Professor Matthew Gilliham, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, is the 2026 South Australian Scientist of the Year!

 

Presented by Chief Scientist Craig Simmons and the Hon. Chris Picton at the SA Science Excellence & Innovation Awards, the prize recognises an outstanding achievement in STEMM research, innovation and education. 

As founder and leader of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space, and Plant SynBio Australia, he has helped establish South Australia as an international hub for space plant sciences and synthetic biology. These technologies are used on the International Space Station and are supporting solutions in agricultural sustainability, biomanufacturing, and green bioeconomy, here on Earth.

 

This cutting-edge research is communicated to the wider community through public events, with P4S programs alone delivering outreach to more than 150,000 Australian primary and secondary students, and training for more than 2,000 teachers.

Matthew is a passionate plant scientist and an outstanding leader in his field, collaborating with his colleagues and partners across the globe to bring about novel discoveries that push the boundaries of science. 

Congratulations, Matt - we are all celebrating along with you!

P4S Media Contact: Maddy Parks | m.parks@adelaide.edu.au