Past winners

Page index

2012 award winners
2011 award winners
2010 award winners
2009 award winners
2008 award winners
2007 award winners
2006 award winners
2005 award winners
2004 award winners
2003 award winners
2002 award winners

2012 award winners

Scientist of the Year

Professor Peter Quinn

Professor Peter Quinn is a world renowned astrophysicist who has conducted pioneering research in galaxy formation and dark matter using large astronomical facilities and high performance supercomputing and data intensive technologies. His career has seen him work on the Hubble Space Telescope, and he has lead the team which designed, built and operated the science systems for the world’s largest optical observatory. Quinn was awarded a Western Australian Premier’s Fellowship in late 2005. On arrival to Western Australia in 2006, he began to build a research community based around radio astronomy and pushed for the SKA project to be located in Western Australia.

As the founding Director of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), Quinn has built up a research organisation of more than 100 staff and students, attracting some of the best researchers in the world to Western Australia. ICRAR has recently been recognised as one of the top 10 centres of its kind in the world. It has raised $26 million in Federal and International grants and it has awarded contracts of more than $3 million to local industries - all within the first three years of its existence. For a State that had no significant role in national or international astronomy before 2005, this is a major achievement.

Quinn’s effort to create ICRAR, plus his role as deputy chair of the ANZ SKA Coordination Committee - the committee that guided the strategy and development of the Australian SKA bid - has played a central role in the success of the Australian SKA campaign.

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Early Career Scientist of the Year

Associate Professor Ajmal Mian

Assoc Professor Ajmal Mian has pioneered research in Australia on the challenging problems of 3D face and object recognition at a time when there was little general expertise in this field. His contributions to the scientific literature and research community are evident in the high number of citations to his research articles and visitors to his website.

Mian has published over 60 scientific papers. His research has proposed mathematical solutions to the following core Artificial Intelligence problems: 3D face recognition and 3D object recognition in complex scenes; automatic fish measurement using underwater stereo video; 3D facial morphometric analysis to detect neurological disorders; and a unique hand identification system that uses a hyperspectral camera to capture palm lines and the veins underneath for biometric identification.

Within five years of graduation, Mian has built a research team of seven comprising himself, one postdoctoral fellow and five PhD students. Together with his research team, he endeavours to find solutions to core Artificial Intelligence problems for a range of multidisciplinary applications.

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Student Scientist of the Year

Mr David Erceg-Hurn

David Erceg-Hurn’s PhD research has focused on the evaluation of strategies to reduce the stigma associated with seeking professional treatment for clinical depression. He has also been involved in several extracurricular research projects investigating other important public health problems including evaluating the effectiveness of a graphic anti-methamphetamine advertising campaign, the ‘Meth Project’, and supporting the design, implementation and evaluation of a program to reduce excessive alcohol consumption amongst Western Australian university students. His research into the Meth Project attracted considerable media attention from local, national and international media outlets, gaining the attention of the Governor of the American state of Montana who invited Erceg-Hurn to provide him with drug policy advice.

Erceg-Hurn graduated with first class honours in undergraduate psychology. As a postgraduate student, he has been the first author on six peer reviewed journal publications, including publications in high impact journals. One paper advocating for the greater use of evidence based statistics was published in American Psychologist, which is the flagship journal of the world’s largest psychology association. This paper is now part of the curriculum in research methods classes at several universities. He has also written a book chapter that was invited by Oxford University Press, and has several additional manuscripts currently under review.

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Science Ambassador of the Year

Professor Steven Tingay

Professor Steven Tingay has played a key role in communicating the significance of radio astronomy and the SKA to the public, to the science community, to industry and to governments, at state, national and international levels. He is a co-instigator of “Ilgarijiri – Things Belonging to the Sky”, an art-meets-astronomy project that inspires young Indigenous people to consider careers in science and technology related fields.

Tingay creates many opportunities to engage young people, demonstrating that careers in science are diverse, challenging, enjoyable and highly relevant to modern society. This carries over into his undergraduate teaching in astronomy and physics and his supervision of graduate research students.

