Promising climate research awarded

Dr Deanna D’Alessandro has been recognised for her promising research into climate change.

A University of Sydney researcher has won recognition for her groundbreaking work into capturing carbon emissions, which has the potential to significantly impact climate change.

Dr Deanna D’Alessandro , a postdoctoral fellow based in the School of Chemistry , is one of three female researchers to be awarded a L’Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellowship.

Her research has investigated ways to capture and release carbon dioxide, hydrogen and other gases using molecular sponges, work which has great potential to reduce carbon emissions.

During her time as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr D’Alessandro created chemical frameworks that could survive tough environmental conditions yet still capture carbon dioxide. Although not yet ready for commercial use, they are a step closer to cost-effective carbon capture.

Dr D’Alessandro said she returned to Australia in 2009 in order to develop her own career as an independent researcher.

"I’m building a research team here in Australia that will help me turn my ideas into reality and contribute to a sustainable future," she said.

Dr D’Alessandro believes in time, she will be able to create molecular sponges that will mop up carbon dioxide, hydrogen, or in theory almost any gas - and then release it on cue.

The $20,000 For Women in Science Fellowship will provide equipment, travel support and a summer vacation student to assist her research.

She hopes to create more advanced molecular frameworks, the pores of which can be modified by different wavelengths of light.

Her metal-organic frameworks could also have many other applications, such as hydrogen storage; gas separation; electrodes for sensors, and capacitors for electronic circuits.

Media enquiries:
Rachel Gleeson, 0403 067 342, 9351 4312, rachel.gleeson [a] sydney.edu (p) au