• Professors Harvey Millar and Christobel Saunders joint winners of Scientist of the Year
• Emeritus Professor John Pate inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame 

Western Australia's top researchers and science communicators have been recognised overnight at the Premier's Science Awards for 2017.

The awards, in their 16th year, are decided by a judging panel led by WA's Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken.

This year, two outstanding winners shared the $50,000 prize for Scientist of the Year:

• Professor Harvey Millar, Centre Director, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology (The University of Western Australia); and
• Professor Christobel Saunders, Professor of Surgical Oncology, Head, Division of Surgery (The University of Western Australia). 

Other winners were:

• Dr Asha Bowen - Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year ($10,000);
• David Gozzard - ExxonMobil Student Scientist of the Year ($10,000); and
• CoderDojo WA - Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year ($10,000). 

Emeritus Professor John Pate was inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame in recognition of his decades-long career in plant ecology and physiology, which has greatly informed the knowledge of flora in WA.

ExxonMobil, Chevron and Woodside have sponsored the awards since 2013.  Supporting the awards ceremony this year were WA's five universities.

For more information, visit http://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/premiersscienceawards