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ACADEMY FELLOWS RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS FEDERATION FELLOWSHIPS
30 July 2002

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates four of its Fellows who have been honoured in the second round of Federation Fellowships.  As part of the Government's five-year program, Backing Australia's Ability innovation action plan, the Fellowships are designed to attract and retain Australia's leading researchers in order to lead world-class research teams in areas that benefit Australia.

The President of the Academy of Science, Dr Jim Peacock, said that the prestigious Fellowships are important because they indicate that the Government, and the community, understand that research and innovation will underpin the nation's future well-being.

Professor Ronald Ekers, Director of  the Australia Telescope National Facility, for his project on a clearer view of the evolving universe.   Professor Ekers's research interests include extragalactic astronomy, especially cosmology, and galactic nuclei, radio astronomical techniques and image formation theory.  His work as Director of the ATNF has focused on the development of advanced radio astronomical techniques and image formation and visualisation procedures. Professor Ekers has also played a significant role in the international coordination of astronomical research activities and policies, becoming President-Elect of the International Astronomical Union in 2000.  (Phone 02 9372 4300)

Professor Terence Hughes, Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, for his project on science for sustainable management of coral reef biodiversity: a multi-disciplinary approach to global-scale processes and patterns.  Professor Hughes is well-known internationally for his research on large-scale processes, including gene flow in marine organisms and regional variation in the dynamics of the Great Barrier Reef.  His quantitative analysis of community dynamics provided the first detailed account of the mechanisms underlying long-term degradation of coral reefs. (Phone 07 4781 4222)

Professor Yuri Kivshar, Group Leader of the Nonlinear Physics Group, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, The Australian National University, for his project on nonlinear photonics and all-optical technologies.   Professor Kivshar's development of the theory of self-trapped beams and the nonlinear theory of stability of multi-parameter nonlinear solitary waves have had application to a number of different physical problems.  His work in the area of light transmission could have a significant impact on long-distance communication. (Phone 02 6125 3423)

Professor Rodney Tucker, Director of Photonics at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, for his project towards an all-optical internet.  Internationally regarded for his ground-breaking work in the analysis and design of semiconductor lasers for high-speed optical fibre telecommunications systems, Professor Tucker's work has led to a new generation of broad-band networks.  In 1997, he was a co-recipient of the Australia Prize for his contributions in telecommunications.  (Phone 03 8344 7688)