UNSW has a record-breaking 11 finalists in the running for Australia's premier science awards, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.

Outstanding researchers in the fields of computer science, ethics, water management and animal protection are among the 11 individuals and teams from UNSW who are finalists across 10 categories in Australia's "Oscars of Science".

The record number of nominations eclipses the benchmark of 10 finalists set, again by UNSW, in 2008.

UNSW's 2011 Eureka Prize finalists are:

- Associate Professor Tracey Rogers, from the School of Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences, who is nominated for the People's Choice Award for her ground-breaking work on how environmental change is affecting marine predators in the Antarctic. Associate Professor Rogers is also nominated for the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection.

- Associate Professor Angela Moles, ARC QEII Fellow in the School of Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences, who is in contention for the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Young Researcher for her work in plant ecology;

- Dr Andrea Morello and Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, from the School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. The pair has been nominated for the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research for their breakthrough work in quantum computing;

- Scientia Professor Justin Gooding, Professor Michael Gal, Associate Professor Katharina Gaus, Dr Till Böcking, Dr Kris Kilian, and Dr Peter Reece, all nominated for the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Research by an Interdisciplinary Team;

- Professor Brien Holden, Founder and CEO of the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Professor in the School of Optometry & Vision Science. Professor Holden, is nominated for the prestigious Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science sponsored by the CSIRO;

- The team headed by Professor Gerwin Klein at National ICT Australia (NICTA), which is in contention for the Eureka Prize for Innovation in Computer Science for their work developing the high-reliability computer operating system seL4 microkernel;

- The UNSW Connected Waters Initiative Team, nominated for the Professor Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation which recognises outstanding contribution to water resource management;

- Elast-Eon Biomedical Polyurethanes, a joint nomination between CSIRO and UNSW, is finalist for the Eureka Prize for Commercialisation of Innovation sponsored by Rio Tinto;

- Dr Joanne Faulkner from the School of History and Philosophy, who is a finalist for the Eureka Prize for Research in Ethics;

- Dr Eric Han, from the Faculty of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Australia, who is nominated, separately from Associate Professor Rogers, for the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection.

The winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner on September 6.

Media contacts:Peter Trute, Faculty of Engineering Media Officer | 02 9385 1933 | p.trute@unsw.edu.auBob Beale, Faculty of Science Media Officer | 0411 705 435 | bbeale@science.unsw.edu.au