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The list of finalists in the Western Australian Science Awards has again been dominated by researchers and projects from The University of Western Australia.

Two of the three finalists for Scientist of the Year, both of whom are Australian Research Council Australian Laureate Fellows, are from UWA:  Winthrop Professor Michael Tobar, and Professor Richard Hobbs.

In the Early Career Scientist of the Year category, Dr Swaminathan Iyer, ARC Australian Research Fellow and deputy director of the Centre for Strategic Nano-fabrication and Winthrop Professor Eric May, Chevron Chair in Gas Process Engineering, have been nominated for the second year running.

And in the category of Excellence in Science Communication Outside the Classroom, the UWA-based SPICE program is a finalist.  SPICE is a partnership between the WA Department of Education and UWA.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson congratulated the finalists for their significant achievement.

"This recognition reinforces the University's place as the pre-eminent research and teaching institution in the State and is a testament to the excellence of our academics and students," Professor Robson said.

"The finalists build on the success of UWA staff in 2009 when Winthrop Professor Cheryl Praeger was named Scientist of the Year, and Professor Kevin Pfleger won Young Scientist of the Year."

The 2010 WA Science Award winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 1.

For further information, see the Science Awards website.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716