Educating Australians about the revolutionary work of its scientists will be critical to keeping our best and brightest on shore, the country's top scientists say.

The winner of the most prestigious science prize in Australia, who transformed global approaches to COVID-19, says the true legacy of awards is making people aware of the work scientists do to improve our lives.

"The more informed society is, the more willing they are to support actions which protect them," Lidia Morawska, winner of the Prime Minister's Prize for Science, told AAP.

Professor Morawska knows plenty about protecting people, having won the award for her research into how ultrafine particles affect air quality, including forging the global path into dealing with the pandemic.

Not many people would have the confid

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