Australian Academy of Science announces excellence awards

The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) has announced its 2011 awards for scientific excellence, including four awards specifically for life scientists.

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.

Hall performs research on the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. She is best known for the discovery and characterisation of integrons and gene cassettes, which are now recognized as a major source of the antibiotic resistance genes in gram negative bacteria with a current count of well over 100 cassette-associated resistance genes.

Dr Bryan Fry, from the University of Melbourne, received the Fenner Medal for research in biology (excluding the biomedical sciences).

Fry is an expert in venom, applying ecological, evolutionary and functional genomics approaches to understand the evolution of venom systems.

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's Dr Alicia Oshlack was given the nod for the Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for research in human genetics.

Oshlack is developing methodology for next generations sequencing, in particular RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, as well as the design, analysis and evaluation of microarray experiments, the development of analysis methodology and conducting research into the evolution of gene expression.

Dr Stuart Tangye, at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, received the Gottschalk Medal for research in the medical sciences.

Tangye is the Group Leader of the Immunology and Inflammation Program at the Garvan, looking at understanding B cells and the regulation of antibody responses, particularly looking at immune memory and how the immune system responds to infection and vaccination.

"Each year, it is the Academy’s privilege to recognise excellence in diverse fields of science," said Academy President, Professor Suzanne Cory.

"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.

Other award recipients include:

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.

2011 Early-career research awards

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.

The following researchers will receive research support under the Margaret Middleton Fund for endangered Australian native vertebrate animals:

Ms Greta Frankham, University of Melbourne – The phylogeography and population genetics of the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus).

Dr Michale Letni, University of Western Sydney – How do dingoes provide conservation benefits for the dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus)?

Dr Adam Polkinghome, Queensland University of Technology – Towards an effective conjugate vaccine to combat debilitating chlamydial disease in the koala.

Ms Qamar Schuyler, University of Queensland – Sea turtles threatened by marine debris – do they have a choice in the matter?

Dr Arian Wallach and Mr Adam O’Neill, C & A Environmental Services in Queensland – Restoring ecosystem function from the top.

Professor Dame Julia Higgins, Imperial College in London has also been awarded the Selby Travelling Fellowship.

Australian Life Scientist would like to congratulate all of the AAS award winners.