South Australia applauds its best researchers

ARI Managing Director Robert Chalmers.
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Thursday, 20 November 2008

The University of Adelaide will honour more than 20 of its finest researchers next week, awarding $30,000 prize money to the most successful partnerships between academics and industry.

Individuals representing a diverse range of fields, including health, sciences, engineering, computing, mathematics, humanities and architecture, will be recognised at the second annual Adelaide Research & Innovation !mpact Awards on Thursday 27 November.

The finalists are all leaders in their fields and outstanding ambassadors for commercial research, according to ARI Managing Director Robert Chalmers.

"These awards celebrate South Australia's research and development impacts on society and recognise our academic entrepreneurs as well as encouraging more collaboration between the State's industry, education and research sectors," Mr Chalmers says.

Well-known Australian economist Dr Nicholas Gruen will give the key address at the Adelaide Festival Centre, addressing the topic Recollections of a Dismal Scientist.

Dr Gruen has published internationally on a range of issues, from tariff reform to competition policy, intellectual property and macro-economic policy. He is a regular media commentator and columnist for the Australian Financial Review as well as a sought-after Federal Government adviser.

Prize money of $10,000 each will awarded to three people/teams drawn from the 2008 finalists. They are:

Individual Nominations

• Associate Professor Bruce Ainsworth, Australian School of Petroleum
  
• Dr Mark Carroll, Elder Conservatorium of Music
  
• Associate Professor Allison Cowin, Women's & Children's Health Research Institute
  
• Dr Elizabeth Grant, Wilto Yerlo, Centre for Australian Indigenous Research
  
• Professor Graeme Hugo, Geographical & Environmental Studies
  
• Dr Simon Koblar, Stroke Research Program, School of Molecular & Biomedical Science
  
• Dr Tien Fu-Lu, Medical Devices, School of Mechanical Engineering
  
• Dr Leah Wilson, Aged Care, School of Psychology
  
• Associate Professor Terry Williamson, Sustainable Construction, Architecture
  
• Professor Gary Wittert, Obesity & Men's Health, School of Medicine

Team Nominations

• Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA) - Professors John Moss and Janet Hiller
  
• Australian Institute for Social Research - Associate Professor John Spoehr and Dr Kate Barnett
  
• Data Management & Analysis Centre (DMAC) - Professor Philip Ryan
  
• Energy Optimism - Dr Michael Gibbard and Mr David Vowles ( Electrical & Electronic Engineering)
  
• LocuSAR Team - Deane Fergie (Native Title and Cultural Heritage)
  
• Stress Corrosion in Gas Pipelines - Valerie Linton and Erwin Gamboa (Mechanical Engineering)
  
• Pain and Anaesthesia Research Clinic (PARC) - Professor Guy Ludbrook, Professor Paul Rolan, Melanie
  Gentgall (Clinical Pharmacology Research)
  
• Microbiology and Immunology - Professor James Paton and Dr Adrienne Paton
  
• TRC Mathematical Modelling - Professor Michael Rumsewicz

In addition to the Awards for Excellence, ARI will also present accolades to significant contributors in the University community, including its partners.

The awards are promoted to more than 20,000 students, teachers and researchers in South Australia's R&D network, as well as the wider business community.

WHAT: 2008 Adelaide Research & Innovation !mpact Awards, with special guest speaker Dr Nicholas Gruen
WHERE: Adelaide Festival Centre, Banquet Room
WHEN: Thursday 27 November 2008, 7pm
COST: $60 per ticket or $480 for a table of eight

Full details and ticket sales at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/aripl/impactawards/

NOTE TO MEDIA: Dr Nicholas Gruen is available for interview. He can be contacted on (03) 9646 0553, mobile 0403 077 732 or ngruen@lateraleconomics.com.au

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