Associate Professor Elizabeth Williams

Associate Professor Elizabeth Williams (Liz) holds a joint appointment in the UNSW School of Science in Canberra and UNSW Nuclear Innovation Centre (UNIC) in Kensington. She is also an honorary associate professor in the Australian National University (ANU) School of Engineering. 

A nuclear physicist by training, Liz spent more than a decade working on fundamental and applied nuclear science at accelerator facilities in the US and Australia before transitioning her research to safety-critical systems design. She recently established the SocioTechnical nuclear Systems (STS) research group at UNIC, which focuses on developing context-appropriate, evidence-based insights regarding whether, when and how nuclear technologies should be designed, used, and governed across their full lifecycles. 

Liz is passionate about creating cross-disciplinary and cross-sector networks that support collaboration and impact. Her most recent work in this area includes contributing to the establishment of the Australian Nuclear Research and Education Network (ANREN), which brings together tertiary academics and professional staff engaged in nuclear / radiation-related research and education across Australia and creates opportunities for cross-institutional and cross-sector engagement. She also led the formalisation of the ANU Nuclear Stewardship Network and served as its first Interim Director.

She is also an award-winning research supervisor and an experienced educator. Most recently, she led the establishment of the nuclear systems major and minor in the ANU Bachelor of Engineering programs.

Finally, she is a keen science communicator. She established, produces and hosts the Nuclear Matters Podcast, which explores Australia’s nuclear past, present, and future with the help of experts actively working on these issues.