Tingay’s excellence in science ambassadorship stems from his status as an internationally renowned researcher in his field. He has been the recipient of over $20m of competitive research funding, and more in collaboration with other researchers. He has published 113 papers in international refereed journals and a further 187 in conference proceedings and other un‐refereed outlets. These papers have amassed 2541 citations in the literature. His top cited paper (in the prestigious journal Nature) has 232 citations.

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Science Engagement Initiative of the Year

Engineers without Borders

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) High School Outreach Program focuses on improving understanding of issues related to water, climate change, sustainability and appropriate technology. It was developed by the Western Australian Chapter of EWB and has now in use by EWB Chapters in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and New Zealand with facilitation from Western Australia.

During 2011, the program reached 2,741 students in the State through the delivery of 81 workshops, including seminars and workshops engaging with Year 12 Aboriginal students in Karratha. The program focused on accessing less-advantaged high schools to encourage enthusiasm and pathways towards careers in science and engineering. In 2012, there is an increased focus on the regional areas and an increased goal to reach 3,500 students.

The program has gained a reputation as an excellent resource for engaging high school students, as an assessment tool for university engineering students and as professional development for experienced engineers. Two Western Australian universities have used the program to equip their students’ skills in science communication and engagement, and many of EWB’s corporate partners are now integrating the High School Outreach Program into their social responsibility plans.

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Educator of the Year

Mrs Mady (Marion) Colquhoun

Mady Colquhoun is a dedicated teacher who has taken a significant leadership role within the primary science education community in Western Australia. She was selected to participate in the 2011 Cross Sectoral Project in which she analysed the Australian Curriculum, provided and analysed work samples, lesson plans and programs and gave feedback on proposed achievement standards. In 2011, in response to the Australian Curriculum, Colquhoun developed three new programs: Life Cycles (with a practicing student) for Year 2, Heat for Year 3 and Adaptations for Year 5.

She has also co-authored a unique cross curricular program, Discovering Dieback aimed at educating upper primary school students (and their parents) about using our forests wisely, in collaboration with the Dieback Working Group. In addition she manages a range of programs aimed at modelling sustainability practices around the school.

As an active member of the Primary Science Committee of the Science Teacher’s Association of Western Australia, she contributes to the provision of professional learning opportunities for primary school teachers and students.

Her desire to engage students and their families in both classroom and real life science situations has led Colquhoun to source and run many enriching extracurricular activities and opportunities in her school community, both to promote general science understanding plus to model and develop sustainable behaviours. Programs include the school’s participation in the Tiwest Zoo Nightstalk, Scitech and Zoo sleepover events, the green team and a family science quiz night.

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2011 award winners

Scientist of the Year

Professor Richard Hobbs

Professor of Restoration Ecology, The University of Western Australia
Australian Laureate Fellow, Australian Research Council

Professor Hobbs is a distinguished ecologist who has worked untiringly to preserve key elements of our unique ecosystems for future generations of Western Australians. He is a leading researcher in an area of key importance for the State as it seeks solutions to the major environmental issues facing the state both now and in the future. His ongoing contributions have both local relevance and international reach.

Professor Hobbs’ research results have laid the foundations for important developments in our understanding of the management and conservation of ecosystems and landscapes, the management of invasive species, and the restoration of degraded ecosystems. He has maintained many long-term field experiments, the longest of which has now run for 29 years. Professor Hobbs has a demonstrated ability to mesh world-class science alongside working with managers and policy makers in environmental science.

He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and highly cited ecologists in Australia. He has published 19 books, 200 refereed journal papers and 125 edited book chapters.

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Early Career Scientist of the Year

Professor David White

ARC Future Fellow, Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, UWA

Professor White is a geotechnical engineer who is pioneering a new field of research into the behaviour of shallow seabed sediments. He is internationally renowned for devising analysis techniques for the response of foundations and pipelines laid on soft and unstable seabed sediments, and for the development of new tools for in situ characterisation of the seabed. These advances have been rapidly adopted in practice – results from his research are being used to assess the stability of all the major pipelines currently being designed to tap Australia’s offshore gas resources. Professor White’s research provides techniques that can overcome the unique challenges associated with the design of seabed pipelines and foundations in the unusual conditions faced by Australia’s offshore industry.

