Indian-origin scientist Veena Sahajwalla, the Associate Dean (Strategic Industry Relations), at the Faculty of Science at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, has been elected as new Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Science.
Professor Sahajwalla, an internationally recognised materials scientist, engineer and innovator who is revolutionising recycling science, is renowned for pioneering the high-temperature transformation of waste in the production of a new generation of ‘green materials’.
As Director of the Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre at UNSW, she has built a world-class research hub.
She also leads a research program that fosters innovation and promotes collaboration with industry to ensure that scientific advances in sustainable materials and processes are readily translated into commercially-viable environmental solutions.
In April this year, she launched the world's first e-waste micro-factory, that converts electronic waste to valuable materials.
She is among 21 researchers announced as members of the Academy for their major contributions to Australian science.
Australian Academy of Science President, Professor Andrew Holmes, congratulated the new Fellows for making significant and lasting impacts in their scientific disciplines.
“These scientists were elected by their Academy peers, following a rigorous evaluation process,” Professor Holmes said.
“From 23 Founding Fellows in 1954, the election this year of our new Fellows brings our total number of living Fellows to 568. They join a prestigious group – six Nobel Prize winners and luminaries including Sir Mark Oliphant, Professor Nancy Millis, Sir Douglas Mawson, Professor Frank Fenner and Sir David Attenborough,” he said.
