UNSW Scoops the Pool of NSW Science and Engineering Awards for 2011. (November 23, 2011)

The University of New South Wales Director of the Centre for Quantum Computation & Communication Technology, Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons has been awarded the $55,000 prize as New South Wales Scientist of the Year.

She is one of five UNSW 2011 Awardees for the NSW Science and Engineering Awards of 2011, the others from UNSW:

Professor Stuart Wenham,

Professor Michelle Haber,

Scientia Professor Rose Amal and

Associate Professor Thorsten Trupke.

Others receiving awards are:

Professor Richard Shine, The University of Sydney,

Professor Chengqi Zhang, University of Technology, Sydney,

Dr Matthew Todd, The University of Sydney,

Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith, University of Technology, Sydney,

Dr John Leys, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Environment and Heritage,

Ms Judith Bertolin, Western NSW Region Virtual Selective High School Provision and

Dr Lesley Wright, Gresford Public School.

Below are details of the awards:

NSW Scientist of the Year -- Category Winner for Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry. Physics and Astronomy

Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons, University of New South Wales

Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons is the Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, a Federation Fellow and a Professor of Physics at the University of New South Wales.

    In the past five years Professor Simmons has pioneered a radical technology for making electronic devices atom by atom in silicon. Her scientific vision has enabled the creation of the world's smallest precision transistor, the narrowest conducting wires in silicon and the first transistor where a single atom controls it operation.

    Professor Simmons and her team lead this field internationally. This work represents a major technological challenge and opens up the prospect of developing a silicon-based quantum computer – a powerful new form of computing that promises to transform industries dependent upon information processing.

    A video of Professor Simmons explaining her groups work is accessible at the end of this file*.

Climate Change and Environment

Professor Stuart Wenham FTSE, University of New South Wales

Professor Stuart Wenham is the Director of the Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales. Professor Wenham’s pioneering work is at the forefront of solar technology and has contributed to solar cell technology, development and commercialisation. Professor Wenham‘s work with Professor Martin Green on solar technology won them the 1999 Australia Prize.

Biomedical Sciences and Engineering

Professor Michelle Haber AM, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (University of New South Wales)

Professor Michelle Haber is the Executive Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. Professor Haber has made major contributions to Australia’s health and medical research efforts in the field of childhood cancer. Her research has demonstrated potential new treatment approaches for neuroblastoma. Professor Haber has also been nominated for an Australian of the Year Award 2011.

Plant and Animal Research

Professor Richard Shine AM FAA, University of Sydney

Professor Richard Shine is a Professor of Biology at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of reptiles and amphibians, in particular, the ways in which field-based ecological research can be used to develop innovative approaches to conservation challenges. He has published more than 700 papers in scientific journals, and is among the world’s most highly cited authors in his field. Professor Shine contributes regularly to media debates and was included in the Sydney Magazine’s list of Sydney’s 100 most influential people for 2008.

Engineering and Information and Communications Technology

Professor Chengqi Zhang, University of Technology, Sydney

Professor Chengqi Zhang is a Research Professor in Information Technology at The University of Technology, Sydney and is the Director of the UTS Priority Investment Research Centre for Quantum Computation and Intelligent Systems. Since 2006, he has lead a team that has used data mining as a predictive and risk identification tool to enable Centrelink to achieve its new approach to Service Delivery Reform.

Emerging Research (tie)

Professor Rose Amal

Professor Rose Amal is a UNSW Scientia Professor and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials. Professor Amal’s research over the last five years has focused on designing cutting-edge nanomaterials for environmental, renewable energy and health applications.

Dr Matthew Todd, University of Sydney

Dr Matthew Todd is a senior lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Sydney. Dr Todd led a project that discovered a new way to make medicine used worldwide for the treatment of Bilharzia, a terrible parasitic disease that afflicts millions of the world’s poorest people.

Invention (tie)

Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith, University of Technology, Sydney

Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith is a Professor in the School of Physics and Advanced Materials at the University of Technology, Sydney. Professor Smith has developed materials and systems for solar energy, energy efficient lighting, windows, cool roofs and cool urban precincts, including the design of the roof for ANZ stadium.

Associate Professor Thorsten Trupke, University of New South Wales

Associate Professor Thorsten Trupke is the Deputy Director of the ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales. Professor Trupke’s research includes solar cell and wafer inspection systems that help to improve the quality and competitiveness of the photovoltaic industry globally.

Innovation in Public Sector Sciences and Engineering

Dr John Leys, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Environment and Heritage

Dr John Leys manages research teams and attracts critical funding and research projects at the Office of Environment and Heritage. His key research area is DustWatch, a community research project monitoring the extent and severity of wind erosion across Australia.

Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (tie)

Ms Judith Bertolin, Western NSW Region Virtual Selective High School Provision

Ms Judith Bertolin leads a team of science teachers to deliver the XSEL Western NSW Region Virtual Selective High School. This groundbreaking mode of lesson delivery uses web conferencing software and an online learning management system to deliver quality lessons to students from Lithgow through to Broken Hill.

Dr Lesley Wright, Gresford Public School

Dr Wright is a former scientific researcher and teacher who now volunteers at Gresford Public School as part of the CSIRO’s Scientists in Schools program, a national initiative that creates partnerships between teachers and scientists or mathematicians. Dr Wright visits the school one day a week, arranging visiting speakers and planning sessions with teachers to design hands-on experiments which can complement the syllabus.