Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
Australia’s premier science prizes recognizing research, innovation, and science teaching excellence with national visibility.
Programme Overview
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious awards celebrating scientific and educational excellence. The annual programme spans six categories, including the flagship Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, the Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year, the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, and two prizes dedicated to exceptional science and mathematics teachers. Winners receive national recognition, media exposure, and cash awards that can be reinvested into research, commercialization, or classroom resources. The programme underscores Australia’s commitment to world-class science and highlights role models who inspire future generations.
Opportunity Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program ID | australia-prime-ministers-prizes-for-science |
| Funding Type | National science award |
| Funding Amount | Up to AUD $250,000 (varying by category) |
| Application Deadline | 2025-03-14 |
| Primary Locations | Australia |
| Tags | science, award, innovation, education, australia |
| Official Source | Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources |
| Application URL | https://www.industry.gov.au/science-and-research/prime-ministers-prizes-for-science |
Eligibility and Nomination Guidance
Each category has tailored eligibility requirements, but strong nominations typically include:
- Demonstrated excellence. Provide evidence of breakthrough research, transformative innovation, or outstanding teaching outcomes supported by data, publications, or testimonials.
- National impact. Articulate how the nominee’s achievements benefit Australia’s economy, society, health, environment, or global reputation.
- Collaboration and leadership. Highlight interdisciplinary partnerships, mentorship roles, and contributions to STEM policy or outreach.
- Endorsement quality. Secure letters from respected leaders who can speak to the nominee’s impact and integrity. Include supporting materials such as videos, media articles, or patent summaries.
Nomination Roadmap
| Phase | Core Actions | Insider Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Nomination | Review category-specific guidelines, confirm nominee eligibility, and gather consent to be nominated. | Build a timeline for collecting reference letters and verifying achievements well before the deadline. |
| Dossier Compilation | Draft the nomination statement, curriculum vitae, publication list, and impact summary. | Use storytelling techniques that connect scientific milestones to tangible benefits for Australians. |
| Submission | Upload materials via the online portal, ensuring multimedia content meets format requirements. | Double-check category selection and word limits; have a colleague proofread for clarity. |
| Shortlisting | Respond promptly to requests for additional information, interviews, or media assets. | Prepare concise talking points and high-resolution images for potential publicity. |
| Award Announcement | Coordinate with institutional communications teams to amplify recognition and plan outreach activities. | Leverage the announcement to secure additional partnerships, sponsorships, or education initiatives. |
Impact and Stewardship Expectations
Laureates become ambassadors for Australian science. They are often invited to deliver public lectures, participate in policy forums, and engage with schools. Plan for media training, stakeholder outreach, and community events that extend the award’s influence. For teaching awardees, consider developing professional development workshops or digital resources that share best practices with educators nationwide.
Tips and Tricks for a Winning Nomination
- Quantify achievements. Use clear metrics—citations, patents, commercial revenue, student performance gains—to substantiate excellence.
- Show societal relevance. Connect the work to national priorities like climate adaptation, health security, Indigenous knowledge partnerships, or advanced manufacturing.
- Highlight mentorship. Illustrate how the nominee supports early-career researchers, teachers, or students through structured programmes.
- Incorporate multimedia. Short videos or interactive content can bring complex science to life for reviewers.
- Plan a legacy narrative. Describe future ambitions and how the prize will accelerate broader impact in research translation, industry collaboration, or STEM education.
Building a Comprehensive Nomination Package
Consider structuring the nomination around three pillars: excellence, impact, and future potential. For each pillar, compile evidence such as landmark publications, patents, student outcomes, and community engagement statistics. Include a one-page timeline of career milestones, awards, and public service to help reviewers quickly grasp the nominee’s trajectory. Where innovation is involved, integrate technology readiness levels, commercialisation milestones, and endorsements from industry partners or venture investors.
