Euan Ritchie wins Eureka prize for ‘Promoting Understanding of Science’

I’m extremely honoured to have been awarded the 2024 Eureka prize for Promoting Understanding of Science.

I would like to acknowledge my fellow finalists, Dr Vanessa Pirotta (Macquarie University) and Associate Professor Suzie Sheehy (University of Melbourne) who are each equally deserving of this recognition.

I feel privileged to work with so many amazing and inspiring people each day, and to be able to help tell our scientific stories, which have never been more important given the dual climate change and biodiversity decline and extinction crises we confront.

I encourage everyone to tell their scientific stories, you never know who might be listening, and stories told well can change the world.

I also extend my thanks to the Australian Museum for hosting the ‘Oscars’ of Australian science, and Celestino, for supporting this important award category recognising the role of communicating research beyond scientific journals and academia.

I want to thank Deakin University for allowing me to do the work that I do, and my family, friends, colleagues, and students for their ongoing support.

I would to acknowledge that my work has occurred across the unceded Country of First Nations Peoples, Australia’s first scientists and storytellers.

Here’s a little snippet of the awards ceremony; thanks to thanks to my wonderful wife and science communicator extraordinaire, Jen for capturing this memory for me.