Top Engineering School in Australia honours PM’s prize winner

18 Oct 2011
Professor David Solomon from the University of Melbourne has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for his role in revolutionising polymer science.

Professor Solomon, a professorial fellow in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in the School of Engineering was joint winner of the $300,000 prize with Professor Ezio Rizzardo from CSIRO.

Professor Solomon received his prize the same day the Times Higher Education University Rankings for 2011 placed the School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne as 25th in the world, 3rd in Asia, and first in Australia.

Professor Iven Mareels, Dean Melbourne School of Engineering said the ranking reflected an ongoing commitment to excellence in the School of Engineering, such as exemplified by Solomon’s Prime Minister’s Prize.

When we think about everyday items such as paint, tyres and our computers, it is likely that some of its component materials will have been produced using revolutionary chemical theories and processes invented in Australia by Professor Solomon and Professor Ezio Rizzardo. Their techniques are employed in almost every university chemistry department, and the laboratories and factories of the major chemicals manufacturers.

Professor Solomon, born in the Great Depression, began working for a paint factory in Sydney at 16. Now 81, he is still pursuing research as a professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne.

This formidable team has been able to harness the power of organic chemistry to provide unprecedented control over the structure, composition and properties of the polymers that are now used in almost every facet of our lives. In essence, they devised a means of custom building plastics and other polymers for tasks at the cutting edge of technology.

"I am delighted to have won this prestigious award. I pay tribute to my co-recipient Professor Ezio Rizzardo and the entire research team," Professor Solomon said

Professor Glyn Davis, University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor congratulated Professor Solomon and acknowledged the results in the rankings. "This is a wonderful achievement for the School of Engineering, this year proudly celebrating 150 years of excellence and innovation. Professor Solomon’s accolade is a welcome of the depth of research across the university, but especially within the team led by him."