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Taxonomic Research
WINNER -
Cold Cave Waters Make Australia a Hot Spot
The scientist who discovered flourishing micro-wildlife beneath Australia's so-called dead heart last night won the inaugural Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research.
This prize is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, the Oscars of Australian science. Coveted among science prizes, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes were announced at a glittering event in Sydney on 19 August attended by a ‘who's who' of Australian science, government, academia and industry.
Dr William Humphreys, Principal Scientist, Museum of Western Australia, surprised the world when he found a completely new, remarkably diverse and large quantity of microscopic creatures in the most unexpected place on earth, the subterranean waters of North Western Australia.
Humphreys's work in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Cape Range and Christmas Island overturned a long-held misconception that groundwater in Australia's arid zone was lifeless.
Director of the Australian Museum, Frank Howarth says, "Humphreys's discoveries were so significant, they led to a global renaissance in subterranean biology. As a direct result, Australia is now considered a hot spot for research in this field."
Because the area researched by Humphreys has not been inundated with sea water for 600 million years, the newly-discovered mini-beasts boast extraordinary ancient lineages. Humphreys discovered numerous instances where surface-dwelling life forms had ‘gone below' and evolved, colonising the subterranean in their new form. This led to his hypothesis that aridity, leading to loss of rainforest, promoted the evolution of the creatures. They are regarded as aquatic refugees of the ancient continents of Gondwana and Pangaea.
Because many of the groundwater ecosystems discovered are in mining and pastoral regions, Humphreys's work has recently been found to have conservation significance. Following Humphreys's own advocacy, mining companies are now required to identify and conserve any fauna identified on their mining leases.
Humphreys and his collaborators have named over 160 new species. He has recently been appointed to the Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee. He has published 20 refereed papers and book chapters since 2005 alone.
The $10,000 Australian Biological Resources Study Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research is awarded for outstanding research in naming, identifying, classifying or describing Australia's fauna and flora that has provided, or has the potential to provide, innovative or positive outcomes for industry or the environment.
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Sponsor
The ABRS Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research is sponsored by Australian Biological Resources Study.
Description
The ABRS Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research is awarded to an Australian individual, group or organisation for outstanding research in naming, identifying, classifying or describing Australia's fauna and flora that has provided, or has the potential to provide, innovative or positive outcomes for industry or the environment.
prize
$10,000
Purpose
The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), within the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, is the Australian Government's lead program on the naming and identification of Australia's fauna and flora.
ABRS provides funding for research in the naming, identification and relationships of species and supports publications on Australian species.
Less than one third of the estimated 600,000 species in Australia have been named. Naming and understanding Australia's species is critical to Australian science, conservation and industry. Species need to be clearly understood before they can be declared endangered and conservation management undertaken.
Good identification underpins Australia's response to biosecurity, pest and weed management. For example: accurate identification of fish species is worth over $30 million per year to the seafood industry alone by linking scientific identification to consistent trade names and certainty for consumers.
ABRS seeks collaborative partnerships with museums, universities, herbaria, conservation agencies and industry to promote and develop the science of taxonomy and support Australian research.
The ABRS Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research aims to recognise an Australian individual, group or organisation for outstanding research in naming, identifying, classifying or describing Australia's fauna and flora that has provided, or has the potential to provide, innovative or positive outcomes for industry or the environment.
This may include both morphological or molecular research to meet a particular environmental or industry need; development of innovative identification keys or bioinformatics products; or novel applications of existing technologies or products that address the challenges of naming and identification of Australia's plants and animals.
Judging Criteria
Entries must address each of the following criteria:
1. Innovation
a) What are the innovative aspects of the research and/or its results?
b) What new insights into Australian flora and fauna and/or the Australian environment have been gained as a result of this research?
2. Relevance
a) Does the research address a gap in Australia's taxonomic capacity?
b) Does the research address an industry or conservation need?
c) To what extent does the research respond to Australia's unique biological circumstances?
3. Impact
a) In what way is the research outstanding (e.g. developed or extended techniques or methods not normally used; resulted in a paradigm shift, etc)?
b) How has the research contributed to a practical improvement in capabilities for identification/conservation/biosecurity?
c) In what way has the research met a particular environmental or industry need?
Conditions of entry
The prize is open to individuals or groups. Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others.
Research entered for this prize must have been undertaken:
• in Australia by an Australian citizen(s) or Australian resident(s). Where the entry is by a research team, all members of the team must meet this criterion
• no more than three (3) years prior to the closing date for entries.
Online entry forms close 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online entry form has been completed.
Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries delivered to the Australian Museum after this time will not be considered.
Entries with insufficient sets of documentation will not be considered. Submitted material will not be returned.
The research entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relation to the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (including photos), may be used by the Australian Museum for promotional/publicity purposes.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete an online entry form
Complete the online entry form by 5pm AEST on Friday 2 May 2008. Make sure you print a copy.
2. Prepare five (5) sets of the entry, with each set consisting of:
1. a printed copy of the online entry form as submitted
2. a brief description of the research entered, including objectives and results to date (two page maximum)
3. a brief description of how the research entered addresses each of the judging criteria (two page maximum)
4. a maximum of four (4) written reports addressing each of the judging criteria from assessors who are familiar with the entered research. NOTE: Judges rely on assessor's reports to provide additional perspective and informed opinion on the entry. Assessors should not be personally or directly involved in the research entered in this prize.
You may if you wish also include a copy of your work from at least one externally-refereed scientific publication.
3. Submit the entry
Submit five (5) complete and separate sets of the entry clipped together (not bound). Please do NOT bother with elaborate presentation when submitting the entry. This will be removed before material is sent to judges. The five (5) sets of the entry should be sent to:
Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research
Australian Museum
6 College Street
SYDNEY NSW 2010
4. DEADLINE for submission of entries
The five (5) sets of the entry must be received at the Australian Museum by 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