Develop an outreach dossier that demonstrates the nominee’s ability to communicate science. Feature media interviews, podcasts, public lectures, or science festival appearances. For teacher nominees, include classroom artefacts, lesson plans, and student testimonials that show transformative pedagogy. Make sure reference writers align their letters with the nomination narrative, highlighting unique attributes rather than repeating CV content.
Leveraging Partnerships and National Priorities
Map the nominee’s contributions to national strategies such as the National Reconstruction Fund Priorities, Australia’s National Science and Research Priorities, or state-based innovation agendas. Demonstrate how collaborations with CSIRO, Cooperative Research Centres, Indigenous communities, or international consortia amplify national impact. For innovation categories, outline pathways to scale through manufacturing partners, clinical trials, or export opportunities, including regulatory and commercial readiness.
Engage communications and government relations teams early to secure quotes from ministers, industry leaders, or community partners who can champion the nomination. Providing evidence of bipartisan or cross-sector support underscores societal resonance and can help with media coverage if selected.
Post-Award Amplification Strategy
Anticipate the responsibilities that come with national recognition. Draft a 12-month engagement plan that includes keynote addresses, regional school visits, mentorship circles, and collaboration with the Office of the Chief Scientist or Inspiring Australia initiatives. If the nominee leads a research group, outline how prize funds will accelerate talent attraction, lab upgrades, or commercialisation pipelines, and set measurable milestones for reporting to stakeholders.
For teacher prize recipients, propose creating open educational resources or professional learning communities that disseminate best practices nationwide. Being proactive about legacy planning signals to judges that the nominee will leverage the platform to elevate Australian science and inspire diverse audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can nominate someone for these prizes? Nominations can be submitted by peers, research institutions, professional societies, or industry partners. Self-nominations are not accepted. The nominator should be someone who can credibly attest to the nominee’s achievements and impact.
Can international researchers working in Australia be nominated? Yes, as long as they are Australian citizens or permanent residents at the time of nomination. The prizes recognize contributions to Australian science, regardless of where the researcher was born.
What is the selection process? An independent expert panel reviews all nominations, assessing scientific excellence, innovation, impact, and leadership. Shortlisted nominees may be interviewed or asked for additional materials. Final selections are announced by the Prime Minister, typically in October.
How are the prize funds distributed? Prize money is paid directly to the recipient and is not subject to institutional overhead. Recipients can use the funds for research, equipment, professional development, or educational initiatives. There are no restrictions on how the money is spent.
Can someone win multiple times? While there is no formal prohibition, the prizes typically recognize new achievements. Previous winners are rarely nominated again unless they have made significant additional breakthroughs since their last award.
What happens if the nominee has moved institutions? The nomination should reflect the nominee’s current affiliation, but it can highlight achievements from previous positions. Include a brief explanation of the career trajectory and how different institutions contributed to the body of work.
How competitive are these prizes? The Prime Minister’s Prizes are highly competitive, with dozens of nominations for each category. Success rates vary by year, but typically fewer than 10% of nominees receive awards. Strong nominations require substantial evidence of exceptional achievement.
Can teams be nominated? Some categories allow for team nominations, particularly the Innovation Prize where collaborative efforts are common. However, the prize money is awarded to individuals, not institutions. Clearly delineate each team member’s contributions.
What if the nominee’s work is classified or commercially sensitive? Provide as much detail as possible while respecting confidentiality agreements. Include redacted summaries, patent numbers, or third-party validation (e.g., industry awards, licensing deals) to demonstrate impact without revealing proprietary information.
How should we handle interdisciplinary work? Choose the category that best aligns with the primary contribution. In the nomination, emphasize how the interdisciplinary approach created unique value. Reviewers appreciate work that bridges traditional boundaries.
How to Apply
Nominations are submitted through the official online portal. Visit the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science website to access the nomination form, category-specific guidelines, and submission deadlines.
Start early—strong nominations require 2-3 months to compile evidence, secure reference letters, and craft compelling narratives. Contact the programme secretariat if you have questions about eligibility or nomination requirements.