Outstanding researchers at both ends of the career spectrum in the UNSW School of Physics - Adam Micolich and Victor Flambaum - have won two of Australia's most prestigious academic awards.

Dr Adam Micolich has been awarded the 2008 Edgeworth David Medal by the Royal Society of NSW. Given annually to a scientist under the age of 35 for distinguished contributions to Australian science, it is one of the most influential early career awards.

Dr Micolich is a senior lecturer in the School of Physics. He has been awarded $6.85 million in external research funding over the past five years, including four ARC Discovery Grants, three ARC LIEF Grants and an ARC Special Research Initiative grant for establishment of a Young Investigators Network for Next Generation Electronic Devices.

Previous winners include palaeontologist, UNSW alumnus and former Australian of the Year, Professor Tim Flannery; the world-leading UNSW solar cell physicist, Scientia Professor Martin Green; and UNSW's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Les Field.

As well, one of the school's most distinguished senior researchers, Scientia Professor Victor Flambaum, has been awarded the 2008 Lyle Medal by the Australian Academy of Science.

The Lyle Medal recognises outstanding achievement by a scientist in Australia for research in mathematics or physics. It is arguably the nation's most important senior career award in this field.

Professor Flambaum is head of the Theoretical Physics Department, with multiple research interests include many challenging problems in atomic, nuclear, elementary particle, solid state physics and astrophysics.

They range from high-precision atomic calculations through to the search for spatial and temporal variation of the fundamental constants in the Universe from the Big Bang to the present time. His other awards include the Lenin Komsomol Prize (USSR) and the Centenary Medal (Australia).

The wins highlight the depth and breadth of the School's academic talents and its well-deserved reputation for original and high-quality research in this important core science discipline.

Read the full story on the Faculty of Science website.

Media Contacts: Bob Beale, Media Officer, Faculty of Science | 0411 705 435 | bbeale@science.unsw.edu.au