Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science wins PM’s Prize

The Australian Academy of Science today offers warm congratulations to long-time Fellow, Professor Kenneth Freeman, for winning the 2012 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

“Professor Freeman was the first to identify the necessity of dark matter in galaxies, shaping the current understanding in the field of astronomy,” said Academy President Professor Suzanne Cory.

“He is also widely acknowledged as the world’s most eminent galactic astronomer.”

Professor Freeman co-established the field of galactic archaeology, where fossil records of stars are used to trace the formation of the Milky Way.

His ideas will help launch the one billion dollar European satellite, Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), in 2013.

Professor Freeman, a Duffield Professor at the Australian National University and also a Fellow of the UK Royal Society, received the Academy’s Pawsey medal in 1972 and has been named as the winner of the Academy’s 2013 Matthew Flinders Medal for scientific research of the highest standing in physical sciences.

“Professor Freeman is truly a father of Australian astronomy, having supervised more than fifty PhD students, many of whom are internationally recognised astronomers today,” said Professor Cory.

The Academy also warmly congratulates the other winners to be announced tonight:

• Professor Eric May for the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year,
• Dr Mark Shackleton for the Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year,
• Mr Michael van der Ploeg for the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools, and
• Mrs Anita Trenwith for the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.