Australian Museum Eureka Prizes recognize scientific breakthroughs

The 2026 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes have recognized outstanding achievements across various scientific disciplines, including research, innovation, leadership, and science engagement. This year’s awards highlighted significant contributions from women, with 11 prizes awarded to individual women or predominantly female teams.

Notable winners include Professor Ivan Kassal and Associate Professor Ting Rei Tan from the University of Sydney, who received the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research for improving quantum resources to simulate complex molecular behavior by over a million-fold.

Other major recognitions include the Eureka Prize for Environmental Research, awarded to CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology for their marine heatwave forecasting system. This system provides long-range forecasts for ocean temperatures to assist marine industries and conservation efforts. Additionally, the awards honored advancements in forensic science, solar panel recycling, and data platforms like EcoCommons Australia.