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WA Science Hall of Fame
The Western Australian Science Hall of Fame recognises meritorious contribution to the science community over an extended period of time.
The inductees are exceptional examples of the outstanding achievements in Western Australian Science. Inductees are announced as part of the annual Western Australian Science Awards presentations.
2012 Inductee
Professor Stephen Hopper AC FLS FTSE
Professor Hopper most recently served as the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He returned to Western Australia in October 2012 and will take up a position at The University of Western Australia.
The Professor is an internationally acclaimed plant conservation biologist who has made an outstanding contribution to biodiversity preservation in Western Australia.
He has made significant improvements to a number of the State’s conservation programs and infrastructure and, earlier this year, was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for his service as a global science leader.
2011 Inductee
Dr Bernard Bowen AM
In a long and distinguished career, Dr Bernard Bowen has made a significant contribution to fisheries research, marine resource management, environmental protection and radio astronomy in Western Australia.
Dr Bowen held the position of Director of the Department of Fisheries for 23 years and has chaired many committees in the science field at a state, national and international level.
He has played a significant role in the development of four research institutes: the WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories; the WA Wildlife Research Centre; the WA Marine Science Institution and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research.
In 1991, Dr Bowen was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the fishing industry and in 2001 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Murdoch University in recognition of his distinguished career.
Dr Bowen currently holds several chairmanship positions, including on the Board of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research in Western Australia; the Woodside Marine Expert Advisory Panel for Woodside Energy Limited; the Albany Port Authority Dredging Reference Group; and the Western Australian Marine Science Institution.
2010 Inductee
Professor Fiona Stanley AC
Professor Fiona Stanley is an Epidemiologist noted for her work on Cerebral Palsy and children’s health. She is a vocal advocate for the needs of children and their families espousing the importance of using population data to provide significant health, social and economic benefits to the community. She is the founding director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR).
Fiona is the CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, and is Professor of Paediatrics at UWA.
The new state-of-the-art hospital being constructed at Murdoch is to be named the Fiona Stanley Hospital in honour of her achievements. Professor Stanley is a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council. She was named Australian of the Year in 2003, was honoured as a “National Living Treasure” by the National Trust in 2004 and is the UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
2009 Inductee
Professor Ian Constable AO
Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Western Australia
Former Managing Director of Lion’s Eye Institute
Professor Ian Constable AO is recognised as one of the world’s leading ophthalmic surgeons. He is the founder and director of the Lions Eye Institute (LEI) in Perth, Western Australia. He is also the Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Western Australia, and the Foundation Director of UWA’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Professor Constable established LEI in 1983 to address escalating incidence of blindness from a scientific base. LEI is now the largest eye research institute in the southern hemisphere with 120 scientists dedicated to the investigation, prevention and cure of blinding eye disease.
With Professor Constable at the lead, LEI has made many ground breaking discoveries and developments, including the LEI artificial cornea which is granting sight to people around the world.
Professor Constable served on the Premier’s Science and innovation Council and the Western Australia Science and Innovation Council as the Deputy Chair, providing science advice to the State Government.
His clinical sub-specialties are vitreoretinal surgery, retinal vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
2008 Inductee
Emeritus Professor John de Laeter AO
Professor John de Laeter was a physicist and science luminary of international standing.
Throughout his career, he led groundbreaking research, including measuring the atomic weight of 12 elements and mapping the geological ages of many regions of Western Australia. During his time at Curtin University, he negotiated with the university, businesses and State Government to invest in several visionary projects, all of which have become outstanding successes. These include: Technology Park (Chair, 1988 - 93, and then Patron); Science and Mathematics Education Centre at Curtin; Scitech Discovery Centre (Deputy Chair, 1988 - 96, and then Patron); and Gravity Discovery Centre at Gingin (Foundation Chair). He also served as President of the Western Australian Conservation and Environment Council for three years.
In recognition of his contributions, he has received many awards, including the Order of Australia in 1992, a Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, an Honorary Doctor of Technology from Curtin in 1995 and, in respect of his research in astrophysics, a minor planet (Minor Planet de Laeter 3893) was named after him in 1996. In April 2002, Professor de Laeter’s academic work was recognised when Curtin University renamed its internationally renowned mass spectrometry centre as the John de Laeter Centre of Mass Spectrometry.
Professor of Physics at Curtin since 1986, Professor de Laeter held several of the university's most senior academic positions until he retired in 1995 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Development. Professor de Laeter passed away in 2010.
2007 Inaugural inductees
Scitech
With its mission is to increase interest and participation by Western Australians in science and technology over the past 20 years, Scitech were selected as the Inaugural Inductees of the Science Hall of Fame..
Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren
For dedicated service to research, recognised in the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology in 2005, Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren were Inaugural Inductees to the Science Hall of Fame.
They discovered the bacterium Helicobacter pylori as a cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Thanks to the pioneering discovery by Marshall and Warren, peptic ulcer disease is no longer a chronic, frequently disabling condition, but a disease that can be cured by a short regimen of antibiotics and acid secretion inhibitors.
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