The Ruby Payne-Scott Medal and Lecture for women in science is a distinguished career award that acknowledges outstanding Australian women researchers in the biological sciences or physical science. It is conferred by the Australian Academy of Science and is awarded to researchers who are usually resident in, and conduct their research predominantly in Australia.[1]
has made groundbreaking contributions to group theory and combinatorics. Her work centers on the mathematics of symmetry, particularly in the context of finite simple groups. Actively involved in gender diverse education in the mathematics fields.
has made significant contributions to our understanding of plant development, vernalization-induced flowering, and increasing the yield of hybrid varieties. Her analysis of the basis of hybrid vigor has been exceptional in Arabidopsis and also in rice. She has worked to overcome the first-generation limitations for hybrids and so ensure continuous high food grain production.