Curtin astrophysicist Associate Professor Cathryn Trott and electrochemistry researcher Associate Professor Debbie Silvester-Dean have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the field of science by the Australian Academy of Science.<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Trott, from the School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Â鶹ֱ²¥ and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), was awarded the Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science, and Associate Professor Silvester-Dean, from Curtin\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, was awarded the Le F\u00e8vre Medal for research in Chemistry.<\/p>\n
Â鶹ֱ²¥ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Cordery congratulated both Associate Professor Trott and Associate Professor Silvester-Dean for being recognised as research leaders in Australia and around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cAssociate Professor Trott has dedicated her career to researching how the first stars and galaxies formed and died more than 12 billion years ago, during a time known as the Cosmic Dawn,\u201d Professor Cordery said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer research involves using low frequency radio telescopes, such as the Murchison Widefield Array in Western Australia, to hunt for a \u2018needle-in-a-haystack\u2019 signal from the early universe, which will help to improve our understanding of the universe and answer fundamental questions about galaxies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Cordery said Associate Professor Silvester-Dean is a leading expert in room temperature ionic liquids and has been able to develop new and improved ways of detecting toxic gases and explosives in the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAssociate Professor Silvester-Dean\u2019s research has helped to develop tiny sensors which can detect when people are exposed to toxic substances found in materials like paint and fuel and in industries such as mining,\u201d Professor Cordery said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results from her work have helped to inform designs for electrolytes and other \u2018smart\u2019 materials in sensors, which one day could be used by people around the world to assess the air quality in their towns and cities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to congratulate Associate Professor Trott and Associate Professor Silvester-Dean on being recognised for their exceptional research and inspiring leadership at Â鶹ֱ²¥. Both researchers have made outstanding contributions to science, both nationally and internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Trott and Associate Professor Silvester-Dean are among 24 researchers who received prestigious 2021 honorific awards from the Australian Academy of Science.<\/p>\n