ANSTO congratulates staff past and present who were last night awarded prestigious NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.
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The awards, run by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science, are designed to celebrate Australian scientific excellence and encourage young people to get involved with science.
Amongst the select few award recipients at the Powerhouse Museum gala event last night, were no less than two people with ANSTO links:
- Dr Vanessa Peterson from ANSTO’s Bragg Institute, researches how materials work at the atomic scale, using neutron scattering to reveal the motions and arrangements of atoms that otherwise cannot be seen. Her work on improving cement has led her to carbon-free energy materials, and she currently leads a group researching materials in “energy technologies” such as batteries that power laptop computers and phones.
- Dr Neeraj Sharma recently left ANSTO to work at the University of NSW. His research aims to create new materials that can increase the amount of energy that can be extracted from resources, whether renewable like solar, or non-renewable like methane. He uses special techniques to see how atoms are distributed in energy-related devices, and how these change when the device is used, and by looking at each component individually, he can build up a real-life device and look at how it functions.
“Both Vanessa and Neeraj are proven strong scientific minds and excellent advocates for science,” said ANSTO’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adi Paterson.
“Their recognition as tall poppies is absolutely deserved, and I congratulate them on behalf of our entire organisation.
“There has been a succession of public surveys that show declining levels of scientific participation and literacy amongst young people, and we have to work to turn that around.
“There is an inexorable link between a strong Australian economy and strong Australian science sector, and people like Vanessa and Neeraj are exactly who we need.”
The Australian Institute of Policy & Science (AIPS) was established in 1932, and works to increase public engagement and promotion of science, and inform policy.
ANSTO is one of Australia’s largest public research organisations. It is home of our nuclear expertise including our only research reactor, OPAL, located at our Lucas Heights Campus.