Professor Steven Tingay with a component used in the Murchison Widefield Array telescope. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira

WA brains sparking Premier science

Tuesday, 4 August, 2020 - 14:00

Exploring the deepest reaches of the universe and mapping the human epigenome are among the research passions of the 2020 Premier’s Science Awards finalists.

The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding scientific research and engagement by scientists across Western Australia.

Finalists of the headlining Scientist of the Year award comprise Steven Tingay, Wendy Erber, Ryan Lister, and Eric May, all professors at WA universities.

Curtin University’s Professor Tingay was a director of the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope, a crucial part of WA’s bid to host the planned Square Kilometre Array.

With an estimated price tag of $1.4 billion, the Square Kilometre Array will be the world’s largest radio telescope upon completion.

Since mid-2013, the Murchison Widefield Array has been involved in key discoveries including the detection of the largest known eruption in the universe since the Big Bang.

Three of the finalists for Scientist of the Year are University of Western Australia professors, with research areas spanning the human genome, fluid dynamics, and blood diagnostics.

Professor Lister has generated the first comprehensive maps of the human epigenome and is working on inventing a series of tools that will allow scientists to control gene expression through editing chemical tags on human genomes.

Through controlling the expression of a person’s DNA, scientists may be able to prevent and treat a variety of diseases from cystic fibrosis, to HIV and cancer.

Professor May is contributing to WA’s energy industry, serving as the Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering at UWA, and leading the Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre.

The Cooperative Research Centre will test new LNG and hydrogen technologies and is planning a small-scale LNG facility in Kwinana.

Finally, detection of disorders and disease is the focus of UWA Professor and world-renowned haematologist Wendy Erber, whose passion lies in discovering new technologies to improve haematology diagnostics.

Four Curtin University researchers and three of the university’s programs are represented across the award categories.

“The seven Curtin finalists all come from different fields of expertise ranging from astrophysics and radio astronomy to the formation of the early Earth to STEM outreach,” Deputy Vice-Chancellor Chris Moran said.

“The number of Curtin finalists this year showcases the high level of research being undertaken at the university.”

In a statement, Premier Mark McGowan acknowledged the COVID-19 pandemic as underscoring the important role played by the sciences in day-to-day life.

“Now more than ever, we must recognise and celebrate the research and technological achievements of Western Australia’s science community,” Mr McGowan said.

“I would like to congratulate this year’s finalists on their outstanding scientific achievements and the contributions they’re making to foster an innovative STEM culture in Western Australia.”

The winners of the 2020 Premier’s Science Awards will be announced on 29 September 2020.