Australian of the Year Georgina Long among new Academy Fellows

The Australian Academy of Science has added 24 new Academy Fellows for 2024, including an expert in spider venoms, a leader in plant science, an authority on star formation and an oncologist who has changed the way melanoma is treated.

Academy President Professor Chennupati Jagadish said it is a privilege to welcome the latest Fellows, who have been elected for their outstanding contributions to science across the spectrum of research disciplines.

“Nominated by their peers, Fellows of the Academy are recognised as leaders in their fields, having all made exceptional contributions to science throughout their careers,” Jagadish said.

“The Academy brings the expertise of our Fellows together to build a nation that embraces scientific knowledge, and benefits from it every day.”

Newly elected Fellow Professor Glenn King, from The University of Queensland, has found spider venom to be an unlikely ally in his research career, demonstrating use of venom compounds as eco-friendly insecticides that are safe for humans and honeybees. Now, King is looking to use spider venom as a potential drug to treat ischaemic heart disease and stroke — the leading causes of death globally.

Also elected this year is Professor Roslyn Gleadow from Monash University, recognised as an international leader in plant science for her research on how plants respond to environmental changes. Professor Mark Krumholz, an astrophysicist from the Australian National University, has meanwhile been elected for his research on the way diffuse gas in our universe collects to form stars and galaxies.

Another significant new Fellow is 2024 Australian of the Year Professor Georgina Long (pictured), from The University of Sydney, whose clinical trials into complex skin cancers with a particular focus on melanoma resulted in Australian Government funding for 10 new melanoma drugs. Long said she looks forward to collaborating with colleagues and being a member of an Academy that makes a difference, not only locally in Australia but also internationally.

The Academy’s new Fellows will be formally admitted on 9 September 2024 and will present their science on 11 September at Science at the Shine Dome. For more information on the Academy Fellowship, visit https://www.science.org.au/fellowship (the 2024 Fellows should be at the top of the page).