Australian Museum names 2026 Eureka Prize winners

The Australian Museum has announced 19 winners of the 2026 Eureka Prizes at Sydney Town Hall, spotlighting work on melanoma, gene discrimination, domestic violence testimony, scientific misconduct, and clean energy. The awards highlight both scientific excellence and the growing role of women in Australian science.

Why it matters: - The 2026 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes recognize work that can change health care, improve policy, strengthen environmental resilience and speed up innovation. - The winners include research with direct real-world impact, from melanoma treatment to solar panel recycling. - The awards also put a spotlight on women in science, with 11 prizes going to women or teams made up entirely or predominantly of women.

What happened: - The Australian Museum announced 19 winners of the 2026 Eureka Prizes at Sydney Town Hall on September 4, 2026. - More than 500 guests attended the ceremony. - The awards, now in their 36th year, cover scientific research, innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science. - Winners included Professor Georgina Long AO, Dr Jane Tiller, Associate Professor Helen Paterson, and Liam Mannix and William Davis.

The details: - Professor Georgina Long AO of The University of Sydney and Melanoma Institute Australia won for melanoma research that has transformed treatment and survival outcomes. - Dr Jane Tiller of Monash University was recognized for research and advocacy aimed at ending genetic discrimination in life insurance. - Associate Professor Helen Paterson of The University of Sydney was recognized for work helping courts and police understand victim-survivor testimony in domestic and family violence cases. - Liam Mannix and William Davis were recognized for investigative articles exposing major scientific misconduct at leading research institutions. - Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson AC received two prizes: the University of Sydney Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science and the UNSW Eureka Prize for Societal Impact in Science as part of the OurFutures Vaping Program team. - Professor Georgina Long also received the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research for work in neoadjuvant immunotherapy and melanoma care. - Long, who was Australian of the Year in 2024 with Professor Richard Scolyer AO, became the fifth Australian of the Year to receive a Eureka Prize. - The other Australian of the Year Eureka Prize winners named were Professor Tim Flannery AO, Professor Ian Frazer AC, Professor Alan Mackay-Sim AM and Professor Michelle Simmons. - Australian Museum researcher Dr Frank Köhler received the 2026 Australian Museum Research Institute Medal for documenting Australia’s mollusc diversity. - McKay said Köhler has described more than 100 new species of land snail and is a Principal Research Scientist at AMRI. - The Australian Museum says it has awarded more than $5 million in prize money since the Eureka Prizes began.

Between the lines: - The awards reflect a broader push to connect research with practical outcomes, especially in health, environment and public trust in science. - The heavy representation of women suggests sustained progress in recognition, even as the museum framed continued support for women in STEM as essential. - The inclusion of journalism and science misconduct reporting signals that the prizes reward accountability as well as discovery.

What's next: - The Australian Museum is directing readers to the full list of winners at Read about all the winners. - The prize program will continue into its next year as the museum maintains its annual recognition of Australian scientific achievement.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Eureka Prizes showcase science with immediate public value, not just laboratory achievement.