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SILENT GENES ROAR AT PM'S AWARDS
20 September 2007

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates Dr Peter Waterhouse and Dr Ming-Bo Wang on winning the 2007 Prime Minister's Prize for Science. The Prize recognises the contribution of both scientists for their breakthrough work on gene silencing and control in plants, and its use for plant immunity and crop improvement.

The pair are in good company with Nobel Laureates Professors Andrew Fire and Craig Mello who jointly won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine last year for related work on RNA interference and gene silencing.

The Academy also congratulates the other prize winners:

• Elizabeth Fulton won the Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year
• Mark Cassidy won the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
• Cheryl Capra won the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools
• Francesca Calati won the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Every scientist remembers a teacher who inspired them, and the science teaching awards recognise those that inspire the next generation. Cheryl Capra was a trial teacher for the Academy's Primary Connections program and her award contributes to the fresh impetus for science teaching at the primary level.

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science are annual high-profile awards which recognise the achievements of the Australian scientific community and their contribution to the nation's social, economic and environmental future.

Further information:

CSIRO New Technologies

Nova: Science in the news

Primary Connections

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science