He left a lectureship at Cambridge University to become the youngest professor at UWA in 2007 at the age of 31 and currently holds an ARC Future Fellowship. Professor White is in wide demand as a speaker at industry and community forums, and at international conferences. He is also a strong proponent of science and engineering to the wider community.

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Science Communication Initiative of the Year

Farm Business Resilience Program

The Farm Business Resilience Program (FBR) is a partnership between the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA), Curtin University and the West Australian Rural Business Development Corporation that seeks to assist WA Farming Businesses undertake changes to farming practices in response to climate change and other external factors.

The key challenges to the program were developing: the 5 module curriculum; new delivery approaches; the logistics of operating across the state and multiple agricultural industries and in training and supporting 50 facilitators to deliver a new style of program.

Approximately 400 participants were involved from 30 locations, 36 groups and 67 local government areas over the 12 month period of the pilot program. At the outset of the program, 21% of participants stated they thought they were prepared or well prepared for drought and climate variability. This number increased to 55% by the conclusion of the program. This result has been truly remarkable and unique and exemplifies what can be achieved through listening to the needs of the community, developing appropriate materials and delivering the content in a participative learning style.

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Science / Mathematics Educator of the Year: Secondary

Mr Heath Dullard

L3 Science teacher, Pinjarra Senior High School

Heath Dullard is a passionate and enthusiastic teacher committed to ensuring the students in his regional school have similar enrichment opportunities to their metropolitan counterparts. Since commencing at Pinjarra SHS he has linked Pinjarra SHS into the SPICE science development program. He also initiated Pinjarra SHS’s involvement in the Thinking Science Program resulting in the school being selected to run the national pilot for the program. He continues to support the program’s growth by providing training and demonstration lessons of the program for other teachers.

The results of Mr Dullard’s work in the Thinking Science Program, which seeks to develop thinking cross curricula, are borne out by the improvement in his students’ achievement shown through Pinjarra’s MSE results in Science showing 20% of the cohort in the top 20% of the state and NAPLAN results show marked improvement against Year 7 NAPLAN data. The school Principal has stated that these are the best results she has seen in many years.

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Science / Mathematics Educator of the Year: Primary

Mrs Linda Townend

Science Specialist Teacher
Maylands Peninsula Primary

Linda Townend uses innovative strategies to engage her students, such as cartoons and puppets, and designed a collection of challenging science investigation activities. Each activity comprises a class set of resources and a teacher resource guide of suggestions on how to build on and develop students’ knowledge and skills across year levels.

Linda has been acknowledged with regional and state awards for her ability to assess and plan for students with different learning styles, needs and cultural backgrounds.

To further foster student curiosity and enthusiasm for science, Linda set up weekly activities for students to engage in during free time or before school. She also has a science chat board in her classroom where she posts questions and offers different view points to challenge students’ thinking and encourage interaction.

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2010 award winners

Western Australian Scientist of the Year ($50,000 prize)

Winthrop Professor Michael Tobar

Professor Tobar is a world leading scientist carrying out cutting-edge research in the invention, creation and applications of precise time, frequency and phase measurement techniques. Professor Tobar’s work has resulted in the most pure oscillators and precise measurement systems so far manufactured, with use in radar,
telecommunications, fundamental physics and defence applications. His recent work has involved some of the most stringent testing of fundamental physics, including the testing of Einstein’s theories of relativity and fundamental constants. His research aims to examine and unite Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, and to provide new tools for industry to use.

Western Australian Early Career Scientist of the Year ($10,000 prize)

Winthrop Professor Eric May

Professor May’s research combines several aspects of engineering, physics and chemistry and can be described as ‘Fluid Science for the Next Generation of Natural Gas Engineering.’ His development of new techniques to more accurately measure gas properties has advanced fundamental science and improved engineering models. His progress is evidenced by having secured more than $5.5 million in funding for new research, constructed the infrastructure to conduct industry-driven projects and commenced the training of seven PhD students. In 2009 he was awarded the Australian National Metrology Institute Prize.

