Academy honours Australia's eminent scientists - 4 mins read Today 26 Fellows and two Corresponding Members join the Australian Academy of Science’s Fellowship of 647 distinguished Australian scientists working across fields from fundamental physics to biomedical research. President of the Academy Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC said this year's cohort demonstrated both the depth of Australian science and the path from discovery to impact. “This cohort includes scientists whose work is rewriting the textbooks and has changed the world,” Professor Jagadish said. “Professor Andrew Dzurak led the team that built the world's first silicon quantum bits and is now scaling them toward manufacturable quantum computers. “Professor Sherene Loi's research has changed how breast cancer is diagnosed in hospitals worldwide. “Emeritus Professor John Long has identified 90 previously unknown prehistoric taxa, reshaping our understanding of vertebrate evolution. “Their work, and that of all 26 new Fellows, shows what Australia is capable of when its scientists are supported from fundamental discovery through to global application.” Diverse research fields represented Another of this year’s elected Fellows is Professor Yun Liu (Australian National University), an applied materials chemist whose pioneering research in defect and crystal chemistry has revolutionised materials design for future technologies, driving progress in electronics, energy and environmental applications. Professor Liu’s research relies on world-class facilities, including neutron and synchrotron sources, high-resolution electron microscopes and atomic force microscopes. “These tools allow us to probe matter at the atomic scale and solve complex problems in ways that were unimaginable decades ago,” she said. “Every material you study is different, which means every day brings new challenges, and you are constantly acquiring new knowledge and skills. “There is a sense of exploration, discovery and excitement that never fades.” Palaeontologist Professor John Long (Flinders University) is also among this year’s new Fellows. His research has helped