Two researchers from the University of Western Australia have become the first recipients of newly created national honours at the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards, presented in Sydney. Dr Jessica Buck, a Kamilaroi woman and cancer research scientist, received the inaugural Young Tall Poppy First Nations Award, while biomedical engineer Dr Matt Oldakowski won the first Young Tall Poppy Industry Award. Together with WA Young Tall Poppy of the Year Dr Kit Prendergast, an adjunct researcher with UWA’s School of Biological Sciences, their achievements demonstrate how Australian research is addressing health gaps, engineering practical medical devices, and bringing communities closer to science.
For prospective research students, early-career scientists, and anyone weighing up a career in STEM in Australia, these awards offer more than good news. They reveal the qualities that national bodies now reward: scientific excellence, meaningful collaboration with industry and communities, and a genuine commitment to communicating research. This article examines what each researcher has achieved, why the awards matter, and what aspiring researchers can learn from their paths.
Understanding the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards
The Young Tall Poppy awards were established in 1998 by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) to recognise exceptional early-career researchers who combine world-class scientific achievement with a commitment to communicating science and inspiring the next generation. Winners are chosen from every state each year, and more than 1,000 early-career researchers have been recognised over the past 28 years.
In 2026, the program expanded. Alongside the state-based awards, AIPS introduced two national categories: one recognising excellence in First Nations science leadership and another celebrating industry-engaged research. The fact that a single institution produced the inaugural winners of both categories drew comment from AIPS General Manager Bree Williams, who described it as “extraordinary” and said UWA “should be incredibly proud.”
The expansion reflects a broader shift in how research impact is measured across Australia. Publications and citations remain important, but funding bodies and award programs increasingly look for evidence that research reaches communities, informs policy, and produces real-world outcomes. For students choosing where to study, universities that perform strongly in these areas offer access to supervisors and research cultures that value translation alongside discovery.
First Nations Research: Dr Jessica Buck and Culturally Led Cancer Science
Dr Buck, who works across the University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute Australia, was honoured for advancing knowledge of childhood cancer affecting First Nations children while embedding cultural strength, community partnership and Indigenous research principles into her work.
First Nations children with cancer face poorer survival rates than non-Indigenous children, yet the reasons remain poorly understood. “Beyond the basic statistics of how many First Nations kids get cancer, and how many survive, we really don’t know much at all,” Dr Buck said.
Closing the Gap Through Community-Partnership Research
Dr Buck leads a world-first research program at the WA Comprehensive Kids Cancer Centre, a partnership between Perth Children’s Hospital, The Kids Research Institute Australia and UWA. The program aims to Close the Gap in outcomes for First Nations children with cancer by combining cancer biology with an understanding of health through a First Nations lens.
Her approach lays the foundation for improved survival, better quality of life and culturally safe care. Importantly, she is also developing guidelines for how samples from First Nations peoples can be used in medical research in a culturally safe way — addressing long-standing concerns about consent, governance and the historical misuse of Indigenous biological material.
The significance of this work extends well beyond oncology. It provides a working model for how First Nations research can be designed and delivered: questions are shaped with communities, cultural knowledge is treated as a strength, and outcomes are measured in terms that matter to families. Students interested in Indigenous health research will find in Dr Buck’s program a template for ethical, community-led science.
Biomedical Engineering With Real-World Impact: Dr Matt Oldakowski
The inaugural Young Tall Poppy Industry Award went to Dr Oldakowski, a biomedical engineer and senior lecturer in UWA’s School of Engineering, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. He was recognised for outstanding contributions to industry-engaged science and excellence in research translation, innovation and real-world impact — recognition grounded in two medical technologies he has invented and commercialised through WA start-ups Earflo and REX Ortho.
Dr Oldakowski’s method starts with clinical problems that existing treatments handle poorly. “Although these problems are very different, my approach is the same – understand the problem from the perspective of patients and clinicians, then use engineering and science to develop a better solution,” he said.
Earflo: Helping Children Avoid Ear Surgery
Glue ear — fluid trapped behind the eardrum — is one of the most common reasons children experience hearing loss and require surgery. Earflo tackles the problem with a ‘sippy-cup’ style device that gently delivers air through the nose while a child swallows, helping the ears to clear naturally at home. The goal is straightforward: restore hearing and, where possible, avoid surgery altogether.
Rethinking the Surgical Screw for Fragile Bones
Older patients with fragile bones face a different challenge. When fractures are repaired, screws can lose their grip in weak bone, leading to complications after surgery. Dr Oldakowski’s second invention is a surgical screw that expands after insertion, creating stronger fixation in bone. The technology is now being developed for applications including hip fractures and spinal surgery — areas where Australia’s ageing population makes better fixation an urgent clinical need.
