DPI’s Science Awards

This department is committed to driving innovation in science, technology and practice. As part of this commitment the DPI Science Awards aim to recognise, acknowledge and reward emerging and existing talent amongst the primary industries community.

About the awards

The awards comprise four categories. Three of the four have been presented by the Victoria Government since 1992.

Hugh McKay Future Farming Award

This award grants $10,000 to a Victorian primary producer, rural resident and/or team, who have developed an innovative solution to an environmental, social and/or economic problem affecting their primary industry, community, or environment.

Nancy Millis Post-Graduate Award

This award of $21,000 (over three years) is granted to an outstanding graduate in agriculture, biology, natural resource management, earth sciences or environmental science, who is eligible to register for a PhD program at a Victorian university.

The recipient will undertake a three-year PhD research program in an area of high priority for the Victorian Government, jointly supervised by a DPI staff member and staff at a Victorian university.

The Daniel McAlpine DPI Science Award

This staff grant of $5,000 rewards a staff member or team, or an individual or team working in collaboration with DPI, for outstanding achievement in science.

The research, extension, policy or regulation work must have been completed within the last three years, and must have contributed significantly to the sustainable development of Victoria's primary industries.

The Samuel Wadham Practice Change Award

The Samuel Wadham Practice Change Award of $5,000 recognises a DPI staff member or team for outstanding contribution leading to practice change improvements for Victorian farm businesses and primary industries. Contribution must have been completed within the last three years.

For further information contact Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email science.awards@dpi.vic.gov.au.

The 2010 winners:

Winners of the 2010 DPI Science Awards were announced on Tuesday 6 October 2010 at the ANZ Pavillion, The Arts Centre, Melbourne.

Hugh McKay Future Farming Award

Yarra Valley apple orchardists The Sanders family
The award was presented to the Sanders family for their unique approach to apple production which has resulted in their trees bearing fruit within eight months of planting - a significant improvement on the five-year waiting period for traditional orchards. 

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Nancy Millis Post-Graduate Award

Cassie Scoble, a plant pathologist from LaTrobe University. Cassie’s $21,000 prize will fund her next three years of PhD study, following on from her LaTrobe University Honours Degree which she completed in 2009 whilst working full time.

Cassie’s areas of study will focus on the impacts of integrated pest management techniques on soil with specific focus on the effects to the microbial population.

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Dr Simone Warner and team for the Daniel McAlpine Award

Daniel McAlpine DPI Science Award

DPI staff working in collaboration with scientist from the CSIRO won the Daniel McAlpine DPI Science Award for their work on the development of a rapid diagnostic test for the abalone virus or Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis.
The disease has hit farmed and wild abalone stocks in Victorian waters and more recently was detected in Tasmanian abalone. The new test will help authorities respond quickly to control the spread of the disease whilst it is in its early stages.

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Samuel Wadham Practice Change Award

This award was won by a DPI Project based in the state’s north east at Tatura.

The Helping Diary Farmers Secure their Water Future Project began in 2005. Since then staff involved in the project have worked through the worst years of the state’s prolonged drought, engaging more than 9000 irrigated dairy farmers and associated service providers to help them adjust their practices to improve their use of reduced water resources.

View the video

DPI 2010 Science Awards winners and finalists at a glance: