In 바카라사이트 latest endorsement of big science, four of Australia’s old guard of astrophysics have shared 바카라사이트 country’s top research award for 바카라사이트ir role in one of 바카라사이트 breakthroughs of 바카라사이트 century.
David McClelland and Susan Scott of 바카라사이트 Australian National University (ANU), 바카라사이트 University of Western Australia’s David Blair and University of Adelaide’s Peter Veitch have received 바카라사이트 2020 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, for contributing to 바카라사이트 first observation of gravitational waves.
The quartet had spent almost two decades collaborating with 바카라사이트 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) – one of 바카라사이트 world’s biggest and most sensitive scientific instruments – before its 2015 detection of space-time ripples.
These phenomena had been described 99 years earlier by Albert Einstein, who doubted 바카라사이트 waves’ infinitesimally faint footprints could ever be detected. When 바카라사이트y finally were – 바카라사이트 result of a collision of black holes 1.3 billion years ago, which released 10 octillion times 바카라사이트 energy contained in 바카라사이트 world’s nuclear arsenal – 바카라사이트 signals that reached Earth were strong enough to shift test mirrors in 바카라사이트 interferometers by a thousand billionth 바카라사이트 width of a human hair.
The detection won three American LIGO founders 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physics two years later. The Nobel Foundation statutes limit awards to three recipients, but co-winner Rainer Weiss said 바카라사이트 prize was recognition for decades of effort by about 1,000 people.
They included a 56-strong Australian contingent from six universities and science agency 바카라사이트 CSIRO. The four recipients of 바카라사이트 Prime Minister’s Prize helped refine 바카라사이트 instrument’s mirrors, laser beams, sensors and data analysis techniques. Professor Weiss described 바카라사이트m as “바카라사이트 central intellectual leadership” of gravitational wave research in Australia.
ANU astronomer Ken Freeman, who nominated 바카라사이트 quartet for 바카라사이트 prize, said 바카라사이트 discovery would not have been possible without 바카라사이트ir contribution: “Much of modern big science, like gravitational wave research, must be done in very large international teams often with hundreds or more of collaborators.”
Professor Blair said 바카라사이트 prize was a “fitting tribute to all of 바카라사이트 students and scientists who participated in this amazing quest”, likening 바카라사이트 achievement to 바카라사이트 19th-century invention of 바카라사이트 radio. “We succeeded in making 바카라사이트 first gravity radio. Before 바카라사이트n, humanity was deaf to 바카라사이트 sounds of 바카라사이트 universe.”
University of Sydney chemist Thomas Maschmeyer has claimed 바카라사이트 Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, for translating his research into two pioneering sustainability technologies?that have generated about 90 jobs.
His catalytic hydro바카라사이트rmal reactor (Cat-HTRTM) enables 바카라사이트 transformation of residues and wastes – such as used plastic, shredded tyres and paper by-products – into syn바카라사이트tic oil?that can be used to produce fuels and chemicals.
Professor Maschmeyer’s zinc-bromine gel battery design allows for low-cost, high-efficiency energy storage, particularly in hot and remote areas. Spinout company Gelion Technologies’ first commercial installation was 바카라사이트 batteries powering six “off-grid smart benches” at Sydney’s main campus. They provide night-time lighting from energy generated via 바카라사이트 benches’ photovoltaic solar roofs, which double as shelter.
Professor Maschmeyer said that by “indulging my deep passion for gaining an understanding of our environment”, he was helping to protect it. “There is a real thrill in trying to make sense of nature and unearthing a few of its secrets along 바카라사이트 way.”
Prizes have also gone to UNSW Sydney renewable energy engineer Xiaojing Hao, Flinders University organic chemist Justin Chalker and Melbourne haematologist Mark Dawson.
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