In 2006, the Voiceless Eureka Prize was opened to applicants for the second year, receiving applications of a very high calibre.  The Voiceless prize which forms part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, was sponsored by the Sherman Foundation, and awarded to an Australian scientist for work that has reduced, or has the potential to reduce, the use of animals or animal products in laboratory-based research, education and testing.

This year the prize was shared by Amanda Hayes, Shahnaz Bakand and Chris Winder from the Chemical Safety and Applied Toxicology Laboratories at the University of NSW for developing an in vitro exposure method to assess the toxicity of air contaminants.


Voiceless Eureka prize winners (from left) Chris Winder, Amanda Hayes and
Shahnaz Bakand with Katrina Sharman of Voiceless.  Photograph kindly
supplied by the Australian Museum.

Traditionally animals have been used as test models – forced to breathe contaminated air which is an unethical, expensive and unreliable procedure.

Commenting on the prize winning project, Brian Sherman AM, co-founder of Voiceless said, “this pioneering work at the University of New South Wales is a step toward saving millions of animals who are subjected to scientific research in Australia every year. These animals are sentient beings that are and remain, voiceless”.

For more information on the Voiceless Eureka Prize please go to the Eureka website.