Six Curtin University researchers have been named as finalists for the prestigious Premier\u2019s Science Awards 2018, including two leading experts in their fields in the coveted Scientist of the Year category.<\/p>\n
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Phil Bland<\/a>, from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman<\/a> AO, from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, have been named finalists in the Scientist of the Year<\/strong> category.<\/p>\n Professor Bland\u2019s research is focused on the origin and evolution of the solar system through analysing meteorites to explore unanswered questions such as how our planet formed and how it acquired the ingredients for life. He established the Desert Fireball Network in WA as an Australian Laureate Fellow and founded the multi-award winning\u00a0Fireballs in the Sky<\/em>\u00a0outreach and citizen science program. In 2015, Professor Bland established a partnership between NASA and Australia in planetary, space and exploration science.<\/p>\n Professor Newman AO has completed decades of globally significant research and public advocacy on the science of cities and their sustainability. His research focuses on transport practices and systems, and how urban redevelopment can be planned with sustainability in mind to enable residents to integrate with their bioregional and human environment. He was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for his work on urban design and transport sustainability in 2014, particularly related to Perth\u2019s rail system.<\/p>\n The other Curtin finalists announced in the Premier\u2019s Science Awards 2018, which come from a range of discipline backgrounds, include:<\/p>\n Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr Wensu Chen<\/a> is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Awards Fellow and Senior Research Fellow in the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering and Centre for Infrastructural Monitoring and Protection at Curtin. Dr Chen\u2019s research has led to innovations in structural protection against both natural and man-made hazards. Dr Chen\u2019s work is important in preventing the failure of infrastructure, and contributes to the development of increasingly safe, resilient, cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure in Australia.<\/p>\n Dr Adam Cross<\/a> is a Research Fellow from Curtin University\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences. His research focuses on restoring degraded mining areas into biodiverse ecosystems and turning hostile mine waste into healthy soils. His cost-effective methods are beneficial to industry and assist companies to exceed regulatory requirements and restoration goals. Dr Cross has applied his restoration skills by volunteering with community restoration group Cambridge Coastcare for more than a decade.<\/p>\n Dr Katarina Miljkovic<\/a> is an Early Career Research Fellow at Curtin University\u2019s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Initially an astrophysicist, her expertise now includes planetary geoscience, especially focused on the processes. Dr Miljkovic analyses data from space missions and she plays an active role in international planetary exploration teams. For example, until recently she participated in the lunar gravity NASA mission GRAIL. Currently, she is on the Martian geophysical NASA mission InSight, now on its way to Mars.<\/p>\n