Academy of Science awards Australia’s top scientists

The Australian Academy of Science will present its highest awards to eminent scientists on Thursday 3 May 2012 for contributions to their fields of research. Leading Australian researchers will be honoured for their outstanding work in areas as diverse as antibiotic resistance in bacteria, new drugs for asthma, heavyweight marsupial herbivores and new nanoscale tools for sensing.

The Academy’s flagship 2012 Macfarlane Burnet Medal and Lecture will feature leading geneticist Professor Ruth Hall from the University of Sydney, who is internationally known for her work on antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. She will discuss two mechanisms for moving antibiotic resistance genes during her lecture at 9.20 am.

Dr Manuel Ferreira from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research will receive the 2012 Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for his important work in human genetics. His talk will focus on genetic research which has led to new targets for asthma drugs.

Dr Karen Black from the University of New South Wales will be presented the 2012 Dorothy Hill Award, for research in earth sciences. She has been studying ancient giant marsupial herbivores that appeared to move in herds in treetops.

Professor Tanya Monro from the University of Adelaide will receive the 2012 Pawsey Medal and speak about interacting light with glass at the nanoscale to create new tools for sensing.

Professor Monro has also been recently elected as a new Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, making her one of the rare people to have received an award and been elected to the fellowship in the same year.

Further information on award winners and the full program can be viewed at http://science.org.au/events/sats/sats2012/awards.html.