Interacting light with matter – new tools for early cancer detection

May 03, 2012

Professor Tanya Monro's research team at the University of Adelaide is working to create a whole range of new high-tech tools that use light for measuring, including new devices for early detection of cancer and smart bungs that monitor wine quality.

Professor Tanya Monro is the winner of the Australian Academy of Science’s 2012 Pawsey Medal for outstanding research in physics.

She has also been recently elected as a new Fellow of the Academy, making her the first person to receive both honours at the same Science at the Shine Dome event.

Professor Monro’s team has discovered new ways of generating, controlling and manipulating light and its interactions with molecules and developing advanced technology for structuring materials on the nanoscale.

“Light has the capacity to give us powerful new information about the world we live in, ranging from information about the health of structures such as aircraft or bridges, to the workings of a single cell,” says Professor Monro.

“Our research has led to the development of new forms of optical fibres for use in telecommunications, biology, health, food and wine, environmental monitoring and defence.” Professor Monro will present her work at the Shine Dome in Canberra today at 1.15 pm, as part of the Academy’s annual Science at the Shine Dome event.

View further information on award winners and the full program.

© 2024 Australian Academy of Science

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