Finkel joins Australian Academy of Science

Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has jokingly cited his having “being born with the science gene” as a key factor behind his election as a fellow by the Australian Academy of Science. AAS’s election citation – released with a list of 21 new fellows this morning – stated Finkel was elected because: “[He] has distinguished himself in Australia’s scientific and engineering community by his passion for science and engineering education at school, university and community levels, and by his creative leadership, initiatives, philanthropy and innovative scientific publishing.” Reflecting on his election and career, Finkel summarised that the so-called "science gene" had given him a lifelong passion for his field. He is a neuroscientist and engineer. “From my earliest days, I can remember being interested in the human body, [and] in gadgets,” Finkel continued. Prior to his current role, Finkel was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian National University, before founding Axon Instruments, a science and tech start-up. He then founded science magazine COSMOS, and – along with a host of other achievements – was elected Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering president. These experiences formed his “training ground” for becoming chief scientist, Finkel said. Finkel also said it was an honour to be elected into AAS. “[Being elected] is also an opportunity for me as chief scientist to be engaging with like-minded scientists whose only objective is to contribute what they can to the betterment of Australia,” he said. Joining Finkel as an elected fellow is professor Susan Scott of ANU. Scott is the first gravitational wave scientist to join AAS and earlier this year was one of a handful of Australian scientists involved in a joint international project that helped discover gravitational waves. The discovery ultimately proved Albert Einstein himself to be correct. She said she hopes her election “will highlight our new field of gravitational wave astronomy”. Professor Andrew Holmes, AAS president, congratulated all of the new fellows, for having each made significant and lasting impacts in their scientific disciplines. They will be admitted into AAS tomorrow, during a ceremony in Canberra. The Australian Academy of Science is made up of about 500 leading Australian scientists. Scientists judged by their peers to have made an exceptional contribution to knowledge in their field may be elected as a Fellow. About 20 new fellows may be elected every year All of the 2016 fellows are listed below: Dr Ian Allison, University of Tasmania Professor David Bellwood, James Cook University Professor Benjamin Eggleton, University of Sydney Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Fincher, University of Adelaide Dr Alan Finkel, Office of the Chief Scientist Professor Simon Foote, ANU Professor Justin (John) Gooding, UNSW Dr John Kirkegaard, CSIRO Dr Anna Koltunow, CSIRO Professor Geoffrey Lindeman, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Professor Alexander McBratney, University of Sydney Professor Patrick McGorry, Orygen: National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, U. of Melbourne Professor Neville Nicholls, Monash University Professor Stephen Nutt, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Professor Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, University of Queensland Professor Susan Scott, Australian National University Dr Daniela Stock, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Professor Fedor Sukochev, UNSW Professor Toby Walsh, UNSW Professor Naomi Wray, University of Queensland