Chief Scientist and leading mental health champion elected to science Academy

May 23, 2016

Former Australian of the Year and mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry and Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel are among 21 leading scientists to be elected to the Australian Academy of Science. 

The two high profile Australians join researchers who have made outstanding contributions to a range of scientific areas including agriculture, advanced communications and cancer research. 

Academy of Science President, Professor Andrew Holmes, congratulated all of the new Fellows elected this year for making significant and lasting impacts in their scientific disciplines.

“The breadth of scientific talent recognised in this year’s election is truly awe-inspiring. From breakthroughs in pure science to spurring scientific innovations, these new Fellows have made an impact on everything from the way we treat disease to how we grow our food to advancing our fundamental knowledge about the world in which we live,” Professor Holmes said.

New Fellows will be admitted to the Academy in a formal ceremony today in Canberra, and will make presentations about their work tomorrow at the Academy’s annual flagship event, Science at the Shine Dome. The Academy’s total fellowship now includes 511 scientists.

The six women and 15 men elected are:
o    Dr Ian ALLISON University of Tasmania
o    Professor David BELLWOOD, James Cook University
o    Professor Benjamin EGGLETON, University of Sydney
o    Emeritus Professor Geoffrey FINCHER, University of Adelaide
o    Dr Alan FINKEL, Office of the Chief Scientist
o    Professor Simon FOOTE, ANU
o    Professor Justin (John) GOODING, UNSW
o    Dr John KIRKEGAARD, CSIRO
o    Dr Anna KOLTUNOW, CSIRO
o    Professor Geoffrey LINDEMAN, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
o    Professor Alexander MCBRATNEY, University of Sydney
o    Professor Patrick MCGORRY, Orygen: The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne
o    Professor Neville NICHOLLS, Monash University
o    Professor Stephen NUTT, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
o    Professor Sarah ROBERTSON, University of Adelaide
o    Professor Halina RUBINSZTEIN-DUNLOP, University of Queensland
o    Professor Susan SCOTT, Australian National University
o    Dr Daniela STOCK, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
o    Professor Fedor SUKOCHEV, UNSW
o    Professor Toby WALSH, UNSW
o    Professor Naomi WRAY, University of Queensland

The Academy will also this week admit two new Corresponding Members, or foreign Fellows. They are:

Professor John H SPENCE, Arizona State University, United States
Professor Matthias HENTZE, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Germany


More information about each new Fellow, including a statement about why they were elected and a short video, is available at www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/new-fellows/fellows-elected-2016.

© 2024 Australian Academy of Science

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