Prime Minister Awards 2008 Prize for Science to Queensland’s Professor Ian Frazer. (October 17, 2008)

Yesterday evening the 2008 Prime Minister's and Science Minister's Science prizes were awarded at the Great Hall, Parliament House in Canberra.

In summary:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Science: Professor Ian Frazer, Diamantina Institute for Cancer Immunology & Metabolic Medicine, Queensland

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools: Ms Bronwyn Mart, Magill Primary School, Adelaide

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools: Mr Clay Reid, Clare High School, SA

• Malcolm MacIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year: Professor Tanya Monro, University of Adelaide

• Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year: Dr Carola Vinuesa, Australian National University

Professor Ian Frazer was awarded the major  $300,000 prize for his work in developing a vaccine to combat cervical cancer. On October 6 Harald zur Hausen, Professor emeritus and former Chairman and Scientific Director, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for demonstrating that human papilloma virus is the cause of cervical cancer.

Former Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Sir Gustav Nossal commenting on the award to Professor Frazer said: "It is an enormous thrill to hear that [he] has won. His achievement is a monumental one – a vaccine against the dreaded human papilloma virus (HPV)

Professor Tanya Monro

 which is the cause of cervical cancer in women. This vaccine has been brilliantly successful and the rollout in Australia has really led the world in terms of both uptake and freedom from any significant side effects. Frazer is currently working very hard to get this vaccine into the developing countries where the need is greatest. Over a quarter of a million women die each year from cervical cancer and most of these are in developing countries. The award to Frazer will be universally welcome right around Australia and around the world."

Commenting on the Prime Minister's prizes for science teaching to Bronwyn Mart and Clay Reid, Peter Russo, CEO of the Australian Science Teachers Association pointed out the requirement for "dedication and commitment to the science teaching profession to make a real difference to the lives of students and said: "Both of these excellent teachers, through their work in the classroom and in the wider community, have highlighted the importance of nurturing curiosity in children as a key driver of engaging young learners in science and possibly into pursuing a rewarding career in the field. This leadership in creative and innovative learning is crucial to the well-being of our nation."

Professor Tanya Monro received the Malcolm MacIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year for her contributions to research in photonics. In particular, the president of the Australian Institute of Physics, Cathy Foley, says that her "work on holey optical fibres has been the basis for new applications and innovations for the use of optical fibres around the world in many new industries".

Dr  Carola Vinuesa was named winner of the Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year. Dr Vinuesa and her team working at ANU's John Curtin School of Medical Research uncovered a non-structural gene in mice they named Roquin which regulates the function of microRNAs previously dismissed as the products of junk DNA but which in fact affected lupus diabetes -like symptoms when Roquin mutated.

Dr Vinuesa believes that more effort should be exerted in gaining fuller understanding of the functioning of micro-RNAs.

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To learn more about the recipients and listen to them talk about what drives them click here then when the web page comes up click on the individual's link.