Professor Anna Giacomini elected as an ATSE Fellow
Australia’s leading expert on rockfall mechanics and protection design, Professor Anna Giacomini, is among the distinguished cohort of Fellows elected to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) this year.
The 2023 new ATSE Fellows have been chosen for their game-changing contributions in fields spanning artificial intelligence, marine biology, photonics, cancer therapy, battery and energy innovation, and more.
Extreme weather events are set to spark more rockfall instabilities, requiring big investment to assess and reduce risk to both people and infrastructure. Professor Giacomini’s research has directly informed the design of rockfall mitigation measures, such as wire safety netting, as well as design guidelines and management approaches adopted by government and industry.
Professor Giacomini and her team at the University of Newcastle built advanced testing facilities, including a world-first rock fragmentation facility, where they have unearthed important details of rockfall dynamics and fragmentation.
Professor Giacomini’s research has wide-ranging applications with substantial economic, social and environmental benefits. Her findings are invaluable to the mining and geotechnical industries, where workers operate in close proximity to rockfaces.
ATSE President Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FTSE said the new Fellows are creating a better Australia through their work.
“As we face global challenges such as climate change, the digitisation of our economy and the massive challenge of building a diverse and skilled STEM workforce, technological innovation is the lynchpin for shaping our future. It’s looking bright thanks to the extraordinary contributions of our 33 newest Fellows.”
“It is a proud moment to be elected by your peers and acknowledged for your lifelong achievements. ATSE Fellows are truly exceptional at what they do, and Australia is all the better for them.”
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