Fellows update—February 2019

Honours and awards to Fellows

Dr Liz Dennis FAA—Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service as a researcher and academic in the area of genomics and plant development, and to professional organisations

Professor Ron Ekers FAA—Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to science as a radio astronomer, to scientific education, and to international astronomical organisations

Professor Bruce Kemp FAA—Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to biomedical research, particularly to the study of protein phosphorylation

Emeritus Professor Brian Kennett FAA—Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the earth sciences as a leading academic and researcher, particularly in the field of seismology

Professor Elaine Sadler FAA—Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to science as an astrophysicist, in the field of galaxy evolution, and to gender equality

Professor John Church FAA FTSE—BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Climate Change

Obituary

Professor Michael Dopita AM FAA

28 October 1946 to 22 December 2018

Professor Michael Dopita was elected to the Academy in 1996 in recognition of his fundamental contributions to research in astrophysics—from star formation to active galactic nuclei and radio jets. He was internationally recognised as a leading authority in interstellar astrophysics, with an extraordinarily broad range of achievements.

Since 1975, Professor Dopita worked at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics (previously Mount Stromlo Observatory) at the Australian National University, where he was a Professor of Astronomy. Professor Dopita was involved in several instrumental projects, including the construction of the Wide Field Spectrograph, the FUSE and the Endeavour UV Space Telescopes. Professor Dopita provided policy advice to NASA through his work on the Science Oversight Committee for the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. He also served on ARENA, the policy advice committee for the conduct of astronomy at Dome C in Antarctica.

Professor Dopita was an inaugural Australian Federation Fellow (2002-2006), ISI Citation Laureate (2001) and Centenary Medalist (2003). He was awarded the Academy’s Pawsey Medal in 1983 and became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013. He served as council member on various astronomical unions and on the editorial board of several academic journals.

Since his election to the Academy, Professor Dopita generously contributed his time and expertise to Academy projects. He was a member of the Academy’s Council (2004–13) and served as Treasurer from 2008 to 2013. He also served on a number of Academy and National committees.