The NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering, formerly known as the NSW Science and Engineering Awards, are an Australian series of awards for excellence in science, awarded by the office of the premier of New South Wales. There are several categories, the top award being the NSW Scientist of the Year. The 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year is mathematician Nalini Joshi.
History The prizes, originally known as the NSW Science and Engineering Awards, have been awarded since 2008.
In 2015 the name of the awards was changed to NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering.
Description They were established "to recognise and reward the State’s leading researchers in science and engineering for cutting edge work that generates economic, health, environmental or technological benefits for NSW". They also "aim to raise community awareness and appreciation of the important contribution scientists and engineers make to our daily lives and encourage careers in both fields".
Past prizewinners NSW Scientist of the Year 2008: Martin Green 2009: Stephen Simpson, biologist and entomologist 2010: Hugh Durrant-Whyte 2011: Michelle Simmons 2012: John Aitken 2013: Graeme Jameson 2014: Mark Westoby 2015: Scott W. Sloan 2016: Rick Shine 2017: Gordon Wallace, nanotechnologist 2018: Nicholas Talley, gastroenterologist 2019: Rose Amal, chemical engineer 2020: Edward Holmes 2021: Jim Patrick, audiologist and cochlear implant engineer 2022: Glenda Halliday, neuroscientist 2023: Trevor McDougall, oceanographer 2024: Helen Christensen, mental health researcher 2025: Nalini Joshi, mathematics
Other prizes In 2012, Emma Johnston was named NSW Scientist of the Year for Excellence in Biological Sciences (Plant, Agriculture and Environment).
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