Western Australian Science Educator of the Year - Secondary ($10,000 prize)

Lynette Hillier

Lynette is a passionate science teacher who develops and implements new curriculum material, catering for students of all levels. Lynette’s innovative science programs have elevated Human Biology from the weakest performing subject to the top performing subject at the school. She has also played a critical role in the development and implementation of exciting science programs in the school. She has worked with the Dolphin Discovery Centre and a number of local industry partners to develop and enhance the Marine Managers program which sees students monitoring dolphin populations.

Western Australian Science Educator of the Year - Primary ($10,000 prize)

Brooke Topelberg

Brooke has facilitated positive and measurable changes in student attitudes, results and teacher involvement in science education. She has implemented a Primary Science Outreach Program and developed a collaborative Investigation in Science DVD. More than 200 copies of the DVD have been distributed to schools throughout the State. Brooke has also initiated an Upper School Science Challenge within the school, which involves an inspiring day of science activities. Due to the success of the initiative, she now coordinates the Upper School Science District Challenge between five schools within the Swan District.

Western Australian Science Outreach Initiative of the Year ($10,000 prize)

Marine Discovery West and the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre

The Department of Fisheries through its MarineDiscoveryWest education programs, incorporates State-wide, integrated delivery of aquatic environmental education activities and programs, with a central education hub at the Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre in Perth. The programs engage the community to participate in and contribute to a sustainable future for Western Australia’s fisheries and aquatic ecosystems by delivering innovative and hands-on education activities, resources and programs for students, teachers and the wider community. The programs delivered Statewide and at the Discovery Centre reflect the science that underpins the sustainable management of the aquatic environment.

Western Australian Hall of Fame Inductee ($10,000 prize)

Professor Fiona Stanley AC

Born on August 1 1946, Professor Fiona Stanley is an Epidemiologist noted for her work on Cerebral Palsy and children’s health. She has lived in Perth since 1956, graduating from UWA in Medicine in 1970. Her work in relation to Aboriginal health encouraged a renewed focus on epidemiology and public health. She has espoused the importance of using population data to provide significant health, social and economic benefits to the community. She is the founding director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR).

Fiona is the CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, and is Professor of Paediatrics at UWA. Winthrop Professor Stanley’s research includes: strategies to improve health and well-being in populations; causes and prevention of birth defects and major neurological disorders including cerebral palsies; the causes of and lifelong consequences of low birth weight; and patterns of maternal and child health in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. The new state-of-the-art hospital being constructed at Murdoch is to be named the Fiona Stanley Hospital in honour of her achievements. Professor Stanley is a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. She was named Australian of the Year in 2003.

2009 award winners

Scientist of the Year Winthrop Professor Cheryl E Praeger AM FAA (Nedlands) - Professor of Mathematics and Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, University of Western Australia Professor Praeger, WA’s most highly-cited pure mathematician, leads a major research team in Group Theory and Combinatorics at The University of Western Australia. She is also a leading international researcher, renowned for her works in group theory, algebraic graph theory and combinatorics. Professor Praeger’s work has resulted in findings that have led to new thought being adopted by mathematicians worldwide.

Young Scientist of the Year Research Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger (Nedlands) - Head, Laboratory for Molecular Endocrinology, WA Institute for Medical Research and Chief Scientific Officer, Dimerix Bioscience Professor Pfleger co-invented a novel technology to identify and study „G protein coupled receptors - a family of receptors found on the surface of cells that mediate communication with other cells. The receptors are extremely important in treating disease and are the target of about 50 per cent of all therapeutic drugs.

Science Educator of the Year - Primary Mark Pager (Cable Beach) - Science Specialist Teacher, Cable Beach Primary School As Primary Science Specialist and Kimberley District Science Programme Coordinator, Mr Pager has implemented science programs throughout Cable Beach Primary School and the wider community to improve science learning in the area. He has developed a number of useful resource and assessment tools and is committed to using science and literacy to create a successful learning journey.

Science Educator of the Year - Secondary Richard Meagher (Mt Hawthorn) - Senior Chemistry and Physics Teacher, Mt Lawley Senior High School Mr Meagher displays exemplary classroom practice, engages extensively with external agencies and avidly promotes science as a career to his students. His passion for ICT has enabled him to engage students by using a variety of digital technologies in his teaching to deliver positive results.

