David Solomon wins 2006 Victoria Prize
[ Research Review 0307 ]
Eminent scientist and inventor of the plastic bank note, Professor David Solomon, Honorary Professorial Fellow in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Melbourne, has been awarded the 2006 Victoria Prize.
The Prize was presented to Professor Solomon by Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, Justice Marilyn Warren, at Government House.
The University of Melbourne was also recognised for supporting Professor Solomon’s work, receiving the $100 000 Anne & Eric Smorgon Memorial Award from the Jack and Robert Smorgon Families Foundation, which complements the Victoria Prize.
The annual $50 000 Victoria Prize is awarded by the Victorian Government to a leading scientist or engineer whose discovery or innovation is advancing knowledge and has the clear potential to be commercialised.
Professor Solomon’s plastic banknote technology has seen Victoria become the world leader in security printing. The technology is now available in more than 20 countries worldwide.
He is renowned for pioneering work on polymer chemistry, including his invention of the first commercially viable process to give precise control over molecular structure. His patent was in the top 10 most cited patents each year from 1999 to 2004 in chemistry.
Professor Solomon is one of an elite group of Australian scientists admitted to the Royal Society, London, whose 1300 members include Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Three of six $18 000 Victoria Fellowships announced by Minister for Innovation John Brumby at the Victoria Prize ceremony were awarded to University of Melbourne academics. They are:
Dr Bryan Fry (Australian Venom Research Unit) for finding medical cures from Australia’s snakes and poisonous creatures.
Mr Mohammad Tabbara (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) for using next generational technology to produce safer and cleaner cars.
Mr Hadi Lioe (Chemistry) for using mass spectrometry to help improve the detection of new diseases, biological warfare agents and toxic agents. Mr Lioe also received the 2006 AFAS FEAST-France Fellowship.
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