UNSW and Australian Museum Launch Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science

The Australian Museum has introduced a new Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science, developed in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This award recognizes scientific research that translates into practical solutions addressing global societal challenges through partnerships with external organizations. Associate Professor Kelly Clemens, a neuroscientist and Associate Dean Impact Partnerships at UNSW, discussed the initiative, highlighting UNSW's Societal Impact Framework launching in 2025 to guide the university's contributions for the next 25 years. The prize celebrates how scientific innovation achieves scale when researchers collaborate with partners like communities, governments, or industries to create real-world improvements. Examples of impactful research include Professor Jes Sammut's work with Papua New Guinea communities on fish farming to improve health and reduce crime, and various UNSW projects addressing issues from student behavior to dementia risk assessment. The prize is open to entries from all STEMM disciplines at any research stage, aiming to highlight science's role in formulating societal solutions. UNSW's scientific endeavors reportedly contribute over $350 million annually to the Australian economy and $2.2 billion to global GDP. The Eureka Prizes are Australia's most comprehensive national science awards.