2020 Awardees

Outstanding contributions to science have been recognised by the Australian Academy of Science with 18 of Australia's leading scientists receiving a 2020 award.

The Premier Awards category is the Academy's most prestigious category of awards, recognising researchers of the highest standing over a career of any length.

Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture

Professor Marilyn Renfree AO FAA
University of Melbourne

The Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture recognises scientific research of the highest standing in the biological sciences. In 2020 the recipient is Professor Marilyn Renfree AO FAA.

The Macfarlane Burnet Lecture will be presented by Professor Renfree at the Shine Dome in November 2021.

The Career Awards category recognises researchers of the highest standing over a career of any length.

The Mid-Career Awards category recognises researchers of the highest standing who are 8 to 15 years post-PhD in the calendar year of nomination.

The Early-Career Awards category recognises researchers of the highest standing who are no more than 10 years post-PhD in the calendar year of nomination.

The award recognises research primarily in the natural sciences by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early-and mid-career scientists and PhD students. It also supports the expansion and growth of each scientist's research networks and international knowledge exchange, through visits to relevant international centres of research.

The Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award is an annual award of up to $20,000 per awardee to assist early stage PhD students or early career researchers with their research. It provides funding support toward research expenses, courses and the cost of travel.

The award is named in honour of the late Dr Maxwell Frank Cooper Day AO FAA who spent a lifetime championing entomology, conservation and forestry, as well as helping other scientists. Through sponsoring this award Dr Day is acknowledging the support that he himself received as a young researcher to travel overseas to gain his PhD at Harvard. Following Dr Day's strong belief in the strength of a multi-disciplinary approach to research, only applicants who are able to demonstrate a multi-disciplinary approach to their research will be considered for this award.