Eureka Prizes

The prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prizes acknowledge and reward outstanding achievements in Australian science and science communication and, in so doing, raise the profile of science in the community. The Eureka Prizes reward a comprehensive range of research activity, business and ICT innovation, critical thinking, secondary school science, science journalism and science communication. Begun in 1990, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes have grown into Australia's premier science awards. The Prizes have also become the country's largest single national award scheme for research into critical environmental and sustainability issues facing Australia.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are a unique and outstanding partnership between the Australian and NSW governments and a range of organisations, institutions, companies and individuals committed to celebrating the vitality, originality and excellence of Australia's science.

The Australian Skeptics Eureka Prize for Critical Thinking recognises work that investigates conventional wisdoms and beliefs that owe little or nothing to the rigours of scientific method and that promotes rational thinking in the community and in the education of young people.

You can read more about the Eureka prizes here.

From 2006 onwards, Australian Skeptics will not be sponsoring a Eureka Prize. The AS Eureka has been replaced by the Australian Skeptics Prize for Critical Thinking. You can read about it here.

Previous Winners

2005

David Henry and Amanda Wilson, creators of the Media Doctor web site. You can see the media release about the prize here.

Read the report in the Skeptic here.

2004

Cheryl Capra, science coordinator at Albany Hills State Primary School

According to Capra, students are increasingly capable of critical questioning. "Students are applying their ability to reason not just issues in science, but across all curriculum areas from health to studies of society and religious education."

This philosophy underlies a new curriculum program developed by Cheryl called Touching the Future. Triggered by a student survey of the school in 1999 that did not reflect a critical approach to life, Cheryl started work on the four-phase plan alongside an early childhood specialist, parents and staff.

Capra's project aimed at optimising students' opportunities to partake in real science while learning to use the critical, evidence-seeking thought processes of science.

2003

Brendan McKay, mathematician from the Australian National University

Brendan McKay has applied his knowledge of mathematics and statistics to comprehensively demolish claims that hidden messages and prophesies can be extracted from the Hebrew Bible by computer analysis.

2002

Rob Morrison, science communicator and journalist

For his critical view of science communication, as expressed in his essay, "Trust Me, I'm a Science Communicator."

2001

Dr Tim van Gelder of the Department of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

The Reason! method, A new technique of teaching people how to think critically.

2000

Mr Richard Kocsis Lecturer School of Police Studies, NSW Police Academy

For 'Criminal Psychological Profilers, Police Officers and Psychics: who are the best detectives?', a study which seeks to identify the abilities that contribute to proficient performance in criminal psychological profiling, by comparing the accuracy of psychological profiles for a closed murder case generated by groups differing primarily in characteristics posited to underlie the profiling process.

1999

Dr Melissa Finucane, University of Western Australia & Decision Research, Oregan USA

For Public perceptions of risk, research into public perceptions of the risks of environmental and health hazards, and why these perceptions - in particular of a negative relationship between a hazard's risks and benefits - differ from conclusions made by scientists.

1997

Dr Amanda Barnier, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales

For research involving a systematic and critical analysis of post-hypnotic suggestion. Described as "the single most extensive and most important study of post-hypnotic suggestion in the 100 year history of modern hypnosis research"

1996

Trevor Case, PhD candidate, School of Psychology, University of NSW

Nominated for his research project concerning a critical investigation into the genesis and persistence of superstitious beliefs. The project is outstanding because of its comprehensiveness, its links with social psychology theorising, and its use of experimental methodology to explain (rather than simply describe) the genesis and persistence of superstitious beliefs.