Science Outreach Program of the Year ECOCEAN Inc. (Cottesloe) ECOCEAN is a WA-based not-for-profit group and the driving force behind the global campaign to protect the world’s declining population of whale sharks. The campaign is designed to monitor, research and encourage collaboration and discussion through its internet site.

2008 award winners

Premier's Prize for Western Australian Scientist of the Year

Professor Jorg Imberger, Director, Centre for Water Research
Professor Imberger is a world leader in the field of water research and management. He established the internationally recognised Centre for Water Research at the University of Western Australia. Technologies created at the centre benefit more than 100 million people world-wide.

Premier’s Prize for Young Scientist of the Year

Dr Ben Corry, ARC Research Fellow, School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Science, University of Western Australia
Dr Corry has developed a strong independent research career in the field of molecular biophysics and significantly advanced the understanding of biological ion channels - the proteins that regulate electrical signalling between cells. He recently applied his understanding of biological pores to propose cheaper ways for generating clean drinking water.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Communication outside the Classroom

SymbioticA, School of Anatomy and Human Biology, University of Western Australia
SymbioticA is an internationally recognised art and science collaborative research laboratory dedicated to the artistic research, learning and critique of life sciences. The first of its kind in the world, the laboratory enables artists to engage in wet biology practices and collaborate with scientists in a biological science department.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Lorraine Ellis, Head of Science Learning Area, Newton Moore Senior High School
Lorraine Ellis is an energetic and enthusiastic science educator who has lifted the profile of science at Newton Moore by establishing the Science Specialist Program - Science Horizons, as well as the Wetlands Project, a hands-on course that enables students to save wetlands in their area. Her students have won numerous awards as a result of her teaching skills and the courses she has developed.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Richard Johnson, Science Support Teacher, Rostrata Primary School
Richard Johnson’s role as a science support teacher has improved the science knowledge and skills of the students at Rostrata Primary. He develops innovative, motivating and challenging lessons for his students, and is responsible for running professional learning courses for staff from five neighbouring schools.

Premier’s Prize for Science Student of the Year: University

Jacinta Delhaize, Student, Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Western Australia
Jacinta is completing her Honours in Astronomy and Astrophysics, tutors physics and assists with programs to promote astrophysics to high school students. She is also involved in many radio astronomy related programs outside of university, including the promotion of astronomy to high school students and preparations for the Square Kilometre Array project.

Premier’s Prize for Science Student of the Year: Secondary

André Rhine-Davis, Year 12 student, Carmel School
André is a gifted science student with a passion to teach others about science through tutoring and organising science events. He has an exceptional academic record in science-based subjects, with a distinction or high distinction average and has competed in many science and mathematic competitions.

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2007 award winners

Western Australian Scientist of the Year

Professor David Blair, Professor of Physics at The University of Western Australia
David Blair has worked for many years on the worldwide quest to detect gravitational waves. Alongside many students and colleagues at UWA, he has developed a very sensitive detector and the first sapphire clocks. Professor Blair is currently developing the gravitational wave observatory facility near Gingin and the exciting public facility, The Gravity Discovery Centre.

Western Australian Young Scientist of the Year

Dr Kristen Nowak, Research Fellow for the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research
Dr Nowak researches rare muscle disorders, which can sometimes lead to complete paralysis at birth. She has made world-first discoveries into the genetics of these diseases, helping to make Perth a global leader in diagnosing these muscle disorders. Dr Nowak is dedicated to finding a therapy for patients with actin-caused muscle diseases.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Communication Outside the Classroom

Mr Roger Harris, Centre Manager at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre
Roger Harris has seen a 300 per cent increase in school student participation in the WA Gould League’s education program in the last five years. Last year more than 13,000 students participated in the environmental science and indigenous learning experiences and Mr Harris received an Education Award of Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contribution. Mr Harris’ three keys to success in environmental education are partnership, collaboration and passion.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Tertiary

