Winners of the prestigious 2008 NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Awards were announced on Thursday October 23.
 
Can forest fungi help to combat climate change? How can ants help humans create planes that can navigate without pilots? How can researchers predict epidemics of HIV/AIDS and trends in ‘ice’ (methamphetamine) use in order to prevent them?

These are just some of the intriguing questions being explored by this year’s Awardees. And this is what they’ll spend the next year talking to school students about.

Selected for excellence in research achievements and passion for communicating science, 13 young scientists were recognised with Young Tall Poppy Science Awards this Thursday evening.

“The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards recognise scientific achievers who are in the early stage of their careers and already making discoveries,” says Australian Institute of Policy and Science Executive Director, Elektra Spathopoulos.

Instead of winning prize money, these young scientists win the opportunity to take their research to school students around NSW, ACT and across Australia as part of the Tall Poppy Campaign to inspire a new generation to get passionate about science.

“These Award winners represent the future of great science in Australia; they are not only the brightest young people addressing the crucial issues facing our society, they are also the best people for the job of inspiring the next generation in science,” adds Spathopoulos.

With unprecedented scientific policy challenges like climate change, at the same time as declining enrolments in high school chemistry, maths and physics subjects; inspiring young people about science has never been more urgent.

“The Awardees will be role models for high school students who are thinking seriously about their senior subject choices, their tertiary education and future careers,” Spathopoulos explains. “They will demystify science and demonstrate to the next generation that science careers in Australia are fun and rewarding, and can make a real contribution to the health, productivity, and sustainability of our society,” adds Spathopoulos.

With the Tall Poppy Campaign now in its eleventh year, numerous former Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners have gone on to win more senior science awards, including Eureka Prizes, Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science and Cosmos Bright Sparks Awards.
 
The NSW/ACT Young Tall Poppy Awards are principally supported by the NSW Office for Science & Medical Research as part of Science EXPOSed. The NSW Tall Poppy Campaign is also supported by Macquarie University and the NSW Department of Education and Training, with national support through the Department of Health and Ageing.

The 2008 NSW / ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Awards were presented by the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, and the NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, the Hon Tony Stewart MP.