Interacting light with matter - new tools for early cancer detection

A research team at the University of Adelaide, led by Professor Tanya Monro, is working to create a whole range of new high-tech tools that use light for measuring, including new devices for early detection of cancer and smart bungs that monitor wine quality.

Professor Monro is the winner of the Australian Academy of Science’s 2012 Pawsey Medal for outstanding research in physics. She has also been recently elected as a new Fellow of the academy, making her the first person to receive both honours at the same ‘Science at the Shine Dome’ event.

Professor Monro’s team has discovered new ways of generating, controlling and manipulating light and its interactions with molecules and developing advanced technology for structuring materials on the nanoscale.

“Light has the capacity to give us powerful new information about the world we live in, ranging from information about the health of structures such as aircraft or bridges, to the workings of a single cell,” said Professor Monro.

“Our research has led to the development of new forms of optical fibres for use in telecommunications, biology, health, food and wine, environmental monitoring and defence.”

Professor Monro presented her work in Canberra today as part of the academy’s annual Science at the Shine Dome event.