Nicholas Wormald is one of an elite group of mathematicians globally who combine the most advanced probability theory, combinatorics and theoretical computer science to produce deep insights into the nature of random and complex networks. He specialises in random graphs and probabilistic combinatorics, graph theory, enumeration, the analysis of graph algorithms, Steiner trees, the analysis of real-life networks, and other areas in combinatorics, as well as the optimisation of underground mine access networks. Wormald is responsible for an impressive number of major breakthroughs in these areas and many standard methods used today were his invention.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Ray Withers is one of the most able solid state chemist of his generation in Australia. He has discovered new forms of order and disorder in crystalline materials and shown the relationship between local crystal chemistry, longer range macroscopic order and physico-chemical properties in many exemplary systems. He is internationally recognized for his application of electron microscopy, imaging and diffraction to solving complex, incommensurately modulated structures and inherently disordered solid solution phases. The work encompasses not only static structures but also their dynamics and the mechanisms of structural flexibility polymorphism - matters of considerable technological significance.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Dr Wiskich is distinguished for his contributions to the understanding of the organisation and regulation of plant mitochondrial function. He established criteria for the isolation of tightly-coupled intact plant mitochondria which are used to the present day. In subsequent studies he (i) discovered a novel oxaloacetate carrier which is critical for the operation of mitochondrial hydrogen shuttles, (ii) showed that factors other than adenylate energy charge are more important in controlling plant mitochondrial respiration and (iii) demonstrated enzyme domains within the mitochondrial matrix which have differential access to NAD and the respiratory chains. His collaborative research has produced the first detailed kinetic analysis linking reduced ubiquinone levels to the relative rates of oxidation through cytochrome oxidase and the alternative oxidase; it also provided a statistical model of mitochondrial energy supply.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Professor E Marelyn Wintour-Coghlan has spent 44 years as a scientist. She has 205 publications and has made major contributions to 4 areas of developmental physiology. She has studied the development of kidney and adrenal function, the control of fetal fluid and electrolyte balance, fetal erythropoietin and erythropiesis and most recently has made major contributions in the area of the fetal origins of adult disease with her studies on fetal programming of hypertension by early endocrine perturbation. She has had numerous international invitations to speak about her work and served physiology internationally on IUPS and in developing countries.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Professor Williamson has developed scientific theory and widely used practical algorithms to solve machine learning problems. His best known work is in the field of “kernel machines”, a particular form of machine learning methods based on the geometry of infinite dimensional spaces. In addition to developing new powerful theoretical frameworks to analyse such techniques (the fact they are effectively working in infinite dimensions causes difficulties) he developed three widely used practical algorithms – the “nu” Support Vector Machine, the one-class SVM, and a simple online SVM. These are popular because they are effective, efficient and the adjustable parameters are readily interpretable.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Professor Williamson is distinguished internationally for his significant and fundamental contributions to human genetics. His early studies of polysomes helped to establish the existence of mRNA in mammalian cells. He led research into the molecular genetics of the thalassaemias and was the first to clone the human globin genes as cDNAs in 1977. This led to gene mapping for thalassaemias, muscular dystrophies and cystic fibrosis as well as identifying the mutations causing Alzheimer's disease and myotonic dystrophy. He has taken a major interest in gene therapy, using liposomes to introduce genes for CFTR in a clinical trial with cystic fibrosis patients in London and studies of gene therapy for ataxia and thalassaemia in Melbourne. He has a major interest in education and ethics as applied to human genetics.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Professor Williams is one of the pioneers of modern atomic physics. He has made very significant experimental studies of atomic structure and scattering phenomena at the most fundamental levels. Many of the contributions have been the first, and in some cases are the only measurements of fundamental atomic scattering quantities. The experimental approaches have led to new techniques in atomic physics and to an increased understanding of the mechanisms of various collision processes, indicating the ways in which electron correlations determine atomic structure and scattering dynamics.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Professor Williams, who will take up the position of Director of the ANU Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the end of 2002, has an international reputation for his work on the physics of those materials that form the basis of the semiconductor industry, and particularly on the use of ion-beam methods to characterise and modify the properties of those materials. He has established world-class facilities for this work and has built a large and diverse team of researchers at the Australian National University. He also collaborates extensively with colleagues in laboratories overseas. He is active in pursuing the industrial applications of discoveries in this field.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.

Dr Wild has achieved international recognition for his research in inorganic chemistry, especially for his major contribution to the design and syntheses of chiral phosphines and arsines for use as auxiliaries for asymmetric syntheses and as probes of inorganic stereochemistry. His work is widely recognised as being both innovative and extremely elegant. He has also made important contributions to other areas. These include the synthesis of new 3- and 4-membered phosphorus and arsenic heterocycles, the self-assembly of novel metal-containing double helices and related complexes incorporating poly (tertiary phosphines and arsines) as well as research into the biotransformation of arsenic.

Please contact fellowship@science.org.au to request any updates to the data.