News & Stories

Soaring science greats recognised in national awards

University researchers recognised among nation’s best.

Two University of Tasmania researchers have been recognised among the nation’s best in the 2018 Australian Academy of Science honorific awards.

Professor David Cooke (ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, pictured above) and Professor Matt King (School of Land and Food) were celebrated for their life-long achievements and outstanding contributions to the advancement of science.

Professor Cooke was awarded the Haddon Forrester King Medal and Lecture, and Professor King has received the Mawson Medal and Lecture.

“The University is extremely proud and honoured to have two highly-acclaimed researchers recognised in this year’s awards,” University of Tasmania Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Mike Calford said.

“Both Professor Cooke and Professor King have and continue to lead distinguished research careers, where their work has considerable local and global impact and reach.”

The two University of Tasmania researchers are among 18 recipients, across early career, mid-career and career honorific awards, announced today by the Academy.

Professor Cooke has received one of the top honours, the Haddon Forrester King Medal and Lecture.

Professor Matt King.

His investigations into the geological processes that produce copper-gold deposits, as a result of fluids released from magma deep within the Earth’s crust, have transformed the geochemical exploration techniques used by mining and resource companies around the world.

Professor Cooke has also mentored a large number of PhD students, many of whom have gone on to fill important geoscience roles in major mineral exploration companies worldwide.

Professor King’s career achievements have been awarded the Mawson Medal and Lecture, for his outstanding contributions to earth science in Australia.

Professor King’s work has helped reveal the dynamic nature of the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica and how they contribute to sea-level change.

Using satellites, Professor King and colleagues can now observe an increasing contribution of melting ice to sea-level change.

The changes are so large that researchers see the Earth changing shape even as the ice melts, giving scientists new clues as to the properties of the Earth hundreds of kilometres beneath the ice. 

The awards will be officially presented by the Academy next year at dedicated celebration events, where recipients will present a special lecture.

interested in conducting your own research? Apply now to become a research student.