UNSW academics in Smart 100

Three UNSW academics have been named among Australia’s smartest 100 people.

Professors Julian Disney, Robert Clark and Brian Boyle are recognised in this week’s issue of The Bulletin magazine, published today, for innovative work that has helped or is helping to better lives and industry in this country. Ten people were named in ten categories ranging from business to sport, and were chosen by specialist panels as part of a year-long project to identify100 Australian “innovators and groundbreakers”.

Law Professor Julian Disney, named in the Society category, has led both national and international peak social welfare bodies and is now the Director of the Social Justice Project at the UNSW Faculty of Law. His most recent work, the Neighbours Program, is designed to strengthen interaction between leaders of major community organisations in Australia and neighbouring countries, especially Indonesia.

Robert Clark and Brian Boyle were both named in the Science category. Clark is Scientia Professor of Experimental Physics and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology. He has been at the forefront of the development of quantum computing and his team is in the race to be first in the world to demonstrate a working prototype in silicon. Through his work, Australia is a significant player in this breakthrough technology. Professor Clark is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Brian Boyle is Director of the Australia Telescope National Facility and Adjunct Professor in the School of Physics. The Bulletin describes Boyle as a star of the astronomy world, citing his research into the origin and structure of the universe.

The full coverage of Smart 100 is available at The Bulletin.