Professor Paul McMenamin, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and School of Anatomy and Human Biology at The University of Western Australia
Professor McMenamin uses innovative methods, such as body painting and model building, to teach clinically important aspects of human anatomy. His role in the medical faculty is to inspire colleagues to strive towards excellence in their teaching and learning with the aim of producing better health professionals for WA.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Mr Warwick Mathews, Teacher at Shenton College
Mr Mathews is a passionate educator with a remarkable capacity to create a sense of excitement and discovery. His work has been critical to the success of the science program at Shenton College, initiating programs including the student research vineyard, wine science, and the participation in UWA’s scientists in school program and the international biotechnology competition, the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge of Western Australia.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Mr Allan Whittome, Teacher at Badgingarra Primary School
Mr Whittome is a highly valued colleague among his peers, who holds a depth and intensity of passion for all things scientific. His science lessons are engaging, hands-on, energetic and constantly evolving for students and staff alike. He teaches science through interactive activities and integrating several learning areas.

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2006 award winners

Premier’s Prize for Achievement in Science

Professor Graeme Hankey
Professor Hankey is a consultant neurologist and head of the Stroke Unit at Royal Perth Hospital and clinical professor at the School of Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Western Australia. Professor Hankey is one of the world’s leading doctors in stroke research. Since 1999, Professor Hankey has led one of the world’s most comprehensive clinical trials. Taking in a network of clinicians and research patients in 100 medical centres in 20 countries, the VITAmins TO Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial is the only study comparing the effect of B-vitamin supplements with a placebo in preventing a recurrence of stroke. The professor is also involved with the Perth Community Stroke Study which tracked a group of stroke survivors for more than a decade. It is one of only two such studies in the world.

Premier’s Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science

Professor Mark Cassidy
By the age of 33, Professor Mark Cassidy has become a full professor at The University of Western Australia and director of the world-class Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems. Also a Rhodes Scholar, Professor Cassidy has built an international reputation in the field of offshore geotechnical engineering. His leading role in the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance pilot project and $1.4million in research grants show his firm commitment to the development of WA science.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Tertiary

Christine Howitt
Christine Howitt is a lecturer in Primary Science Teacher Education at Curtin University of Technology. Her boundless passion for teaching science is evident in her innovative and refreshing curriculum. As a dedicated educator, she instils enthusiasm in her students and provides future generations with a better understanding of scientific processes and a positive attitude towards science.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Alison Siciliano
At Christmas Island’s District High School, Alison Siciliano ensures science is taught throughout the school in a meaningful way. With a large student population of Chinese and Malay immigrants, she has been instrumental in creating a strategic plan for science teaching from Kindergarten to Year 10, catering for English as a Second Language learners.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Monique Hill (joint winner)
Monique Hill’s dedication to science and the environment manifests itself in everything she does at Rossmoyne Primary School. She actively encourages students to experience real life science situations. She is involved in Primary Connections, a federally funded Science Literacy Program. Her efforts have elevated the status of science at the school.

Penny Kelliher(joint winner)
Penny Kelliher believes that no child should be excluded from learning and has applied this to her role as a science specialist and deputy principal at Leeming Primary School. She has developed a cross-curricular program for students with learning and behaviour management difficulties such as ADHD. As a result of this hands-on program these students have engaged science learning and returned to their classrooms.

Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Science Communication

Fremantle Light and Sound Discovery Centre - Richard Rennie
Since 2003, Fremantle Light and Sound Discovery Centre has been communicating science from the WA Museum’s Fremantle History facility. The centre demonstrates science concepts through a collection of rare and historic light and sound technologies and gadgets. The centre offers 25 educational programs for all learning levels, professional development for teachers and support for special events. Founder Richard Rennie has 37 years’ experience as a science teacher, and uses his skills to inspire young people and young teachers alike and performs his role as a volunteer.

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2005 award winners

Premier’s Prize for Achievement in Science

Professor Simon Mallal
Profesor Mallal is the Executive Director of the Centre for Clinical Immunology and Biomedical Statistics at Royal Perth Hospital. Professor Mallal is an HIV physician and immunologist who, with his team, has been internationally credited for making several key advances in HIV research, including the discovery that the HIV virus can mutate to avoid recognition by the immune system. This crucial discovery has received worldwide acclaim in the search for more effective vaccines against the deadly disease.

