WA scientists earn national academy honour

• Four WA scientists elected to Australian Academy of Science

• One of Australia's highest scientific honours

• Recognition for outstanding contributions to scientific research

Science and Innovation Minister John Day today congratulated four Western Australian scientists who have been elected to the prestigious Australian Academy of Science.

Mr Day said the fellowships were one of the highest scientific honours in Australia and each WA representative was a worthy recipient.   

"Each year only a small number of fellowships are awarded through the academy and I am thrilled that four of the State's own have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to scientific research," he said.   

The WA scientists are:  

• Professor Michael Alpers AO FAA FRS, Centre for International Health, Curtin University - Identifying the prion disease kuru and building the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medicine into a world-renowned institution.

• Winthrop Professor Hans Lambers FAA, Head of the School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia - Revealing mechanisms by which plants function and grow in different and challenging environments.

• Winthrop Professor Stephen Powles FAA FTSE, School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia - Foreseeing the problem of herbicide resistance and pioneering the science internationally.

• Winthrop Professor Michael Tobar FAA FTSE, School of Physics, The University of Western Australia - Pioneering the development of devices for precision frequency generation and measurement, including in space.

The Minister said he was pleased one of the group was a former WA Science Award recipient.

"Professor Tobar has continued to excel since he was named the Western Australian Scientist of the Year in 2010, a testimony to the high level of scientific achievement we have in this State," he said.

"The diverse areas of research undertaken by the four scientists include plant mineral nutrition, herbicide resistance, international health in rural communities and precision frequency generation and measurement - all of which have created real benefits for the communities in Australia and overseas.  

"I would like to congratulate our four scientists and thank them for the outstanding work that they are undertaking to advance science and innovation in Western Australia."

      Fact File

• New Fellows to be admitted to Australian Academy of Science and present summaries of their work at three-day celebration in Canberra from Wednesday May 2

Minister's office - 6552 6200