Last updated September 20, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Find out the winners of the SA Science Excellence Awards and highlights from the #SAScienceAwards gala dinner celebrating all things excellent!
On Friday 11 August, over 300 guests from the university and research sector and industry from South Australia congregated to celebrate the 2017 SA Science Excellence Awards.
Whilst the food was delicious, the live brass band were great, and the wine was flowing, the excellent quality of finalists and winners was what really made it such an inspiring night. The gala dinner was a great start for National Science Week in Adelaide. P.S. full disclosure, our very own programs manager, Dr Lisa Bailey, was up for Unsung Hero of SA – Science Communication!
The SA Science Excellence Awards go way back to 2005 but the contributions to science made by South Australians have been going on for a long time (shout out to the Braggs, a Nobel Prize winning duo of father and son).
Six awards were given out to incredible individuals:
South Australian Scientist of the Year Award – Prof James Paton, University of Adelaide
PhD Research Excellence Award – Dr Joel Fuller, University of South Australia
STEM Professional Award – Dr Duncan Taylor, Forensic Science SA
STEM Educator of the Year – School Teaching – Mr Thierry Herman, Le Fevre High School
STEM Educator of the Year – Tertiary Teaching – Dr Claudia Szabo, University of Adelaide
Excellence in Research Collaboration – Developing a world leading intelligent medical device in South Australia, University of Adelaide, Australian Centre for Visual Technologies and LBT Innovations Ltd
This year, three other awards usually given out at other events were also added to the gala dinner night.
SA Young Tall Poppy of the Year Award – Dr Laura Weyrich
Unsung Hero of SA – Science – Peri and Faith Coleman, Environmental Science Consultants
Unsung Hero of SA – Science Communication – Dr Ian Musgrave, University of Adelaide
The night featured inspiring speeches from Susan Close MP, Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills and the 2016 SA Scientist of the Year, Prof Alan Cooper.
The keynote presentation from Dr Jordan Nguyen, a biomedical engineer/inventor/TV host/probably-a-dozen-more-things was inspiring both for his work on mobility devices but also for showcasing the humanity behind what innovation in science and technology can achieve.
Congratulations again to all the winners and finalists!
Check out our tweets from the night below!
SA Science Excellence Awards 2017
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