Eureka gold for Monash
The world-class achievements of Australia’s top scientists, science educators and communicators have been celebrated with the announcement of the winners of the 2011 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
In a glittering event held last night in Sydney, the country’s brightest minds in scientific investigation, leadership, journalism, communication and school science gathered for Australian science’s night of nights.
Seventy-nine finalists were brought together from around the country, competing for more than $240,000 in prize money.
Amongst the winners was Monash University’s Dr Paul Biegler, whose work questioning the prescription of antidepressants for mild depression when cognitive behavioural therapy is an equally effective, drug-free alternative, won the Eureka Prize for Research in Ethics.
Professor Murray Esler and Associate Professor Markus Schlaich from Monash University’s Faculty of Medicine and the Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute took out the award for Medical Research Translation, following a series of successful trials of a surgical treatment that uses radio waves to destroy the nerves that cause high blood pressure.
Winning third place in the Science Photography category was Dr Ian Smyth from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology whose digital image, Golden Lung captures a foetal lung of a mouse beginning the complex process of branching to form the airways necessary for life outside the womb.
The Eurekas have become the most coveted science awards in Australia and receiving an award is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.
The Eureka Prize Awards will be broadcast on ABC TV’s Catalyst program this Thursday 8 September at 8pm on ABC1.
For more information on the Eureka Prize Awards visit www.australianmuseum.net.au/eureka