National honours shine a spotlight on UQ scientists

A quartet of top scientists is among many University of Queensland community members recognised in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours. 

Professor Tamara Davis, Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett FAA, Professor Ranjeny Thomas FAHMS and Professor Kaye Basford FTSE received national awards in recognition of their lifetimes of work.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC congratulated all UQ awardees, thanking them for their invaluable contributions to the nation and across the world.

“In these challenging times of global disruption, the Queen’s Birthday Honours serves as an important reminder of the positive actions and significant contributions of those in our UQ community including students, staff and supporters,” Professor Høj said.

“Time and time again we see education and research at the forefront, helping to build the foundations that enable people to create lasting and impactful change.

“It is a proud day for UQ with such esteemed members of our community recognised for their contributions to the world and the lives of people living in it.”

Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett (pictured) received an Officer of the Order of Australia in the General Division in recognition of his distinguished service to neuroscience research, and to people living with dementia, motor neurone disease, and spinal cord injury.

Emeritus Professor Bartlett is an eminent scientist whose discoveries have helped transform modern neuroscience, particularly his pioneering work discovering stem cells in the adult brain, which proved that the brain can create new cells throughout life, and is thus able to regenerate.

He was the inaugural director of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) which was established at UQ in 2003.

Under Emeritus Professor Bartlett’s leadership, QBI flourished into one of the world’s foremost neuroscience institutes, housing an Australian-first centre for dementia research and leading the development of new therapeutics for brain diseases.

Professor Kaye Basford (pictured) received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to tertiary education, to the biomedical sciences, and to scientific academies.

Professor Basford is a respected statistician and biometrician who applies statistical methods to plant genetics.

She has made significant contributions to UQ and to the broader community as a former President of UQ’s Academic Board, a former President of the International Biometric Society and as the current Head of UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences.

School of Mathematics and Physics Professor Tamara Davis (pictured) was also awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for significant service to astrophysical science, education, and to young astronomers.

Professor Davis’s work as an astrophysicist focusses on elusive dark energy (antigravity) and dark matter (gravity) which are considered to be among the most profound puzzles facing fundamental physics.

Through her research, Professor Davis is exploring the reasoning behind how the universe expands, which has challenged scientists since the Big Bang.

Professor Ranjeny Thomas (pictured) was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division in recognition of her significant service to medical education and research, and to rheumatology.

Professor Thomas is renowned for her research into autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes. 

Her research explores the basic mechanisms of immunity and cell function in autoimmune disease.

She has also contributed major insights into autoimmune diabetes, leading to the development of disease biomarkers and innovative immunotherapies.

Other UQ community recipients included:

• Dr Colin Limpus AC, Companion in the General Division, for distinguished service to environmental science, particularly to the conservation of sea turtles, and as a mentor of young scientists.
• The Honourable Justice Peter Applegarth AM, Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to the law, the judiciary and to social justice.
• Emeritus Professor Michael Capra AM, for significant service to tertiary education, particularly to workplace health and safety science.
• Mr Perry Cross AM, for significant service to people living with a spinal cord injury, and as a role model.
• Professor Nicholas Fisk AM, for significant service to tertiary education, and to maternal-fetal medicine.
• Professor Marcia Langton AM For distinguished service to tertiary education, and as an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Professor Jeffrey Lipman AM, Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to medicine, anaesthesiology, critical care and education. 
• Emeritus Professor John Longworth AM, for significant service to tertiary education, and to the agricultural sciences.
• Mr Sean Dorney AM, for distinguished service to Australia-Papua New Guinea relations, to the broadcast media as a journalist, and as an author.
• Mr Mario Pennisi AM, for significant service to the biomedical sector, to commercialisation initiatives, and to research.
• Mr Herbert Wharton AM, for significant service to the literary arts, to poetry, and to the Indigenous community.
• Professor Jeanine Young AM, for significant service to tertiary education, to medical research, and to nursing.
• Distinguished Professor Patricia Yates AM, for significant service to tertiary education, to cancer and palliative care nursing, and to medical research.
• Dr Kenneth Jackson OAM, for service to horticultural research.
• Ms Dalma Jacobs OAM (pictured), Medal of the Order, for service to women in tertiary education.
• Dr Sarah Medland OAM, for service to medical research in the field of genetics.

Contact: Greta Usasz, UQ Advancement, g.usasz@uq.edu.au, ph +61 7 3346 3908.

The full 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list is on the Governor-General’s website.