A statistician who uses maths to help treat cancer by analysing data from cancerous cells has won this year's Prime Minister's Prize for Science to be awarded tonight.

Professor Terry Speed specialises in bioinformatics and reads huge amounts of data generated by biologists studying the human body.

He says his job is like finding 'needles in haystacks' to help identify the best ways of treating cancerous cells.

"You can stop unnecessary surgery, you could stop unnecessary chemotherapy by analysing the data on the tumours," he said.

"So it's not exactly curing cancer but it's in some sense helping treat it, helping diagnose it, helping predict what's going to happen and of course maybe one day we will be able to go some way toward a cure."

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He agrees it is a good day for mathematics, which he says suffers from being unfairly stereotyped as 'boring'.

"Maths is not a boring subject, maths is an exciting subject," he said.

The prize includes a $300,000 tax-free payment to the winner.

Professor Speed says he will split his winnings with his wife and give his share away to a 'suitable scientific charity'.

"Institutions to which I am indebted, to do more research, of course," he said.

Scientists upset by lack of dedicated minister

Tony Abbott will award Professor Speed and four other science award winners at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra tonight.

The Prime Minister's decision to abolish a minister for science angered the research community when Mr Abbott's first Cabinet was unveiled in September.

Professor Speed says initially scientists were 'disappointed' but he says he is not planning to raise the subject.

"it may come up naturally," he said.

"We'll learn more about it as time goes on, when we see who handles science, how they handle science and whether we are seriously disadvantaged by not having a science minister."

"In terms of symbolism it's not the most encouraging sign but it's not the end of the world."

Associate Professor Andrea Morella, who is being recognised for his efforts in building a silicone quantum computer, says Mr Abbott's decision to leave out a dedicated science minister from his Cabinet was a 'somewhat surprising choice' for a country like Australia, which he says has an international reputation for its science performance.

"Australia is the quantum capital of the world," he said.

"There are many areas of scientific research in Australia that are beyond world class. It does seem odd that the Government doesn't think of capitalising on this but we'll see how that goes."

Richard Johnson, who is being awarded for his work in creating interactive science labs for students, says he is confident the position will eventually be restored.

"It'll reoccur again, it happens all the time in science," he said.

"We've just lost the Premier's award [in Western Australia] for primary school teachers, it'll come again and science is not going to go away."