2025 recipients with the Prime Minister, Minister and Australia’s Chief Scientist at Parliament House.

Left to right: Left to right: Mr Matt Dodds, Dr David Khoury, Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo, Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Tony Haymet, Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Senator Tim Ayres Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Professor Michael Wear, Professor Yao Zheng, Mrs Paula Taylor, Dr Vikram Sharma.

Their achievements include breakthroughs in public health, quantum innovation, mathematics, clean energy, medical technology, environmental stewardship and inspiring our next generation of scientists.

This year marks an important milestone, with the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems awarded for the first time.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, and Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, announced the recipients at Parliament House on Monday 3 November. 

Guests from across the Australian science, innovation, teaching, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities attended the event. 

Ms Rae Johnston, STEM journalist, broadcaster and proud Wiradjuri woman, emceed the presentation. Aunty Violet Sheridan performed the Welcome to Country. 

2025 prize recipients

Learn more about each recipient and click through to watch videos about their work. Video highlights from the presentation will be available soon.

  • Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska
    2025 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
    Distinguished Prof Morawska is recognised for pioneering research into the air we breathe. She translated her discoveries into actions to safeguard public health and our environment. She is inspiring the next generation of scientists to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
  • Dr Vikram Sharma
    2025 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation
    Dr Sharma is recognised for translating deep Australian research in quantum science into world-leading cyber security solutions. Companies around the world use this technology to protect information. Customers include Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, global defence contractors and critical infrastructure providers.
  • Mrs Paula Taylor
    2025 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
    Mrs Taylor is recognised for transforming STEM education in primary schools in the ACT and supporting local teachers to be exceptional STEM educators. Her innovative real-life learning experiences engage students of all abilities and inspire a lifelong passion for science. She has worked with more than 10,000 students and 480 classroom teachers.
  • Mr Matt Dodds
    2025 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools
    Mr Dodds is recognised for his creative teaching methods to equip students from rural areas and diverse backgrounds with STEM knowledge and skills. His innovative methods have significantly increased the number of female students studying physics at his school and the number of students pursuing higher education in STEM.
  • Professor Michael Wear
    2025 Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems
    Prof Wear is recognised for building a free-market enterprise that promotes environmental stewardship and helps younger generations connect with their cultural heritage. His model draws on his deep knowledge of Saltwater Country, culture and science. His work exemplifies the importance of ongoing application of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems to Indigenous peoples, communities and place.
  • Dr David Khoury
    2025 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
    Dr Khoury is recognised for using applied mathematics to translate scientific research into actionable evidence. His work has guided drug development for malaria and vaccine policies for COVID-19 and mpox. His discoveries have helped protect some of the most vulnerable populations and contributed to saving thousands of lives around the world.
  • Professor Yao Zheng
    2025 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
    Prof Zheng is recognised for his groundbreaking work to produce clean hydrogen directly from seawater. This is helping to accelerate Australia’s green hydrogen industry in the transition to net zero. His work has broken through major scientific and technical barriers. He is helping shape Australia’s global reputation in clean energy.
  • Dr Nikhilesh Bappoo
    2025 Prize for New Innovators
    Dr Bappoo is recognised for 2 novel and accessible medical technologies. Veintech is ultrasound technology to help healthcare workers find the right vein. And Lubdub is a ‘heart health in a box’ monitoring solution helping to detect and prevent heart disease. He is driven by a purpose to use technology to make healthcare equitable and accessible to everyone.

More information

See photos from the presentation on our event blog
Read more about the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science