The Prime Minister's Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems represents a "paradigm shift", Australia's first Indigenous appointment to the National Science and Technology Council says.
For the first time, in 2025 the PM's Prizes for Science includes a category specific to Indigenous knowledge stemming from tens of thousands of years of tradition, perspectives and teaching.
It was something once considered on the periphery of science from the Western perspective, Professor Reuben Bolt said.
Professor Bolt is Deputy Vice-Chancellor First Nations Leadership at Charles Darwin University, and in 2024 was appointed to the NSTC; the council responsible for advising the Prime Minister and Cabinet on matters concerning science and technology.
Last year, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources included elevation, respect, and investment in Indigenous knowledge systems and scientists as amongst the 'Five Imperatives' in the National Science Statement.
That's the "infrastructure" for a changing perception of Indigenous knowledge within Western science, Professor Bolt said, "now we have the recognition…through the Prime Minister's Prize".
Nominations for that recognition - open to First Nations individuals, teams and groups, and the $250,000 coming with it, close on Thursday, March 20.
The recipient is set to be the project best adjudged for the benefits to Australian Indigenous peoples, communities and place, contributions to solving a knowledge system practice and preservation challenge, community and First Nations engagement and elevating Indigenous knowledge systems.
"This is a paradigm shift" into a new level of recognition, Professor Bolt told National Indigenous Times.
"This is how Western science is changing its perspective of Indigenous knowledge" from something previously disregarded as science in some disciplines, while remaining distinct.
The professor said that from land and fire management, to on-Country birthing, Indigenous knowledge has occupied a place in contemporary research and projects with benefits to show.
"It's a knowledge system that's been developed over time, over many 1000s of years of extended experience," he said.
Its inclusion in the Prime Minister's Prizes in-part sets the parameters going ahead, Professor Bolt added, for the intersection of Indigenous knowledge systems and Western Science going forward.
"And that's where the collaboration piece can be really important," he said.
In October, federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said that collaboration, drawing on 65,000 years of knowledge, is seen as something with "huge value".
"First Nations knowledge is already helping us better manage bushfires, find new medicines and new sources of nutrition," Minister Husic said.
"The new prize will encourage more First Nations scientists into the fold to continue the tradition."
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy added at the time of the Prize's inclusion announcement: "This new prize will place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems alongside Western sciences, acknowledging their value in addressing the challenges facing our nation and humanity."
"This recognition will inform and connect generations of Australians by embedding respect and recognition for Indigenous cultures and how they contribute to the nation," Senator McCarthy said.
Professor Bolt told National Indigenous Times "it's a game changer".
"In terms of the western perspective of indigenous knowledge, I think there's a recognition piece there that's going to be critically important," he said.
