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2009 People's Choice
The Devil's Superhero
Dr Katherine Belov, a geneticist and lecturer at Sydney University, has been voted Australia's favourite scientist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award.
Often likened to the "Oscars of Australian Science", the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes reward outstanding achievements in Australian scientific research, leadership and innovation, communication and journalism and school science.
While all other Australian Museum Eureka Prize winners are chosen by specially selected judging panels, the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award lets the Australian people choose who should win a "science Oscar". The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award was presented by Cate Blanchett at a star-studded evening at the Royal Hall of
Industries, Moore Park, Sydney.
Dr Belov and her team found that genetics can explain the plight of the Tasmanian Devils.
Lack of genetic diversity is a huge problem for the unique marsupials and Dr Belov is involved the search for a gene that can fight the fatal facial tumours. Dr Belov and her team of researchers are by far the best hope of saving these marsupials. They found the devils are affected by this cancer because they are essentially clones, sharing the same genes. Dr Belov is trying to find out whether some of these animals with different MHC genes can fight
the tumour and improve their chances of survival.
Other species that could benefit from Dr Belov's knowledge are the much loved koalas living on Kangaroo and French Islands and platypuses on King Island.
The Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award has proved a great hit with school students. 64% of all the votes cast were from Australian school children who researched, debated and voted for their favourite scientist.
"The Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award gives students real-life role models in science," said Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum.
Dr Belov was one of six finalists in the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award who were selected from the hundreds of entries in the Eureka Prizes.
The Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award is supported by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, ABC, Abbey's Bookshop and Microsoft.