Garvan institute director wins PM’s science prize

Dr John Shine, director of the Garvan Institute in Sydney, has received the $300,000 Prime Minister’s prize for science for his science – discoveries of key gene sequences that led to cloned medicines – and his research leadership. Other winners were Dr Katherine Trinajstic who received the $50,000 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for physical scientist of the year. The Perth palaeontologist from Curtin University is rewriting the story of the evolution of our deep ancestors and contributing to oil and gas exploration. Dr Benjamin Kile from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne received $50,000 Science Minister’s Prize for life scientist of the year. His discoveries will extend the life of blood transfusion products and help explain how cancer starts. Dr Matthew McCloskey, director of studies at Sydney Grammar’s Edgecliff Preparatory School received the $50,000 Prime Minister’s prize for excellence in science teaching in primary schools and Ms Debra Smith, head of science at Centenary High School in western Brisbane received the $50,000 Prime Minister’s prize for excellence in science teaching in secondary schools for inspiring thousands of students and helping to redefine the senior science curriculum in Queensland and across Australia.