News & Views item - October 2005

 

 

Australian Science and Science Teaching Awards for 2005 Announced. (October 5, 2005)

   Yesterday evening Melbourne University Professor, David Boger, received the 2005 Prime Minster’s Prize for Science of a gold medal and a cheque for $300,000 at a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra honouring his achievements in the area of non-Newtonian fluid mechanics.

 

The Australian Academy of Science issued the following statement in recognition of Professor Boger's contributions:

Professor David Boger

Non-Newtonian fluids display unusual properties because they behave both as liquids and solids: oils, sauce, ink, paint, toothpaste and mineral slurries are among many common products that have these properties. David Boger's research has led to an understanding of the way this quirky group of fluids flow, resulting in improved industrial applications, the solving of environmental problems and huge economic savings.

David Boger discovered 'perfect' non-Newtonian fluids, which are elastic and have constant viscosity and are now known as Boger fluids. It was through the study of Boger fluids that he was able to develop the tools to predict how non-Newtonian fluids behave. Boger is famed for the application of his predictive tools to the problem of 'red mud' disposal. 'Red mud' is the toxic waste from mineral bauxite processing for the production of aluminium. Improved 'red mud' disposal methods are saving one aluminium producer alone around $10 million per year. Boger's research has resulted in many other improvements over a wide range of technologies, such as enhanced inks for industrial inkjet printers; insecticide chemicals that spread evenly on leaves; and the reduction of drag on oil flowing through pipelines.

 

In addition to the Prime Minister's Science Prize awards were presented to Perth biochemist Dr Harvey Millar as winner of the $50,000, 2005 Science Minister’s Prize as Life Scientist of the Year.

In announcing the award Brendan Nelson in his capacity as Minister for Science said

Dr Millar, a 34 year old biochemist at the University of Western Australia, receives a silver medal and a cheque for $50,000.

The research performed by Dr Millar on plant mitochondria - the powerhouses of all animal and plant cells that deliver energy to almost all life on earth - has potentially far-reaching implications for the breeding of plants.

Dr Millar hopes that his discoveries will lead to plants that have controlled flowering times, producing higher quality agricultural products that are able to handle stressful environmental factors such as salt and drought.

To advance his studies on the wider workings of plant cells, Dr Millar has developed a new facility for protein and proteomic analysis in Perth with around $4 million of support from the Australian Government through Australian Research Council. The facility will use one of the most powerful supercomputers in Australia.

Other prizes of $50,000 each were presented at last night's ceremonies to:

Associate Professor Cameron Kepert (University of Sydney) - the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year for his creation of new materials with unique properties. One of the discoveries by the 34-year old chemist is a material that shrinks as it is heated, potentially solving heat stress problems in the electronics industry. Another of his new materials can substantially improve how we purify drugs and store hydrogen for use as a fuel.

 

Mr Mark Merritt (Marmion Primary School, Perth) - the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools. His leadership in science teaching, both in the classroom and as a mentor for fellow teachers across Western Australia, is to be applauded and admired.

 

Mr Mike Roach (Hamilton Secondary College, Adelaide) - the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools. His innovation in science teaching through his development of the use of space science in the classroom, and his work on curriculum development, have added a refreshing dimension to the practical elements of secondary school science teaching.