SYDNEY, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- World leading research by Australian scientists was celebrated at the 29th annual Eureka prize ceremony on Wednesday night at a gala event in the heart of Sydney City.
Founded by the Australian Museum, the Eureka Prizes award 16 equal honours for excellence in Australian science, across the categories of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science.
Quantum physicist and 2018 Australian of the Year, Michelle Simmons told Xinhua that the awards were about providing scientists with recognition and encouragement, as well as bringing together top scientists from across the field.
"One of the things I love about Australia, it's very supportive, it's highly collaborative and they just like to celebrate good things, so it's a fabulous night," Simmons said.
"I think for younger people in particular it's quite tough to be a scientist in a competitive world, so recognising them at an early age is really helpful for their careers."
The advancements celebrated by the Eureka awards ranged from a surgical glue which triples the rate of wound closure, to nanoparticle research which could one day revolutionise the way we use personal devices.
Dr Kathryn Fuller, who along with her team taking home a Eureka prize for a major breakthrough in detecting leukaemia cells, told Xinhua how much the award means not just for scientists, but for all those involved in the research process.
"We work with these patients and clinicians on a daily basis and to be able to go back and tell them that our colleagues have recognised how important this process is, it's a validation for them as well," Fuller said.
Also amongst the winners was a clock which can keep time within a second over 40 million years, a vitamin which combats miscarriage and birth defects, and a team which discovered 22,000 sites that are suitable for cost-effective pumped hydro energy storage.
As the spotlight shone on some of the most underappreciated yet influential members of the global community, most remained humble in spite of their accolades.
"I don't think they really look for that," Simmons said. "I think they just look to celebrate the research that they do and to spend time with each other, so it's just a good fun night."
