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Researchers, teachers and students at The University of Western Australia have filled every available place in the final nominations for the WA Premier's Science Awards.

The categories applying to universities - Scientist of the Year, Young Scientist of the Year, Excellence in Science Communication Outside the Classroom; and Science Student of the Year: University - have a total of 11 finalists, all from UWA.

"This enormous achievement 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," UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson said.

The Scientist of the Year will be chosen from UWA staff members Professor Jorg Imberger, Director of UWA's Centre for Water Research; Professor Leigh Simmons of UWA's Centre for Evolutionary Biology; and Professor Cheryl Praeger, Professor of Mathematics.  All are known internationally for contributions on the world stage.

The Young Scientist of the Year will be selected from Dr Oliver Rackham and Dr Kevin Pfleger, both from the UWA affiliate, the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research, and Dr Ben Corry from UWA's School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Science.

In the category of Excellence in Science Communication Outside the Classroom , Yvonne Van Der Ploeg from the UWA-based ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and SymbioticA, the UWA Centre of Excellence in Biological Arts, are the only finalists.

The Science Student of the Year ( University ) will be chosen from a field of three - UWA Astronomy and Astrophysics student, Jacinta Delhaize (Mandurah), UWA Advanced Science student, Matilda-Jane Oke (Subiaco), and UWA Conservation Biology and Management student, Claire Foster (Bickley).

"The finalists announced today build on the success of UWA staff in 2007 when Professor David Blair was named Scientist of the Year, Dr Kristen Nowak was named Young Scientist of the Year and Professor Paul McMenamin won the Excellence in Teaching Award," Professor Robson said.

The winners will be announced on December 4.

Media references

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