Australian astronomer shares in 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics

I’m pleased to add science communication plaudits to Australia’s latest Nobel Prize winner.

Dr Brian Schmidt, Laureate Fellow in the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University, shares in this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics. He is being recognised along with US scientists, Saul Perlmutter and Adam G. Riess, by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences “for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae.”

I have listened to one of Brian’s public lectures and I can say that as well as being a superb scientist, he is a wonderful science communicator. He presents with clarity and energy, bringing light to dark matter and dark energy.

Brian was born in the USA and has been in Australia since 1995, starting work at Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories (MSSSO) and appointed 1999 as a fellow at the ANU. I suspect the two counties will be quick to count Brian among their list of Nobel winners.

The press release of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is at http://www.kva.se/en/pressroom/Press-releases-2011/The-Nobel-Prize-in-Physics-2011/.

Jesse Shore
National President

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About Jesse Shore

Jesse Shore is passionate about engaging the community with science and in looking for ways to weave together the arts and sciences. He has been developing science based exhibitions and events since 1984, and was President of the Australian Science Communicators from 2010-2012. His business, Prismatic Sciences, produced five travelling exhibitions for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute for the 2011 International Year of Chemistry and he manages the ongoing national tour. He previously worked at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney as an exhibition project leader and Senior Curator of sciences. While at the museum he was one of the founders of the Ultimo Science Festival, a major National Science Week activity. He is currently collaborating with an artist to create artworks which have a science slant.

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