Premier’s Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science

Dr Graham Hall
Dr Hall is a Senior Respiratory Scientist at Princess Margaret Hospital. His research work focuses on the development and validation of non-invasive research methods, allowing critical information to be obtained on the causes or progressions of disease as they relate to children’s respiratory medicine.

Premier’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching: Tertiary

Professor Robert Stick, Chemistry Professor at The University of Western Australia

Premier’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Ms Julie Weber of Merriden High School (joint winner)
Mr Hao Ta of Willetton High School (joint winner)

Premier’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Mrs Natalie Birrell, pre-primary science specialist at Huntingdale Primary School

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2004 award winners

Premier's Prize for Achievement in Science

Professor Bruce Robinson, Professor of Medicine at the University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre

Premier's Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science

Dr Robert Hough, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at CSIRO Exploration and Mining

Premier's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Tertiary

Associate Professor Adrianne Kinnear, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University

Premier's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Mr Darren Hamley, Science Teacher at Willetton Senior High School (joint winner)
Mr Denis Smith, Head of Science Department at Esperance Senior High School (joint winner)

Premier's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Ms Susan Doncon, Acting Deputy Principal at Woodlupine Primary School

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2003 award winners

Premier’s Prize for Achievement in Science

Emeritus Professor Ian Ritchie
Professor Ritchie is recognised as the leading international expert in hydrometallurgy. He has received two international awards for his work and the 2003 International Conference in Hydrometallurgy was named after him and held in his honour. Professor Ritchie has made many novel discoveries in chemistry - spanning an unusually wide range of research areas. He also initiated and developed the A J Parker Co-operative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy, which produces millions of dollars worth of research savings for the State’s mining industry.

Premier's Prize for Early Career Achievement

Dr Harvey Millar
Plant biochemist Dr Harvey Millar, from the University of Western Australia, won the Premier's Prize for Early Career Achievement.

Excellence in Science teaching: Tertiary

Dr Mauro Mocerino
Curtin University chemistry lecturer Dr Mauro Mocerino won the award for his commitment to fostering in students the ability and the desire to learn chemistry. Dr Mocerino has developed online pre-laboratory exercises for students studying chemistry for the first time.

Excellence in Science Teaching: Secondary

Ray Priskich
Trinity College’s Science Department Head Ray Priskich, has developed an Astronomy and Space Sciences Program that operates as an extensive online web document.

Excellence in Science Teaching: Primary

Mark Merritt
Marmion Primary School science teacher Mark Merritt, won for his commitment to providing professional development and training to teachers and educators in the area of science.

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2002 award winners

Premier’s Prize for Achievement in Science

Professor Barry Marshall
Professor Barry Marshall won the $10,000 major prize for his work related to ulcer causing bacterium. Professor Marshall had persevered to uncover the cause of a significant health problem that was suffered by half the world’s population. The research to identify the causes and to develop diagnostic testing and therapies to eradicate this bacterium was conducted in Perth. Professor Marshall was the co-discoverer of the ulcer causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori with Dr Robin Warren. Professor Marshall developed a blood test, a biopsy test and a breath test to easily diagnose the bacterium. All these methods are now widely used and Professor Marshall holds several patents related to diagnosis and treatment.

Premier’s Prize for Early Career Achievement

Dr Kliti Grice and Professor Andre Luiten (joint winners)
Dr Kliti Grice from Curtin University and Professor Andre Luiten from the University of Western Australia were both awarded the Premier’s Prize for Early Career Achievement, receiving $5,000 each. Dr Grice’s work in geochemistry has application for petroleum exploration while Professor Luiten’s work as a physicist has attracted the attention of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Dr Grice has more than 10 years experience in carbon compound specific isotope research and is the only stable isotope geochemist with experience in both carbon and hydrogen compound specific analysis in WA and one of a few in Australia. Her research can be applied to a number of WA industries including petroleum exploration, water geochemistry and environmental geochemistry.

Professor Luiten had spent his career testing the validity of fundamental laws governing our understanding of the world by developing instruments to test scientific theory. His validation experiments of Einstein's theory of special relativity have a 50 times higher confidence of special relativity than previous attempts. Professor Luiten was invited to conduct research for NASA and along with his UWA team, awarded a $13million Federal Government grant.

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This page was last updated on 1 June 2011.
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