Scientist gets his Eureka moment

HELPING to solve the mystery of why one species survives while another becomes extinct has led to a prestigious award nomination for a Southern Cross University scientist.

Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau is part of a team of researchers nominated for the Eureka Prize 2024 in the Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research category.

The Extinction vs Adaptation Team led by Macquarie University brings together experts from Southern Cross University, University of Queensland, Australian National University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Flinders University to solve long-standing mysteries about primate evolution.

Using novel dating techniques and fieldwork at multiple cave sites in Asia, they discovered why some species are more vulnerable to environmental changes.

This knowledge will help to conserve threatened primate species.

Associate Professor Kira Westaway led the project and said the collaborative approach had proven beneficial.

“Our interdisciplinary approach unites diverse disciplines to shed new light on primate evolution, which identifies the drivers of extinction, providing crucial insights for conservation efforts,” Associate Professor Westaway said.

Professor Joannes-Boyau is the Head of the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group at Southern Cross University.

The professor and his team have pioneered technology that has enabled them to accurately date artefacts and elements within the environment they were found, essential to understanding when and where a species existed.

There are 55 finalists this year, “each featuring remarkable scientific endeavour and achievement”.

In its 34th year, the AM Eureka Prizes recognise contributions to science across four categories: Research and Innovation, Leadership, Science Engagement, and School Science, with 19 prizes and $180,000 in prize money.

The chief scientist and director at the Australian Museum Research Institute, Professor Kris Helgen said the Eureka Prizes provide the opportunity to remind us that science impacts our everyday lives.

“From the food we grow, biodiversity we identify and describe, and the diseases we treat, it is impossible to overstate how important science is to our lives.”

The winners of the AM Eureka Prizes will be announced on September 4 at a ceremony held at Sydney Town Hall.