On Friday 5th September, the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) proudly hosted the 2025 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards in New South Wales —an evening that brought together some of the state’s most inspiring early-career researchers, each making waves in their fields and transforming the way science connects with society.
From decoding the mysteries of exoplanets to revolutionising public health nutrition, the 2025 cohort of winners exemplifies the power of science to shape a better future.
NSW Young Tall Poppy of the Year: Dr Vanessa Pirotta
Leading the charge was Dr Vanessa Pirotta, named the NSW Young Tall Poppy of the Year. A wildlife scientist at Macquarie University, Dr Pirotta has captivated both the scientific community and the public with her groundbreaking work on marine mammal conservation. Using drones and long-term datasets, she tracks whale behaviour and works across agencies and communities—including Indigenous knowledge holders like the Gamay Rangers—to protect Australia’s marine life.
Her ability to bridge science and storytelling has made her a household name, and 2025 has been a banner year: she also took home a prestigious Eureka Prize, further cementing her status as one of Australia’s most dynamic science communicators.
Meet the 2025 NSW Tall Poppy Winners
The full list of winners includes researchers tackling some of the most urgent and fascinating challenges of our time:
- Dr Brooke Nickel (University of Sydney): Leading global conversations on overdiagnosis and improving healthcare communication.
- Dr Lou Birrell (University of Sydney): Developing digital tools to support youth mental health and prevent substance use.
- Dr Felix Rizzuto (UNSW Sydney): Engineering DNA nanomachines that could revolutionise medicine and micro-scale robotics.
- Dr Catharine Fleming (Western Sydney University): Shaping global nutrition policy to ensure every child’s right to a healthy diet.
- Dr Richard Savery (Macquarie University): Using robot musicians to explore human-machine interaction and ethical AI.
- Dr Benjamin Montet (UNSW Sydney): Discovering exoplanets and decoding the secrets of distant stars to guide the search for life.
- Dr Rosalyn Gloag (University of Sydney): Studying native bees to understand evolution and support sustainable pollination.
- Dr Rhett Loban (UTS): Designing culturally respectful digital games to enhance Indigenous education.
- Dr Deborah Burnett (UNSW Sydney): Pioneering vaccine design by decoding how B cells respond to complex infections.
Each winner brings a unique lens to science—whether through public health, space exploration, or digital innovation—and all share a commitment to making their work accessible and impactful.
Congratulations to all the 2025 NSW Young Tall Poppy winners!
