Brilliant scientist working on a game-changer
A SELF-DESCRIBED “girlie swot” who wanted to be an astronaut has been named Australian of the Year.
Brilliant scientist Professor Michelle Simmons, 50, from the University of NSW, has launched Australia into the space race of the computing era with her groundbreaking work.
National Australia Day Council chair Danielle Roche congratulated Prof Simmons and the other recipients of Australian of the Year awards.
“They are breaking down barriers, forging new futures, looking at old problems in different ways and creating new pathways,” Ms Roche said.
That is especially true of Prof Simmons who has transformed the University of NSW quantum physics department into the world leader in advanced computing systems since moving here from London 18 years ago. Her team at Australia’s Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology has already created the world’s first transistor from a single atom.
Now her goal is to make a tiny silicon microchip that can carry out hugely complicated calculations that would revolutionise the world.
“A quantum computer would be able to solve problems in minutes that would otherwise take thousands of years,” she said after being nominated for Australian of the Year. “The international race to build one is highly competitive. It’s nailbiting, it’s exciting and it’s happening right now in Sydney. The significance for Australia should not be underestimated.”
Her brilliantly logical brain was evident from a young age. As an eight-year-old she sat watching her father play her brother at chess before challenging him to a game. Her father paid little attention. “To his horror I won,” she said.