One of the Centre for Energy’s lead researchers and Deputy Director, W/Professor Eric May, was awarded the 2010 Early Career Scientist of the Year Award at the West Australian Science Awards luncheon last week.

The West Australian Science Awards honour the outstanding and groundbreaking achievements of Western Australia’s science and innovation community and recognise the important role of science in Western Australia.

W/Professor Eric May describes his field of research as ‘fluid science for the next generation of natural gas engineering’ as it combines several aspects of engineering, physics and chemistry which do not fit readily into a single traditional discipline.

Amongst other achievements, W/Professor May has developed breakthrough techniques for measuring gas properties under extreme conditions. This provides critical data to advance the computer models used to design and optimise gas processing plants.

W/Professor May’s research will improve the efficiency of LNG production, which directly benefits the energy resource sector in Western Australia.

In September 2009, W/Professor May became the first Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering. This appointment is testimony to his achievements in scientific research and as an avid educator of young engineers.

W/Professor May leads natural gas research at the Centre for Energy with a team of ten academics, seven post-doctoral fellows and seven PhD students. Their efforts cover areas of LNG production, CO2 sequestration, and gas processing, including the development of new Cryogenic Pressure Swing Adsorption processes as alternative methods for removing CO2 and N2 from natural gas.

Congratulating Eric on his award, the Director of the Centre for Energy, W/Professor Dongke Zhang FTSE, says “the 2010 Early Career Scientist of the Year Award to Eric confirms our Centre’s world-leading position in natural gas research and is an illustration of our endured success in energy research.”

W/Professor May continues to pursue the goal of establishing a world-leading centre for natural gas engineering in Perth, and to date has secured over $5.56 million in funding.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Eric May, Centre for Energy (+61 8)  6488 2954