Australian Academy of Science awards for scientific excellence

The 2009 winners of distinguished awards for scientific excellence from peak science body the Australian Academy of Science will be presented today at the Shine Dome and at a dinner at Parliament House on 7 May. Awards are presented to career researchers for life-long achievements as well as early-career researchers under the age of 40. Awardees will also give presentations on their cutting-edge research. The award presentations and talks are part of the Academy’s peak annual event Science at the Shine Dome.

Career research awardees are:

• Professor (Edward) Norman Dancer FAA*, University of Sydney — the Hannan Medal for research in pure mathematics
• Professor Victor Flambaum FAA, University of New South Wales — the Thomas Ranken Lyle Medal for research in mathematics or physics
• Emeritus Professor Leonard Lindoy FAA, University of Sydney — the David Craig Medal for research in chemistry
• Professor Malcolm McCulloch FAA, Australian National University — the Jaeger Medal for research in Earth sciences
• Professor Bruce McKellar FAA, University of Melbourne — The Matthew Flinders Medal

Early-career research awardees are:

• Dr Melanie Bahlo, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research — the Moran Medal for research in statistics
• Dr Marnie Blewitt, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research — the Ruth Stephens Gani Medal for research in human genetics
• Associate Professor Sean Connolly, James Cook University — the 2009 Fenner Medal for research in biology (excluding the biomedical sciences)
• Dr Michael McCarthy, University of Melbourne — the 2008 Fenner Medal for research in biology (excluding biomedical sciences)
• Dr Daniela Rubatto, Australian National University — the Dorothy Hill Award for female researchers in Earth sciences
• Dr Carola Vinuesa, Australian National University — the Gottschalk Medal for research in the medical sciences
• Dr Stuart Wyithe, University of Melbourne — the Pawsey Medal for research in physics
  Unable to attend:
• Dr Stephen Blanksby, University of Wollongong — the Le Fèvre Memorial Prize for basic research in chemistry
• Associate Professor Jeffrey Walker, University of Melbourne — the inaugural Anton Hales Medal for research in Earth sciences

* Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science