2011 awards for scientific excellence announced

The winners of the Australian Academy of Science 2011 awards for scientific excellence have been announced. Honorific awards are presented to career researchers for life-long achievements and outstanding early-career researchers under the age of 40. In addition, the academy gives awards for research support.

In announcing the medals and awards, Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory said, “Each year, it is the Academy’s privilege to recognise excellence in diverse fields of science. Several of the awards celebrate career-long contributions by some of Australia’s most distinguished researchers, others draw attention to remarkable discoveries made by younger investigators. The academy warmly congratulates each of these outstanding awardees.”

Most of the award winners will receive their medals at the academy's annual conference being held from 4 to 6 May 2011:

2011 Career research awards

• Professor Ian Dance, University of New South Wales - David Craig Medal for research in chemistry.
• Professor Colin Rogers, University of New South Wales - Hannan Medal for research in applied mathematics and computation mathematics.
• Professor Ian Jackson, Australian National University - Jaeger Medal for research into earth sciences.
• Professor James Stanislaus Williams, Australian National University - Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal for research in mathematics or physics.

The academy is also pleased to announce Professor Ruth Hall, from the University of Sydney, is the winner of the 2012 Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture for research in the biological sciences.

2011 Early-career research awards

• Dr Bryan Fry, University of Melbourne - Fenner Medal for research in biology (excluding the biomedical sciences).
• Dr Alicia Oshlack, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research - Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for research in human genetics.
• Dr Stuart Tangye, Garvan Institute of Medical Research - Gottschalk Medal for research in the medical sciences.
• Professor Craig Simmons, Flinders University - Anton Hales Medal for research in earth sciences.
• Dr Anthony Henderson, University of Sydney - inaugural Christopher Heyde Medal for research in pure mathematics.
• Dr Kirsten Benkendorff, Southern Cross University - Dorothy Hill Award for female researchers in the earth sciences including reef science, ocean drilling, marine science and taxonomy.
• Associate Professor Martina Stenzel, The University of New South Wales - Le Fèvre Memorial Prize for research in basic chemistry.
• Dr Scott Sisson and Dr Mark Tanaka, University of New South Wales - Moran Medal for research in statistics.
• Professor Bryan Gaensler, University of Sydney - Pawsey Medal for research in physics.

2011 Research support awards

Dr Daniel Ramp, University of New South Wales, is the winner of the inaugural WH Gladstones Population and Environment Fund award for a project entitled: Engagement of a growing Australian population with kangaroos - modelling for sustainable futures.