Congratulations to Prof. John White and Prof. Denis Evans who have both received major awards in the Queen’s Birthday honours list. The awards are due recognition for their significant academic and scientific contributions to the ANU, Australia and the world.

John was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, and Denis was made an Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

John’s award is ‘For distinguished service to science globally in the field of chemistry, as an academic, mentor and researcher, and through leadership of Synchrotron and neutron science projects in Australia and the Asia-Oceania region’.

"It was a surprise and pleasure to receive the award and I thank those who nominated me, as well as my wife and family who have supported me throughout my scientific life," Professor White said. "They, my students and scientific colleagues in Oxford, in Australia, in France and in Asia, have contributed to the pleasure and excitement of our science. They share in the honour of this award. Particularly since coming back to Australia in 1985, I thank the ANU for a chance to start new science in the Institute of Advanced Studies and for the possibility of continuing it, as I am doing at the moment, even after formal retirement."

Denis’s award is ‘For significant service to science, particularly chemistry, as an academic and researcher, to tertiary education, and to professional groups’.

Professor Evans, who now works in applied mathematics at the Research School of Physics and Engineering, was an ANU Dean of Chemistry for 10 years, and has been a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science since 1984. More recently, he won the prestigious David Craig Medal from the Australian Academy of Science in 2015.

"This latest honour really took me by surprise," Professor Evans said. "It recognises the fact I've done a lot of different things, as well as the awards for science."

Professor Evans thanked his wife and parents for their sacrifices they made for education and career, as well as former Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb, and Robin Erskine, former Director of the computer centre, for their support during his major project work.

More details are available at:

http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/new-honours-for-anu-academics-and-supporters