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Defence scientists have been named as finalists in the Department of Defence’s Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia.
Defence scientist Adjunct Professor Dr Kamal Kant Gupta and Macquarie University semiconductors senior lecturer Dr Jafar Shojaii, with collaborators from the University of Melbourne and Swinburne University of Technology, are among the more than 59 finalists named in the comprehensive national science awards.
Entries from across Australia are competing in four main categories such as research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science. The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes winners are announced at the Sydney Town Hall later this year on 3 September.
Prizes are awarded for outstanding research that has led to or has the potential to lead to practical improvements for Australia’s national security or capability for defence.
“Using novel techniques and architectures, Dr Gupta and Dr Shojaii have developed a radiation-protected semiconductor chip which can protect high-value Defence, satellite and civilian electronic systems in space and high-interference environments; a new sovereign capability for Australia,” according to a Defence Science and Technology Group statement.
Subject areas for the awards include cyber security, biosecurity, information and communications, weapons systems, operational analysis, autonomous systems, and air, land and sea vehicles.
Entries are assessed on scientific rigour, originality and significance, impact and benefit for the total prize pool of $200,000.
Professor Shane Ahyong, acting chief scientist at the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), said the AM Eureka Prizes finalists not only display a steadfast commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges but also demonstrate the importance of collaborative innovation and solution seeking.
“The Eureka Prizes showcase the power of collective thinking and cross-discipline partnership, and it is a privilege to celebrate the results of what happens when Australia’s best scientific minds come together. When you look at this year’s list of finalists, you’ll see the results of scientific inquiry and innovation, which are clever, courageous and deeply relevant,” Ahyong said.
“At a time when global challenges can feel overwhelming, these finalists remind us that Australian scientists are not only part of the solution but often leading the charge for change. The AM Eureka Prizes are an important moment to celebrate their achievements and share their stories, which too often go untold.”
The 2025 AM Eureka Prizes finalists include trauma-informed memory research that is reshaping how courts respond to domestic violence and support victim-survivors, a world-first 3D model of a Parkinson’s disease protein paving the way for new drugs that could slow or halt the disease, as well as a pioneering chemical process that transforms plastic and biomass waste into sustainable fuels, helping cut global emissions.
