Bioplatforms Australia congratulates all the winners of the 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, announced on 3 September at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Now in its 35th year, the Eureka Prizes recognise the very best in Australian science, spanning research, leadership, citizen science, communication and mentoring.
This year, nineteen winners were announced across categories, including forensic science, ocean and climate research, biodiversity conservation, and transformative advances in genomics and synthetic biology. For the first time, parity was achieved between male and female awardees, highlighting the breadth and diversity of scientific excellence across the nation.
We are especially proud to acknowledge the achievements of winners with strong connections to Bioplatforms-supported capabilities:
- Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen (Macquarie University) was awarded the Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. Professor Paulsen has played a pivotal role in building synthetic biology as a national strength. As Director of the Australian Genome Foundry, a Bioplatforms-supported facility, he has led groundbreaking collaborations and helped spin out nine start-ups that have collectively raised more than $200 million in venture capital.
- The dartR team (University of Canberra) is the winner of the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research Software. Their open-source genomic data analysis platform is widely used across conservation, agriculture and health, supporting hundreds of research projects. Bioplatforms has been proud to collaborate with and support projects that leverage dartR to unlock genomic insights.
The success of these winners demonstrates the impact of national research infrastructure in enabling discovery and innovation. From ocean systems and biodiversity to human health, the outcomes recognised this year highlight how investment in research delivers solutions to global challenges.
Bioplatforms warmly congratulates all 2025 Eureka Prize winners and finalists. Their creativity, perseverance and leadership exemplify the strength of Australian science and its global impact.