Adelaidean - News from the University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide Australia
September 2010 Issue
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Scientists of the year have impact

 Awards

The title of South Australian Scientist of the Year has been won by two University of Adelaide scientists.

The top award for 2010 - announced last month at the South Australian Science Excellence Awards - has been shared by two outstanding leaders in their fields: Professor Tanya Monro (Director, Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing) and affiliate Professor Angel Lopez (Co-Director, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology).

The Scientist of the Year category was dominated by University of Adelaide scientists - the four finalists included two University staff members and two affiliates. Staff and affiliates also won awards for Excellence in Research for Public Good and Community Science Educator of the Year.

The awards are a State Government initiative through the Department for Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

Science and Information Economy Minister the Hon. Jack Snelling said this year's judging panel was unable to separate the work of the joint winners, as both had made outstanding contributions in their fields.

"Both of this year's winners are leaders in their respective fields and are to be commended for their commitment to excellence in science," Mr Snelling said.

"We are privileged to have so many brilliant scientists in South Australia and the State Government is proud to once again be shining a spotlight on their work and accomplishments."

South Australian Scientist of the Year

Professor Tanya Monro
Professor Monro is an ARC Federation Fellow at the University of Adelaide. She is Director of the Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and Director of the Centre of Expertise in Photonics within the School of Chemistry & Physics at the University. Professor Monro came to the University of Adelaide in early 2005 as the inaugural Chair of Photonics. She has published more than 300 papers in journals and refereed conference proceedings. She leads a team that is developing new classes of optical fibres, which have application across a range of fields, such as defence, preventative health, environmental monitoring and food and wine.

Professor Angel Lopez
Professor Lopez is Co-Director of the Centre for Cancer Biology at SA Pathology. He is an affiliate professor with the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine and is also linked with the University's School of Molecular & Biomedical Science. Professor Lopez's research has focused on the blood hormones, or cytokines, that regulate blood cell production and function. His work has led to significant discoveries in understanding how cytokines and cytokine receptors work in health and in diseases such as leukaemia and asthma. This has led to new paradigms of cytokine receptor signalling and has underpinned the development of new therapeutics with the potential to change clinical practice.

Excellence in Research for Public Good

Dr Helen Marshall (Children, Youth and Women's Health Service, and affiliate lecturer in Public Health, University of Adelaide) won this award for her research into vaccines and immunisation, which aims to prevent deaths in young infants.

Community Science Educator of the Year

Professor Barry Brook (Environment Institute, University of Adelaide) won this award for his work in communicating the effects and practical steps needed to address climate change.

University of Adelaide staff were also nominated in the categories of Excellence in Research Commercialisation, Excellence in Research Collaboration and Tertiary Science Educator of the Year.

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Above: Scientists of the Year for 2010 Professor Tanya Monro and Professor Angel Lopez
Photo by Naomi Jellicoe, courtesy of <i>The Advertiser</i>

Above: Scientists of the Year for 2010 Professor Tanya Monro and Professor Angel Lopez
Photo by Naomi Jellicoe, courtesy of The Advertiser

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