For engineering students, his career demonstrates a practical route from research to impact: identify a problem clinicians complain about, validate the need with the people who face it daily, prototype, then build a start-up around the solution. His recognition in the first national Industry Award signals that universities and award bodies are watching this pathway closely. If you want to pursue a similar path, explore engineering and biomedical research programs that include industry placements or commercialisation support — and schedule a free consultation with a course adviser to learn more about which programs offer those opportunities.
Science Communication in Action: Dr Kit Prendergast, WA Young Tall Poppy of the Year
Awarded WA’s overall Young Tall Poppy of the Year on the same night, Dr Kit Prendergast — a native bee scientist, conservation ecologist and adjunct researcher with UWA’s School of Biological Sciences, also affiliated with Curtin University — shows that research excellence and public engagement reinforce each other. Known widely as The Bee Babette, she studies wild bees, including the biodiversity of native bees and pollination networks in urban areas, how to conserve them, and the impact of honeybees on native bees.
Her applied work includes using bee hotels as a recovery tool for native bees after bushfires. Her communication work is equally distinctive: she combines her skills as a circus performer with science engagement, teaching audiences about bees through her circus science comedy performance The Birds & the Bees.
Her win underlines a core criterion of the Tall Poppy program: researchers must not only excel in their fields but also share their science widely and meaningfully. Early-career researchers who invest in communication skills — whether through public talks, social media, or unconventional formats — build careers that stand out.
What UWA’s Award Haul Means for Australian Research
Beyond the two national winners, the University of Western Australia’s presence at the awards was extensive. Five other UWA researchers — Dr Fiona Panther, Dr Marcus Korb, Dr Amelia Harray, Dr Kai Chen and Dr Mehwish Nasim — were announced as 2026 WA Tall Poppies in the preceding month, and PhD candidate and clinical embryologist Tammy Lee was a national finalist for the Industry Award.
One institution producing the inaugural winners of both new national categories is rare. For the university, it validates investment in research training, mentoring and infrastructure across disciplines as varied as paediatric oncology, biomedical engineering, ecology, physics and data science. For prospective students, it signals an environment where early-career researchers are supported to lead national conversations — not merely contribute to them. If you are weighing up where to pursue honours or a PhD, schedule a free consultation to learn more about how leading research universities support scientists at the start of their careers.
Lessons for Aspiring Researchers and STEM Students in Australia
The achievements of this year’s Tall Poppies offer practical guidance for anyone planning a research career:
- Anchor your science in a real problem. Both Dr Buck and Dr Oldakowski begin with problems defined by communities and clinicians, not by what is convenient to study. Research that answers questions people actually ask is easier to fund, publish and translate.
- Build cultural and community competence. Dr Buck’s award shows that First Nations research leadership is now recognised at the national level. Learning Indigenous research protocols and partnership methods is a professional asset across health, environmental and social sciences.
- Learn to communicate. Every Tall Poppy is chosen partly for the ability to inspire others. Practise explaining your work to non-specialists early and often.
- Think about translation from the start. Dr Oldakowski’s start-ups prove that biomedical engineering ideas can move from the workshop to patients. Understanding intellectual property, regulatory pathways and start-up fundamentals multiplies the value of technical skills.
- Choose institutions that back early-career researchers. The depth of UWA’s representation suggests a research culture that develops talent over many years, across many disciplines.
If these achievements have sparked ideas about your own future in research, explore our related articles for further reading on research careers, scholarships and university pathways in Australia.
Setting the Standard for the Next Generation
The inaugural Young Tall Poppy First Nations and Industry awards could hardly have found more fitting first recipients. Dr Jessica Buck’s community-led approach to childhood cancer research sets a benchmark for culturally safe science, while Dr Matt Oldakowski’s medical devices show how biomedical engineering can move from identifying a clinical frustration to restoring a child’s hearing or strengthening a fragile hip. Add Dr Kit Prendergast’s creative science communication, and the picture is clear: Australian research performs at its best when it is rigorous, engaged and generous with its knowledge.
For the University of Western Australia, the sweep of awards affirms its position among Australia’s leading research institutions. For the next generation of scientists and engineers watching from lecture theatres and laboratories, the message is equally direct — good science, done with and for communities, gets recognised.
Have questions about research pathways or thoughts on this year’s awards? Share your experiences in the comments below, or write to us — we would be glad to help you plan your next step.
