UOW scientist joins Nobel Laureates in World Class University project

Australian innovative materials expert Professor Gordon Wallace has been invited to join eminent world scientists, including Nobel Prize Laureates, in a newly-formed international collaborative research project named “World Class University” by the Korean Government.

The Director of the University of Wollongong-based Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) and Executive Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) will join scientists, including nine Nobel Prize Laureates invited to visit Korean universities to establish new academic programs and conduct joint research in the field of emerging technologies.

Among the Nobel participants in the project is President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr José Ramos-Horta. Professor Wallace will be joining 76 scientists on the ‘Nobel Committee’ which will act as an advisory committee to the Korean Government over the next five years.

Supported by a $1 million grant from the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Wallace will collaborate with researchers and students at Hanbat National University in Korea to prepare a variety of electrode materials to be used in energy conversion or energy storage systems.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to build on our already vibrant links with Korean researchers. We have common interests in the pursuit of more efficient energy conversion and storage systems and complementary expertise that will help us achieve our goals,” Professor Wallace said.

University of Wollongong Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Judy Raper, described Professor Wallace as one of the University’s “research stars” and UOW was very proud of his latest fine achievement.

“It is a testament to his continuing research achievements and the excellent international collaborations with which he is involved,” she said.

This announcement is the latest in a series of key strategic alliances that Professor Wallace and his team are involved in Australia and overseas including the recent Gangwon collaboration. The NSW Government announced last week that Professor Wallace’s area had been chosen as the first funding recipients of a joint technology program between the NSW Government and the South Korean province of Gangwon.

To initiate these research activities a delegation of Korean researchers visited Wollongong to attend the 2009 ACES Electromaterials Symposium being held from February 4 to February 6 hosted by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science.

See the following website for further details about this conference http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/UOW054498.html]

Last reviewed: 6 February, 2009