science.

Published in The Age, 15, 16 and 17 July 2023

University of Sydney and University of Technology Sydney

This creative project challenged a science stereotype by bringing together LGBTQIA+ scientists and emerging fashion designers to reinvent the traditional white lab coat as a symbol of queer pride. The CLOAK Team’s collaborative design process and resulting garments were documented in photographs and film to celebrate diversity, inclusion and identity in STEM.

Little Scientists Australia is the nation’s leading provider of STEM professional development for early childhood educators. It champions inclusive, evidence-based education for all young children by building educators’ early STEM teaching skills and confidence through its hands-on workshops. Little Scientists also supports parents to engage their children in play-based STEM learning at home.

University of Queensland

Wonder of Science is a program fostering STEM engagement and inclusion, particularly across regional and remote Queensland. Supporting low-income, female, neurodiverse and Indigenous students to build scientific literacy, it has reached 114,000 people since 2012, providing teacher support and STEM challenge tasks for Year 4 – 9 students.

Mascot Public School, NSW

With humour and everyday examples, such as toys and playground equipment, seven-year-old Ayra explores complex energy concepts, including chemical, kinetic and gravitational potential. In The Energy in Everyday Things, she explains power generation and energy transfer, encouraging everyone to be mindful of their energy use. Her approach makes learning about energy fun and accessible.

PLC Sydney, NSW

In her fast-paced film about her favourite snack – popcorn – 11-year-old Cate conducts a series of experiments, including blowing the lid off a metal tin to show why popcorn kernels explode. Popcorn Magic: Unlocking the Energy Within covers different varieties of corn, energy and the laws of thermodynamics and solves the mystery of why some corn kernels don’t pop.

PLC Sydney, NSW

Eugenia hopes that her film Energy Adventure: Solar Panels at the Right Angle will inspire more people around the world to use solar power. The 10-year-old’s film explains why solar panels need to be angled differently in different parts of the world and conducts a comparative experiment in Sydney and southern New Zealand.

Smiths Hill High School, NSW

In their dramatic film, Solar Superstorms, Year 7 students Sophia and Scarlett explain the energy behind solar superstorms and the cataclysmic effects if one was to hit Earth. They use dance, humour and special effects in a production that saw them participate in a NASA citizen science project and rise at 4am to film the sunrise.

St John’s Anglican College, Qld

Fourteen-year-old Iestyn used animation software and his own illustrations to make Fusion – The Heart of the Sun. His film includes an overview of the proton-proton fusion process that occurs in the Sun’s core and shows how the Sun produces enormous amounts of energy – enough to power our planet’s processes and support life on Earth.

Lakes Grammar, NSW

Lucy’s modern and slick production, The Chemistry of Caffeine, looks at the science behind caffeine and the way it seems to provide energy. She explains how caffeine interferes with the adenosine receptors, which usually tell the brain we are tired and low on energy, therefore delaying or stopping our normal sleep response.