Awards sing the praises of Flinders scientists

chatawayQuiet achievements by two Flinders University scientists have been thrown into high relief with the presentation of the Unsung Heroes of Science Awards for 2011.

Medical scientist Dr Tim Chataway (pictured) was awarded the Unsung Hero of Science Award, while chemistry academic Associate Professor Stewart Walker received the Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award from the State Minister for Science and Information Economy, Mr Jay Weatherill, at the Adelaide launch of National Science Week on Friday, August 5.

Ms Tatiana Anesbury of the Australian Science and Maths School, which is based at Flinders, shared the Unsung Hero of Science Communication Award with Associate Professor Walker.

The awards are presented annually by National Science Week (SA) and Australian Science Communicators (SA) with the aim of recognising those who have not yet received significant recognition for their contribution to science or science communication.

Cited as “the champion of protein analysis”, Dr Chataway was instrumental in establishing the Flinders Proteomics Facility, which is available to scientists from other research organisations including universities, hospitals and CSIRO. As a Sir Mark Oliphant Research Fellow, his work was funded for three years through donations made to the FMC Foundation.

His own current research is focused on clumps of protein found in the brains of sufferers of Parkinson’s Disease

Flinders Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor David Day, congratulated Dr Chataway on his award.

“This recognition shows that Flinders research is diverse, important and collaborative,” Professor Day said.

Associate Professor Walker, an academic in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences and Director of the Centre of Expertise in Energetic Materials, is the organiser the Chemical Murder Mystery, a highly successful annual event at Flinders that has introduced thousands of school science students to the techniques of forensic chemistry.

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