For the first time, a scientist from the southern hemisphere has taken out the Feynman Prize in its 22 year history. Oh… and did I mention she is also the first ever woman to win the Prize.
The Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology was awarded last month to Dr Amanda Barnard. Often referred to as the Nobel Prize of nanoscience, the prize’s importance is remarkable in that it recognises prodigious talent in the sector and is a reliable predictor of scientific discoveries with a very high translational impact on industry.
Dr Amanda Barnard’s award winning work relied upon supercomputers to understand the structure of diamond nanoparticles, finding that they have unique electrostatic properties that make them spontaneously arrange into highly valuable structures with huge implications in healthcare, cleantech, manufacturing and fuel.
Based at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Melbourne, Australia, Amanda has research networks that spans the globe as many nanotechnologist now vie for her collaborative input and engagement, particularly since winning this prize.
Already, her diamond discovery has underpinned the development of a potentially life-saving chemotherapy treatment that targets brain tumours. Among her other research highlights, Dr Barnard developed a new technique for investigating the shape of nanomaterials including their size, temperature or potential uses in chemistry allowing them to be customised to make bespoke nanoparticles targeted to specific application areas.
Dr Barnard’s name might sound familiar to Australians – it should, as she is a regular to the stage collecting awards. In Australia her mantelpiece holds the Frederick White Prize, a Eureka Prize, the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist, the JG Russell Award and a L’Oreal ‘For Women in Science’ Award, to name just a few.
Dr Barnard’s success could not come at a better time in the growing awareness and understanding of the functional benefits of investing in nanoscience in Australia. Her success will also act as a beacon for younger women embarking upon science careers, following in her footsteps as the dialogue supporting women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries, particularly physics and maths, gains momentum in this country.
The Feynman Award is named after Dr Richard Feynman a renowned physicist and Nobel Prize winner from last century: the father of quantum electrodynamics.
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Michelle Gallaher, Creative Director
The Social Science
@thesocialsci
