The Prize recognises Graeme Clark's discoveries which led to the first routinely used, successful and safe electro-neural interface with the central nervous system. His bionic ear enables deaf people to participate in a world of sound.

The bionic ear has already helped more than 55,000 deaf people in 120 countries and could help millions. It is the culmination of more than 35 years of effort and innovation by Graeme Clark. And he isn't finished yet.

At 69 years of age Graeme is planning a new technological assault on deafness, and plans to apply the concepts behind the bionic ear to repair spinal cords and other neural injuries.

Recently his research team made a major step forward when they discovered a way to help nerve cells in the ear repair themselves.

Graeme Clark's development is no single invention, but rather the result of dedicated vision and focused effort over the whole of his research career. His early insight, that multiple channels were needed, led to him developing an array of wires able to interface with separate groups amongst the 10,000 nerve cells in the inner ear.

Graeme and his scientific and commercial partners overcame many challenges along the way - from speech processing, preventing infection leading to meningitis, to obtaining US government approval for adults and children. Today Cochlear, the company Graeme helped start, supplies more than two thirds of the global market for bionic ears.

Two young scientists recognised
For investigating how proteins work, and for inventing tomorrow's communication technologies

Two outstanding young Australian scientists were recognised with major awards at the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science in Canberra tonight.

Dr Jamie Rossjohn is studying the shape of proteins. He leads Monash University's Protein Crystallography Unit. His work has already thrown light on aspects of immunology, asthma, multiple sclerosis, parasites, bacterial toxins, the performance of anti-cancer drugs, and much more. Jamie receives the $50,000 Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year (awarded to a scientist who is 35 years or under).

Jamie Rossjohn is an Australian leader in structural biology and X-ray crystallography, a burgeoning field of science built around understanding the shape and function of proteins and other biological molecules. He already has over 50 publications to his name and several patents. His team's latest discovery helps explain the complex processes in our bodies that trigger immune reactions against invaders and organ transplants.

Professor Ben Eggleton from the ARC Centre for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems at the University of Sydney leads a research team that plans to change our (online) lives. They are creating the components for light-based computers that will increase the capacity of the internet and other communication systems a thousand fold or more. Ben receives the $50,000 Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year (awarded to a scientist who is 35 years or under).

During his PhD, Ben Eggleton conducted pioneering research in non-linear photonics - showing that one laser beam can control the flow of another laser beam - the light equivalent of a transistor. Then, working at Bell Laboratories, he developed a device which dramatically improved the carrying capacity of long range optical cables and eliminated a $100 million bottleneck for Lucent.

Now as a Federation Fellow he is working on the fundamental science that he believes will underpin the next communication revolution. The team's latest invention is photonic wire - to connect the components of microphotonic circuits.

Science teachers from Gosford and Toowoomba honoured

Two inspirational science teachers were honoured tonight with a Prime Minister's Science Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching.

Dr Mark Butler from Gosford High School, NSW, was awarded the $50,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools. Eighteen years ago Mark turned from researching high energy lasers to teaching science. His passion for teaching inspires students and teachers alike and has helped double the number of students doing senior physics at Gosford and has inspired countless others from the surrounding region, through various outreach activities.

Mr Alwyn Powell believes that primary science should give each student the opportunity to discover for themselves the wonders of the natural world. That's the principle that drives him in his role as a year 1 teacher at Darling Heights State School in Toowoomba Queensland. He was awarded the $50,000 Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools.

Good science teachers encourage and inspire future scientists. Graeme Clark, inventor of the Bionic Ear and recipient of the 2004 Prime Minister's Science Prize, is one of eight Australian members of the Royal Society in London who were taught science by the same teacher at the Sydney Boys School.