Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research (DIISR) (scheme formerly funded by DEST)

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science

Scheme Aim and Objectives

Department of Industry, Innovation, Science and Research (DIISR) is inviting nominations for three separate prestigious prizes awarded by the Commonwealth Government of Australia.

The Prime Minister’s Prize for Science 

This prize is awarded for an outstanding specific achievement in any area of science advancing human welfare or benefiting society. In this context, science encompasses the physical, chemical, biological and technological sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The Prize comprises an embossed gold medallion and a grant of $300,000 and may be awarded to an individual or jointly to up to four individuals, if the achievement is a collaborative or team effort.

Where such is the case, papers cited in support of the nomination must be co-authored by a majority of the group's members. Should a group be awarded the Prize, each member of the collaboration would receive a medallion and an equal portion of the grant.

There are no restrictions as to when the achievement was accomplished, however the Nominee (either single or collective) must be currently active in research.

The Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the year and the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the year

The Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year and Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year are designed to recognise achievements of scientists at an early stage of their research careers. To be eligible in 2008, Nominees must have completed their PhD within the past ten years, and the date of the Nominee’s testamur must be later than 8 May 1998. A certified copy of the testamur must be provided as evidence.

At least four years of a Nominee’s research career must have been spent in Australia.

Both these Prizes are awarded for an outstanding achievement in science that benefits, or has the potential to benefit, human welfare or society. Each is awarded only to an individual; each comprises a silver medallion and a grant of $50,000.

The common objectives of these two Prizes are: 

• to recognise and reward outstanding research by early-career scientists; and 
• to demonstrate to the public, and to school students and science undergraduates in particular, that early stage career achievement in science can be of world-class importance.

Submission Requirements

• Nominations should be submitted on-line. See details on the DIISR website.
• To be eligible for consideration, each Nominee must be supported by a Nominator and at least two Supporters identified by the Nominator.
• Nominators must identify two further individuals as Referees who could be approached to provide professional comments on the nominated achievement. Ideally, at least one of these Referees will be based overseas in order to provide an international perspective on the worth of the achievement under consideration.
• Please provide the Research Office with a paper copy of the nomination and the Research Office Cover Sheet

While online nominations are preferred, it is possible to lodge nominations through the post according to the instructions for Requirements of Nominator and Supporters in the Guidelines.