Malcolm Turnbull promises to put science at the heart of Australia's agenda

Turnbull earned a standing ovation at a celebratory dinner in Canberra on Wednesday when he handed out the prime minister's prizes for science

At an awards ceremony for the nation's leading scientists, Malcolm Turnbull has promised to build an Australia that "invests in science and puts it right at the centre of our national agenda".

The prime minister said he wanted to build an ecosystem in schools and universities that cherishes science - and provoked a standing ovation. It was a far warmer response from the assembled scientists than the "desultory applause" that Tony Abbott complained of receiving at the same event last year.