Flinders University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor David Day, has today (Wednesday, March 27) been elected to the Australian Academy of Science, joining an elite group of outstanding Australian scientists.

Professor Day – an internationally-recognised leader in plant biology – is among 20 new Fellows to be elected to the Academy in 2013.

Representing the nation’s top research scientists, the Australian Academy of Science annually elects a small number of Australian scientists to the Academy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to science.

Professor Day was invited to join the prestigious cohort for his mitochondrial plant research, which has provided a model for the integration of carbon metabolism, mitochondrial electron transport and respiratory gene expression in plants.

He said it was a tremendous honour to be recognised for his work, and to represent Flinders University alongside equally distinguished Australian researchers.

“I consider it a great honour and privilege to be part of such an acclaimed group of people who are Australia’s best scientists,” Professor Day said.

“I look forward to working with the Academy to promote science communication and science research,” he said.

Australian Academy of Science President Professor Suzanne Cory congratulated Professor Day and the new group.

“I applaud all of our new Fellows for their internationally-significant achievements in a broad range of scientific disciplines, she said.

Professor Day will be formally admitted to the Academy at its annual three-day celebration, Science at the Shine Dome, on May 29 in Canberra.