The Eureka Prize for Scientific Research, which has been named the “Oscars” of Australian science, is an award presented by the Australian Museum in Sydney, Australia. It is based upon 20 categories spanning science and medical research, leadership in science, science in school, and school journalism.
This year, the $10,000 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research was awarded to Steven Simpson. Simpson, who attends the University of Sydney, discovered that locusts swarm in masses when they discover that there is a shortage of protein in their diet. In this study, he discovered that when there is a shortage of protein, locust will eat everything in site until they meet their protein intake. He was able to show that just like humans, we will continue to overeat until our appetite is satisfied. This is known as the “protein leverage effect.”
There were other winners. Among them, a group of 26 researchers from the Howar Florey Institute, out of Melbourne, for their breakthroughs in treatments for Multiple Sclerosis. The team, led by Trevor Kilpatrick, put their focus on ways to protect nerves from the attack. Their main focus was on the cytokines, which was used to supress the nervous system and be used to produce biologically based MS treatments. The group was able to produce two treatments and get them under patent, one that the group hopes can go into clinical trials.
Voted Australia’s favorite via The People’s Choice Award, 23-year-old PhD student Nicole Kuepper. Kuepper, a student from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, took home the honor of Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change for her work on a revolutionary solor cell. Her experiment included serveral low-cost items such as an ink-jet printer, nail polish, and a pizza oven. With these products, Kuepper was able to use the metal contacts to produce a simple, yet affordable electric solar cell. The object of her experiment was to possibly bring electricity to the poorest people in the world.
There were also others who took home the honor. A teacher from Melbourne for his “science through snorkelling” lessons and Head of Science Ranjith Dediwalage, whose student learned about marine biology, waste management, and water education.