Professor Naomi Halas Awarded Prestigious 2024 Geoffrey Frew Fellowship

Melbourne, 2024 – The Australian Academy of Science has announced Professor Naomi J. Halas of Rice University, USA, as the recipient of the 2024 Geoffrey Frew Fellowship, recognizing her groundbreaking contributions to nanophotonics and plasmonics.

Professor Halas, known for her pioneering work in how the nanoscale structure of metal nanoparticles influences their optical properties, has significantly advanced the field of plasmonics. Her research integrates chemical nanofabrication with optics, leading to innovative applications in biomedicine, optoelectronics, and solar energy technologies among others.

Currently holding the titles of University Professor and Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, Professor Halas's work spans a wide array of disciplines, enhancing both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in science.

Her accolades include memberships in prestigious bodies such as the US National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and international recognition from the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

As part of her fellowship, Professor Halas will deliver a keynote address at the 25th Congress of the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) in Melbourne, scheduled from December 2 to 5, 2024. This event will also feature co-located conferences including the 17th International Conference on Near-field Optics, Nanophotonics, and Related Techniques (NFO-17), the 2024 Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics (ANZCOP), and the 2024 Conference on Optoelectronic and Microelectronic Materials and Devices (COMMAD).

The Geoffrey Frew Fellowship, established in 1970 by Mr. G.S.V. Frew, aims to bring distinguished overseas scientists to Australia to engage with local scientific communities. The fellowship, supported by both the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian and New Zealand Optical Society, facilitates visits to various scientific centers across the country.

Professor Halas's visit is anticipated to foster international collaboration and inspire the next generation of researchers in Australia and New Zealand. For more information about the fellowship and Professor Halas's contributions, visit Alayaran.com.