Winners of the PM's prizes for science

Research into changing sea levels, flexible crystals and a joystick controlled guidewire for surgery have earned scientists top prizes from the prime minister.

The prize winners with minister Karen Andrews (yellow) and scientist Allan Finkel (fifth from left). (AAP)

THE PRIME MINISTER'S PRIZES FOR SCIENCE

WINNER OF THE TOP GONG

With a career spanning six decades, emeritus ANU professor Kurt Lambeck has helped uncover how changing sea levels and shifting continents alter the planet. His early surveying work in the 1960s helped build today's GPS-based systems and smartphone navigation tools. He's now studying historic changes in sea levels alongside archaeologists in Europe.

FOR INNOVATION

The Finisar team - Dr Simon Poole, Andrew Bartos, Dr Glenn Baxter and Dr Steven Frisken - developed technology to make internet connections faster and more efficient. Half of the world's internet traffic now goes through their devices, which use light-bending switches. Each switch can handle one million high-definition videos being streamed simultaneously.

FRANK FENNER PRIZE FOR LIFE SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

Dr Lee Berger discovered that a fungus growing on the skin of sick frogs had caused mass extinctions of frog species globally. Her work ensures quarantine protocols recognise the threat of disease to biodiversity.

MALCOLM MCINTOSH PRIZE FOR PHYSICAL SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

Associate professor Jack Clegg has designed flexible crystals which can be tied in knots, with the aim of solving smashed smartphone screens, which currently use brittle crystal semiconductors.

PRIZE FOR NEW INNOVATORS

For his undergraduate engineering project and PhD, Dr Geoff Rogers created a robotic guidewire - two human hairs in diameter - for cardiologists to use during heart surgery. It's controlled by a joystick, allowing it to pass through the twists and turns of human arteries.

FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Brisbane-based teacher Brett Crawford mentored his colleagues to help them overcome anxieties about teaching science. Now all the schools' teachers - more than 50 - actively teach science in their classes and the school's results in the field are well above the national average.

FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Dr Scott Sleap created the Cessnock Academy of STEM Excellence, partnering local industry with Cessnock High School and primary schools to connect workers with students. For instance, Boeing engineers are mentoring a team of Aboriginal girls to make and race model F1 cars.