Academy of Science awards Sydney scientists with highest honour

Professors Dacheng Tao, Geordie Williamson, Jennie Brand-Miller and Chris Dickman recognised for outstanding contributions to Australian science. The Australian Academy of Science has awarded four academics from the University of Sydney with its highest honour, electing them as Fellows of Australia's most prestigious scientific organisation. On Tuesday, 21 scientists from across Australia were elected to the Academy for their outstanding contributions to science. Four come from the University of Sydney, a higher number this year than any other institution. The four new Fellows from the University of Sydney are: Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, human nutrition Professor Christopher Dickman, ecology Professor Dacheng Tao, artificial intelligence Professor Geordie Williamson, mathematics Professor Tao's citation for his election to the Academy particularly notes that "he has made fundamental research contributions to learning succinct, robust and effective representations for data sampled from high dimensional or high order spaces." He said: "It is my great honour to be elected as a fellow of the Academy. Not only has it recognised my effort and contributions to artificial intelligence, but it will also strengthen my commitment to further research in artificial intelligence." The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Michael Spence, said: "It is an enormous honour for us that four outstanding academics have been recognised by their election to the Academy of Science. "This is a just reward for their hard work and brilliance, and it reflects the University's investment in long-term, fundamental science that packs real impact.