SYDNEY: A Sydney-based scientist with a new hypothesis on human obesity, based on his research into swarming locusts, has taken one of the top prizes at this year’s Eureka Awards for Australian science.

The awards, presented by the Australian Museum in Sydney, took place last night in a glittering ceremony at the Royal Randwick Racecourse. The annual event – dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of Australian science - reward outstanding achievement across 20 categories spanning scientific and medical research, science leadership, science at school and science journalism.

Unstoppable force

The $10,000 Eureka Prize for Scientific Research went to Steven Simpson from the University of Sydney. Simpson discovered that locusts swarm en masse when they detect a shortage of protein in their diet. He found locusts then ‘march’ together, eating everything in their path and don’t stop until they have consumed enough protein.

Simpson was able to show that other animals, including humans, have a similar protein-driven appetite. As the modern human diet tends to be high in carbohydrates and fat, protein-hungry humans - like locusts - will continually over-eat until their protein intake has been satisfied. This phenomenon is now known as the ‘protein leverage effect’ and is likely to contribute to a better understanding of the causes of obesity in humans.

Other top Eureka Award winners included a group of 26 researchers from the Howard Florey Institute in Melbourne for their breakthrough work into treatments for the autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The team, led by Trevor Kilpatrick, took the Eureka Prize for Medical Research for their novel approach to MS research, which focuses on cytokines and their role in protecting nerves from attack.

Cytokines are able to stimulate or suppress the nervous system and can be used to produce biological-based MS treatments. The group has two potential MS treatments already under patent, one of which is hoped to go forward for clinical trials.

The nation's favourite

Voted Australia’s favourite scientist last night through the People’s Choice Award was 23-year-old PhD student Nicole Kuepper.

The young scientist from University of New South Wales in Sydney also took the Eureka Prize for Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change for her work developing a revolutionary new solar cell.

Using several low-cost items including an ink-jet printer, nail polish and a pizza oven, Kuepper was able to put together the metal contacts needed for a simple and affordable electricity-producing solar cell.

“Nicole’s iJET solar cell will potentially bring affordable electricity to the poorest people in the world. But, more than this, it will be clean and renewable energy,” said Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum.

Amongst the other award winners was a science teacher from Melbourne who took the recently introduced Eureka teaching award for his popular ‘science-through-snorkelling’ lessons. Head of science Ranjith Dediwalage utilises Port Philip Bay as his outdoor classroom, where students are taught marine biology, waste management and water education.

The 2008 Eureka Science Award prize winners are:

Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research
- Bill Humphreys, Western Australian Museum

Eureka Prize for Research in Ethics
- Garrett Cullity, University of Adelaide

Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Support of Defence or National Security
- Microelectronics Research Group, University of Western Australia

Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change
- School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales

Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation
- Matthew England, Caroline Ummenhofer, Alex Sen Gupta, Agus Santoso, University of New South Wales; and Mike Pook, CSIRO Hobart

Eureka Prize for Environmental Sustainability Education
- Birds Australia and the Australian Museum for "Birds in Backyards"

Eureka Prize for Medical Research
- Trevor Kilpatrick, University of Melbourne and the Howard Florey Institute

Eureka Prize for Environmental Research
- The National Carbon Accounting Team, CSIRO, Australian National University

Eureka Prize for Scientific Research
- Stephen Simpson, University of Sydney

Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection
- Maxine Piggott, Monash University

Eureka Prize for Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change
- Nicole Kuepper, University of New South Wales

Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science
- Robert Clark, University of New South Wales

Eureka Prize for Science Teaching
- Ranjith Dediwalage, St Leonard’s College, Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria

Eureka Schools Prize for Action Against Climate Change
- Daniel O'Doherty, Year 8, Pacific Hills Christian School, Dural, New South Wales

Science Primary School Eureka Prize
- Tom Bird, Cally-Rose Ware, Alex Ridge, Madison Walker, Year 4-6, Table Cape Primary School, Wynyard, Tasmania

Science Secondary School Eureka Prize
- Mitchell Connolly, Year 10, Melbourne High School, South Yarra VIC

Science University Eureka Prize
- Michael van Drempt, University of Sydney

Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science
- Richard Kingsford, University of New South Wales

Eureka Prize for Science Photography
- Phred Petersen, RMIT University, Melbourne