Macquarie University researchers named Eureka Prize finalists

Study in Australia: The winners of Eureka Prize finalists will be announced at the Eureka Awards ceremony to be held on Wednesday, 4 September 2024.

Study Abroad: The researchers of Macquarie University have been named in Australia’s leading national science awards - 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes. There are three winners including Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a finalist for Promoting Understanding of Science, Associate Professor Kira Westaway leads the Extinction vs Adaptation Team, which is a finalist for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research; and Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen is a finalist for Leadership in Science.

Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Macquarie University, said, “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.”

More details of winners

Professor Ian Paulsen has set up synthetic biology as a flourishing discipline in Australia by setting up nine start-ups with capital of more than AU$ 180 million. The discipline is directing and forming one of the biggest international collaborations in synthetic biology.

“Synthetic biology has the potential to revolutionise industries and address global challenges, and we are positioning Australia as a leading nation in this field,” said Professor Paulsen.

Dr Vanessa Pirotta is a Wildlife scientist, author and science communicator. She is a specialist in whale research.

She said, “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."

“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," she added.

Associate Professor Kira Westaway leads the Extinction vs Adaptation Team to apply fieldwork and novel dating techniques at multiple cave sites in Asia.

“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.

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