One of Macquarie’s brightest female scientists, Dr Elena Belousova, has received the prestigious 2016 Nancy Millis Medal for Women in Science for her work in the natural sciences.
The award was originally established to honour the contributions made to science by the late Professor Nancy Millis, in recognition of her importance as a role model for women aspiring to be research leaders.
“This is a very generous recognition of my research achievements, but also a great responsibility to prove that in the future I do stand up to this ‘high mark!’ said Dr Elena Belousova, who was overwhelmed and humbled at receiving the award.
Bestowed by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), the Nancy Millis medal recognises the work of distinguished mid-career female researchers who have established an independent research program and demonstrated exceptional leadership.
“This award will certainly provide me with significant support to move further along my career path,” said Dr Belousova.
Focussing on establishing new techniques that analyse elements present in accessory minerals, Dr Belousova’s research answers questions about how different terrains have formed on our planet.
“Winning the medal has definitely helped to build my confidence and encourage me to move forward with my research in the really challenging and very exiting area that helps us to better understand the processes of Earth's continental crust generation over a 4.5 billion year history,” Dr Belousova explained.
TerraneChron®, one of Dr Belousova’s innovations, is revolutionising the element detection process by specifically analysing the uranium-lead age and trace-element composition in mineral zircon, which acts as tiny time capsule, to accurately determine how a region of crust was generated over the history of Earth. The technology can be applied in the survey of minerals and petroleum, and so has far-reaching applications in the field of exploration geochemistry.
“This award is a wonderful recognition of the significant research achievements of Dr Belousova, who has accomplished much in her time at Macquarie, and shows she is a role model for women in research,” said Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The Nancy Millis Medal will be presented formally to Dr Belousova next year in May, during the prestigious Science at the Shine Dome event held in Canberra.
The award was originally established to honour the contributions made to science by the late Professor Nancy Millis, in recognition of her importance as a role model for women aspiring to be research leaders.
“This is a very generous recognition of my research achievements, but also a great responsibility to prove that in the future I do stand up to this ‘high mark!’ said Dr Elena Belousova, who was overwhelmed and humbled at receiving the award.
Bestowed by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), the Nancy Millis medal recognises the work of distinguished mid-career female researchers who have established an independent research program and demonstrated exceptional leadership.
“This award will certainly provide me with significant support to move further along my career path,” said Dr Belousova.
Focussing on establishing new techniques that analyse elements present in accessory minerals, Dr Belousova’s research answers questions about how different terrains have formed on our planet.
“Winning the medal has definitely helped to build my confidence and encourage me to move forward with my research in the really challenging and very exiting area that helps us to better understand the processes of Earth's continental crust generation over a 4.5 billion year history,” Dr Belousova explained.
TerraneChron®, one of Dr Belousova’s innovations, is revolutionising the element detection process by specifically analysing the uranium-lead age and trace-element composition in mineral zircon, which acts as tiny time capsule, to accurately determine how a region of crust was generated over the history of Earth. The technology can be applied in the survey of minerals and petroleum, and so has far-reaching applications in the field of exploration geochemistry.
“This award is a wonderful recognition of the significant research achievements of Dr Belousova, who has accomplished much in her time at Macquarie, and shows she is a role model for women in research,” said Professor Sakkie Pretorius, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The Nancy Millis Medal will be presented formally to Dr Belousova next year in May, during the prestigious Science at the Shine Dome event held in Canberra.
