Wollongong academic wins World Technology Award

6 October, 2001

An academic from the University of Wollongong, Associate Professor Sharon Beder, was named today in London as the winner of the 2001 World Technology Award for Ethics.

Professor Beder, who is in London to receive her award, said she was totally delighted and surprised to be acknowledged in an area of research not normally covered by academics - engineering ethics and the ethics of legal corporations.
"It is not normally the type of research which receives funding," said the author of the controversial book, Global Spin - the Corporate Assault on Environmentalism and Head of UOW's Science, Technology and Society Program. Her latest book, Selling the Work Ethic, deals with consumption, the work ethic and employers.

Global Spin made Professor Beder an international figure in environmental politics and earned her the admiration of British playwright Harold Pinter and veteran Australian investigative journalist John Pilger.

The World Technology Awards honour those who are considered to be doing the work of the greatest likely long-term significance for business and society. Professor Beder's award was made during the World Technology Summit and World Technology Awards held in association with Nasdaq, GlaxoSmithkline, Enron, Business Week, CNBC and Nature. Awards are given in 24 categories of which ethics is one of the categories.

The Chairman of the World Technology Network, Mr James Clark, said Professor Beder "won over an absolutely legendary group of people".

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, Professor Gerard Sutton, said to be nominated for such an award would be regarded as a remarkable achievement in itself. However, for Professor Beder to have won clearly indicates her international standing in the technology world.

Professor Beder received a trophy designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Richard Meier, at the ceremony held in London's National Museum of Science and Industry.