Winners of the 2022 Metrology Awards announced in National Science Week

The prestigious Barry Inglis Medal and NMI Prize recognise outstanding measurement-related achievements in Australia or by Australians. NMI’s CEO and Chief Metrologist Dr Bruce Warrington and Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley announced the winners at a special event for National Science Week.

Professor Oliver Jones, from RMIT, received the 2022 Barry Inglis Medal for his extended and careful development of analytical measurement techniques. He applied these to a range of impact areas including environmental monitoring for chemicals of concern, and metabolomics.

The NMI Prize, an award for early to mid-career professionals up to the age of 35, went to Dr Neil Robinson from the University of Western Australia. This was for his research on the development and application of novel nuclear magnetic resonance techniques for characterising functional porous materials important to energy, environment and society.

‘Professor Jones’s work is an excellent example of the illustrious achievements the Barry Inglis Medal is intended to recognise. His leadership, collaborations, contribution to professional bodies and commitment to science communication are also notable,’ Dr Warrington said.

‘Equally, the novelty and careful evaluation shown in Dr Robinson’s work and the immediate and potentially widespread application to industrial and resource processes were very impressive,’ Dr Warrington added.

For the first time in 2022, NMI added a new People’s Choice category to the awards.

Six finalists were invited to each present a 5 minute pitch to a live online audience who voted on their preferred candidate. Dr Rounak Manoharan (Electro-Optic Systems) wow’ed the crowd with an eloquent talk on a fast measurement technique to investigate short-duration pulsed plasmas.