Macquarie University Researchers Recognized as Eureka Prize Finalists
Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen is a finalist for Leadership in Science; Associate Professor Kira Westaway leads the Extinction vs Adaptation Team, which is a finalist for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research; and Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a finalist for Promoting Understanding of Science. All three are from the School of Natural Sciences.
Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Macquarie University, says: “We are extraordinarily proud of our researchers whose hard work has been recognised and delighted that all three of these remarkable academics have been placed among Australia’s top scientists in the Eureka Prizes this year.
“These nominations reflect the breadth and depth of research excellence at Macquarie University across multiple scientific disciplines.”
Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen has established synthetic biology as a thriving discipline in Australia, forming and directing one of the largest international collaborations in synthetic biology, spawning nine start-ups with capital of over AU$180 million.
“Synthetic biology has the potential to revolutionise industries and address global challenges, and we are positioning Australia as a leading nation in this field,” Professor Paulsen says.
Wildlife scientist, author and science communicator Dr Vanessa Pirotta specialises in whale research, and her advocacy for threatened ocean ecosystems reaches diverse audiences, from preschoolers to politicians. She is a trusted media source, an author and a citizen-science champion, always with a focus on educating Australians to inform better decisions about our oceans’ future.
“By engaging the public in marine science, whether that’s through building citizen-science communities or explaining ocean research to children watching Play School, we can foster a deeper understanding of our oceans and the challenges they face across generations,” Dr Pirotta says.
“This is incredibly timely as we expand our reach in the ocean and need to be best informed when making decisions that may impact our blue backyard.”
Associate Professor Kira Westaway leads the Extinction vs Adaptation Team, comprising researchers from nine disciplines, who apply novel dating techniques and fieldwork at multiple cave sites in Asia. Together, they have solved long-standing primate mysteries, including why some species are more vulnerable to environmental changes, knowledge that will help conserve threatened primate species.
“Our interdisciplinary approach unites diverse disciplines to shed new light on primate evolution, which identifies the drivers of extinction, providing crucial insights for conservation efforts,” says Associate Professor Westaway.
Macquarie University continues its proud sponsorship of the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher in 2024, recognising Australia’s best emerging research talent.
The 55 finalists selected for the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will share a prize pool of $180,000 across 18 categories, from environment to innovative technologies, citizen science, leadership and mentoring.
Winners will be announced at the Eureka Awards ceremony on Wednesday 4 September 2024.