UWA engineer named scientist of the year

Premier and Science Minister Colin Barnett praised the efforts of the state's scientists and others in the field at the Western Australian Science Awards ceremony last night.

Winthrop Professor Mark Randolph from the University of Western Australia’s Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems was named WA’s scientist of the year, and received a $50,000 prize, for his specialist research in developing geotechnical solutions for the offshore oil and gas industry.

Mr Barnett said Professor Randolph had built a world-class research group in WA, attracting industry investment and providing practical solutions to real-world issues for the sector.

“I congratulate all winners and finalists," he said.

“The projects, in fields ranging from medical research to plant biology and community outreach, are all quite extraordinary and demonstrate the value of science to the whole community.

“WA provides world-leading opportunities for scientists and the state has developed international reputation across many science disciplines.

“This means we attract some of the world’s best to our state and retain much of our home-grown intellectual capital.”

Mr Barnett also named Shazzad Hossain from the UWA Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems as the Woodside early career scientist of the year, and PhD candidate Tristan Clemons as ExxonMobil student scientist of the year.

Science ambassador of the year was awarded to Myra Keep from Structural Geology and Techtonics UWA, while the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology at UWA was named the Chevron science engagement initiative of the year.

The state's chief scientist, Lyn Beazley, was inducted into the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame for her promotion of science and scientists in WA.

This is the first time the WA Science Awards have been supported through corporate sponsorship, with Chevron, ExxonMobil and Woodside contributing to the award prizes.