Simon Linke is one of three entrants vying for the national award which acknowledges young Australian scientists for their innovation in water conservation and management.
He has developed an interactive software package to identify critical freshwater systems.
"My research is about getting optimal conservation outcomes in rivers," he said.
"So you conserve as much as possible in the river ecosystem while minimising the impact on stakeholders such as irrigators or farmers."
The winner will be announced at the tenth International River Symposium and Environmental Flows Conference in Brisbane in September.