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One of the world’s most highly cited plant scientists from The University of Western Australia has been made a Fellow by the Australian Academy of Science for his contribution to science and scientific research.

Professor Ian Small from UWA’s ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology is one of 21 new Fellows selected, honoured for their significant knowledge and expertise in a variety of scientific fields. They were selected based on their work which has changed the way we think and made a long-lasting contribution to science.

Professor Small researches the mechanisms that control the production of proteins in plant organelles, the primary generators of energy used by all living organisms. He is perhaps best known for the discovery and characterisation of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) family of proteins that are important for controlling plant fertility in hybrid crop breeding. His work has promising applications in agriculture and biotechnology.

In 2014 Professor Small won Scientist of the Year at the WA Premier’s Science Awards, and was awarded a prestigious Australian Laureate Fellowship. His inclusion in the prestigious Thomson Reuters 2014 Highly Cited Researchers list named him as one of the world’s most influential scientific minds.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson congratulated Professor Small on his outstanding achievement.

“Professor Small’s work into the protein of plants and the physiological roles they play during growth and development is crucial,” Professor Johnson said.

“It answers the call to seek solutions to one of our greatest challenges – how to feed the world.  The University is tremendously proud to be associated with his work and this selection by the Australian Academy of Science is a fitting recognition”.

The 21 Fellows selected are being admitted to the Australian Academy of Science at a formal ceremony today in Canberra. They will make presentations about their work tomorrow at the Academy’s annual flagship event, Science at the Shine Dome .

The Academy now numbers a total of 503 Fellows and Corresponding Members from across the breadth of natural sciences.

For more information on the new 2015 Australian Academy of Science Fellows visit www.science.org.au

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David Stacey (UWA Media and PR Manager)                                                                              (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716