Newcastle academics honoured with Excellence in Science and Engineering Awards

Two University of Newcastle academics have been honoured with prestigious accolades at the 2014 NSW Science and Engineering Awards.
UON’s Professor Nick Talley received the Excellence in Biological Sciences award, while Professor Behdad Moghtaderi was the recipient of the Renewable Energy Innovation award.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Kevin Hall said the impressive results were further evidence of the university’s distinguished research reputation.
“Professor Talley and Professor Moghtaderi are at the forefront of their respective fields, and the university is delighted to see their outstanding contributions acknowledged,” Professor Hall said.
“We are immensely proud of both researchers’ achievements. The university’s continued success in these annual awards demonstrates the high calibre of our academics and their research outcomes.”
The NSW Science and Engineering Awards recognise the achievements of leading researchers and their efforts to generate economic, health, environmental or technological benefits for the state.
Professor Talley is an internationally renowned gastroenterological research leader, who specialises in unexplained disorders affecting nerves and muscles of the gut, including irritable bowel syndrome and severe indigestion. He has been credited with a number of seminal breakthroughs, and his latest work involving the link between the brain and the gut has the potential to revolutionise thinking across the field.
Professor Talley is President of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. In June last year, he was appointed the University of Newcastle‘s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). He is now on sabbatical undertaking further research at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).
Professor Moghtaderi is a world-leader energy technologies research, and was awarded the innovation prize for his GRANEX™ heat engine invention. The engine turns low-grade heat sources that may not otherwise be viably usable into emission-free electricity. It can be applied to a range of diverse heat sources, including renewable energy, process industries, transport systems and commercial and residential buildings.
Professor Moghtaderi is UON’s Head of Discipline of Chemical Engineering, as well as Director of the Frontier Energy Technologies Research Centre at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER).

University of Newcastle School of Engineering

The University of Newcastle School of Engineering is dedicated to research and training in the disciplines of Chemical, Civil, Environmental, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and Surveying. The engineering school’s programs are underpinned by some of the most exciting research in Australia. In the Australian Research Council 2012 research excellence ratings, the school received a top rating of 5 (well above world standard) for Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy and Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

Science Programs at the University of Newcastle

The Faculty of Science and Information Technology has a strong commitment to fundamental and applied research with equally high international standards. They support a broad-based program over a wide range of research activities. Within the schools they have established international reputations and formed strong, viable research groups and are increasing their industry partnerships in the Hunter region and beyond through applied research and development collaborations.
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