Swinburne’s Professor Matthew Bailes honoured with 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science
Swinburne’s Professor Matthew Bailes has been awarded the 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his pioneering work in astrophysics, particularly his discovery of fast radio bursts (FRBs).
Professor Matthew Bailes has been recognised for groundbreaking contributions to astrophysics, including the discovery of fast radio bursts (FRBs) and leadership at the OzGrav Centre of Excellence based at Swinburne. Photo credit: Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
Professor Bailes was presented the award by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a ceremony in Parliament House.
Professor Matthew Bailes, a Distinguished Professor of Astrophysics at Swinburne University of Technology and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) based at Swinburne, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.
This significant accolade celebrates Professor Bailes’ pioneering work in the field of astrophysics, particularly his role in discovering fast radio bursts (FRBs)—a breakthrough that has deepened our understanding of the cosmos.
The Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, presented by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a ceremony in Parliament House on 8 October 2024, is Australia’s most prestigious scientific award. It recognises outstanding achievements in scientific research that benefit both the nation and the world.
Unlocking mysteries of the cosmos through fast radio bursts (FRBs)
In 2007, Professor Bailes and his collaborators discovered the first fast radio burst (FRB), a brief yet immensely powerful burst of radio waves lasting less than a millisecond. This discovery represented a monumental shift in our understanding of the universe. FRBs are one of the great cosmic mysteries—enigmatic bursts of energy that can emit the same amount of power the Sun generates in a month.
"One of the things I’ve loved about being a scientist is being part of Australia’s astronomical community," said Professor Bailes. "We are an amazingly cohesive group, with so many of us pushing against the frontiers of knowledge."
Professor Bailes and his team collaborators discovered the vast majority of the first 25 FRBs using archival and survey data from CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope, known as Murriyang, located on Wiradjuri Country, and the Molonglo radio telescope in New South Wales. These discoveries have paved the way for new research techniques that are now used by scientists globally to study some of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
"OzGrav is making ripples internationally," said Professor Bailes. "People have visited Swinburne from overseas and asked, ‘How did you create this Centre of Excellence, and how do we do the same?’ Our team is doing something right, and that’s reflected in both our discoveries and our international recognition."
Photo credit: Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
Leading OzGrav: Australia’s Centre of Excellence at Swinburne
As the Director of OzGrav, Professor Bailes leads a world-class team of researchers exploring FRBs, pulsars and gravitational waves. His work advances theories of gravity and provides crucial insights into the nature of the universe. In addition to his research, Professor Bailes is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
"I get a lot of joy out of nurturing the next generation of scientists," said Professor Bailes. "I enjoy working with smart and passionate people. I love giving talks at schools and bringing students into the lab to see how scientists work."
His commitment to education has left a lasting impact, with numerous young scientists benefiting from his guidance. Swinburne Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pascale Quester praised Professor Bailes’ leadership.
“Professor Bailes has spent much of his career here at Swinburne, joining us in 1998 to establish the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing (CAS) research group. His work has inspired a generation of scientists and we are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of the Swinburne community. His leadership in high-performance supercomputing and data-driven discovery is a worthy demonstration of people and technology working together to build a better world.”
International recognition and global impact
Professor Bailes’ work has earned him global acclaim. In 2023, he became one of only two Australians to receive the prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy for his role in the discovery of FRBs. This accolade is often compared to a Nobel Prize and highlights the immense significance of his contributions to astrophysics.
"Fast radio bursts are among the least understood phenomena in astronomy, but their use as cosmological probes is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in the field since the discovery of dark energy," said Professor Virginia Kilborn, Chief Scientist at Swinburne. "Professor Bailes’ work has created a vital new area of astrophysics that is unlocking the Universe’s mysteries in ways we could not have previously predicted, making Australia a leader in this revolutionary field."
The impact of Professor Bailes’ research extends far beyond the academic world. In 2021, he founded a spin-off company, Fourier Space, with his staff and students. The company commercialises technology developed to study neutron stars and now designs communications and signal processing solutions for radio satellite receivers. Fourier Space is also involved in constructing the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)—the world’s largest radio telescope, with sites in Western Australia and South Africa.
Professor Bailes is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Photo credit: Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
The future of Australian science
Professor Bailes’ legacy is one of scientific curiosity, global leadership and a commitment to fostering the next generation of researchers. The Prime Minister’s Prize for Science honours his past achievements but also recognises the potential his work holds for the future.
"The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are very important because they signal that Australia is celebrating, investing in and respecting science," Professor Bailes said. "It’s an amazing honour to receive this prize. If you told me as a child that one day I would receive a prize from the Prime Minister, I don’t think I would’ve believed you."
As Professor Bailes and his team continue to push the boundaries of what we know about the universe, his work at Swinburne and OzGrav will undoubtedly inspire future generations of Australian scientists to explore the unknown and contribute to the global body of scientific knowledge.