Australia's future in scientific innovation looks bright.
Recycling carbon dioxide emissions into plastic and putting cancer cells to sleep are just a few of the groundbreaking achievements to come from Australia's brightest scientific minds.
Dozens of the country's most cutting-edge scientists and researchers have been recognised for their pioneering work at Australia's leading national science awards on Wednesday.
Eureka prize winner Dr Fengwang Li has a plan to convert carbon dioxide waste into valuable everyday resources.
And with the help of renewable energy, he might be close.
“The biggest challenge of my generation is to address the global warming issue related to CO2 emissions," Dr Li told AAP.
"My work aims to create a circular economy where CO2 is recycled instead of being released into the atmosphere."
But Dr Li needed a strategy.
Working with a research team at the University of Sydney, the electrochemical engineer uses renewable energy to convert waste CO2 into ethylene, a basic component of plastic.
It's end product - polyethylene - is a plastic ubiquitous in almost every item we use.
If he's successful it could turn the industry on its head.
Converting carbon waste into a chemical by-product "gives the CO2 a second life," Dr Li explains.
"We wanted to convert the captured CO2 into a valuable commodity, such as a chemical by-product.
"Then, industry could have revenue from a high-value product, such as ethylene, or ethanol.
"It gives industry a new business model by using CO2 as a resource instead of a burden."
Dr Li is on a mission to create a carbon net-zero future by giving industry an economic incentive to recycle and using renewable energy along the way.
"We want an entirely green process," he says.
Australian Museum Director Kim McKay AO, who helped present the 18 awards and $180,000 in prize money, said Australian scientists are using innovative solutions to address unprecedented global challenges such as accelerating climate change.
“Scientific knowledge and innovation is key to progress," she said.
"Our collective futures depend on their contribution to build a resilient, sustainable world."
For more than a decade, Associate Professor Tim Thomas and Professor Anne Voss from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have studied a family of drug-resistant enzymes that contribute to cancer growth.
A recent research breakthrough found an entirely new class of drugs able to stop the growth of lymphoma cells and liver cancer cells.
The pair clinched this year's award for breakthrough scientific research.
"We developed a revolutionary way of treating cancer that essentially puts cancer cells to sleep permanently," Prof Voss said.
The new class of drugs is hoped to stop the growth and spread of tumours without damaging the cell's DNA.
"We hope the work will lead to new treatment options for people with cancer without the harmful side effects of conventional cancer therapies," Prof Voss said.
Since being established in 1990, more than 500 Eureka prizes have been awarded as well as more than $4 million in prize money.
This year's winners shared in a $180,000 prize pool awarded across categories of research and innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science.
OTHER EUREKA PRIZE WINNERS:
* Emerging Leader in Science: Dr Stephanie Partridge, University of Sydney
* Leadership in Science and Innovation: Professor Michael Kassiou, University of Sydney
* Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers: Professor Renae Ryan AM, University of Sydney
* Applied Environmental Research: The Waterbirds Aerial Survey Team, UNSW and NSW Department of Planning and Environment
* Excellence in Botanical Science: Dr Noushka Reiter, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
* Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research: Cystic Fibrosis Lung Health Imaging, University of Adelaide; Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide; 4D Medical Pty Ltd; and Monash University
* Excellence in Research Software: Dr Minh Bui and Professor Robert Lanfear, Australian National University
* Infectious Diseases Research: The Corona Queens, University of Melbourne and Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
* Innovative Research in Sustainability: The Economic Fairways Mapper Team, Monash University and Geoscience Australia
* Innovative Use of Technology: IMAGENDO, University of Adelaide; and OMNI Ultrasound and Gynaecological Care
* Outstanding Early Career Researcher: Dr Fengwang Li, University of Sydney
* Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia: MetaSteerers Team, University of Technology Sydney; Defence Science and Technology Group; and Macquarie University
* Scientific Research: Associate Professor Tim Thomas and Professor Anne Voss, WEHI
* Innovation in Citizen Science: 1 Million Turtles, Western Sydney University; La Trobe University and University of New England
