Research shows that people remember single events differently than they remember repeated or ongoing events, such as incidents of domestic and family violence. Helen Paterson, an associate professor in forensic psychology at the University of Sydney, has found that people who experience repeated events tend to recall more general details—what typically happens and what remains the same across incidents—rather than specific details of each event. She noted that these witnesses sometimes mix up details from different episodes, which can lead to confusion. Paterson's findings are particularly important for victims of ongoing abuse, as they highlight how their testimony might be perceived in legal settings. In court, defense teams often challenge victim-survivors by pointing out inconsistencies in their accounts, suggesting unreliable memory. However, Paterson emphasized that the general details reported by repeated-event witnesses are often highly accurate, even if the specific time or instance of an event is mixed up. Her research also found that people tend to view repeated-event witnesses as less honest, less cognitively competent, and less credible than those who experienced a single event—a concern she hopes to address through her work. In recognition of her impactful research, Paterson was awarded a prestigious Eureka Prize, part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, which have been honoring Australian scientists and science communicators since 1990. The award was presented at an event in Sydney town hall, where Paterson was honored for her excellence in forensic science. She hopes the award will help amplify the voices and credibility of victim-survivors in legal and social contexts. Other notable winners of this year’s Eureka Prizes include Assoc Prof Jane Tiller from Monash University, who was recognized for her role in pushing through legislation that bans life insurers from using genetic test results to discriminate against individuals. The law will come into effect on 8 October and is expected to support more effective use of genomics in preventing diseases like cancer and heart disease. Prof Georgina Long, who was named Australian of the Year in 2024 alongside the late Prof Richard Scolyer, won for her pioneering work on melanoma. Other winners included teams and individuals working on environmental forecasting, microbiome research, and sustainable recycling of materials from solar panels.