27 November 2025

Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for Innovation, Science, and the Digital Economy

Head of the Tasmanian Herbarium at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), Dr Gintaras Kantvilas, has been named the Premier’s Tasmanian STEM Researcher of the Year for 2025.
The award was part of the 2025 Tasmanian STEM Excellence Awards presented by Inspiring Australia Tasmania and supported by the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania.
Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Arts and Heritage, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the award recognised ongoing dedication to excellence in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths.
“Dr Kantvilas has had a long and distinguished career in Tasmania over four decades and is regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts in the study, identification and naming of Tasmanian and Southern Hemisphere lichens,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“His work has been recognised internationally and he has been honoured by colleagues with two genera of lichens, Gintarasia and Kantvilasia, as well as several species.
“Dr Kantvilas is seen as a pioneer in the field and has played a key role in building our state’s reputation as a leader in the field of lichen and fungi study.”
Employed at TMAG since 1988, Dr Kantvilas has been an invited researcher and conference presenter as far afield as the United Kingdom, the United States, Austria, Finland, Italy, Sweden and Japan, and has discovered and named more than 300 species of lichens new to science over his career.
Minister Ogilvie said the award was due recognition for a fantastic career.
“Gintaras has given so much to science and Tasmania over so many years and this award is well-earned,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“It is what the awards are about, recognising excellence and dedication in the STEM fields and encouraging more young people to get involved.
“He is a great inspiration of anyone considering a rewarding career in the sciences.”
For more information on the 2025 Tasmanian STEM Awards go to https://inspiringtas.org.au/2025/11/2025-stem-excellence-awards-winners/