A pioneer in digital mental health interventions, a world-leading crop genomics expert, and a pre-eminent theoretical cosmologist are amongst the 26 newly elected Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science.
President of the Academy Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC said the new Fellows of 2025 represent the exceptional breadth and depth of Australian scientific excellence.
"The Academy is proud to welcome such a diverse group of outstanding scientists whose work spans from improving mental health outcomes to securing our food future and unravelling the mysteries of the universe," Professor Jagadish said.
"Each Fellow has made remarkable contributions in their field, demonstrating the vital role that science plays in addressing our most pressing challenges and expanding human knowledge."
Newly elected Fellow Professor Helen Christensen from UNSW Sydney has transformed the treatment of mental health through her pioneering work in digital mental health interventions.
She has led the translation of traditional face-to-face treatment to digital interventions, which has allowed millions of people across the world to access effective mental health support for depression and anxiety. Her contributions have significantly influenced clinical practice and helped shape policy to address mental health challenges in Australia and overseas.
Also elected this year is Professor Rajeev Varshney from Murdoch University, whose groundbreaking work in crop genomics is helping to secure food production in the face of climate change.
Professor Varshney applies large-scale genome sequencing and haplotype cataloguing approaches to breed climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties.
He has decoded the genomes of over a dozen crops, leading to the identification of genes and traits that can boost crop productivity and help Australian crop industries adapt to our changing environment and support global food security efforts.
Professor Tamara Davis from The University of Queensland has been leading efforts to fortify the foundations of modern cosmology and produce detailed measurements of the expansion history of the universe.
Working with major astronomical surveys, her research bridges the gap between cosmology theory and observational data analysis, resulting in a deeper understanding of dark energy and the fundamental properties of the universe.
New Fellows of 2025
The 26 Fellows of the Academy elected in 2025 are:
- Professor David Adams FAA FAHMS, University of Wollongong
- Professor Gabrielle Belz FAA FAHMS, University of Queensland
- Dr Josep Canadell FAA FTSE, CSIRO
- Professor Deli Chen AO FAA, University of Melbourne
- Professor Helen Christensen AO FAA FAHMS FASSA, UNSW Sydney
- Professor Tamara Davis AM FAA, University of Queensland
- Professor Jeffery Errington FAA FRS, University of Sydney
- Professor Jürgen Götz FAA FAHMS, University of Queensland
- Professor Xiaojing Hao FAA FTSE, UNSW Sydney
- Professor Mark Howden FAA FTSE, Australian National University
- Professor David Huang FAA FAHMS, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
- Professor Trevor Ireland FAA, University of Queensland
- Dr Marlene Kanga AO FAA FTSE, iOmniscient Pty Ltd
- Professor Derek Leinweber FAA, University of Adelaide
- Professor Robert Mahony FAA, Australian National University
- Professor Richard Middleton FAA, University of Newcastle
- Professor Christina Mitchell AO FAA FAHMS, Monash University
- Dr Andrew Nash FAA FTSE, CSL Limited
- Professor Jessica Purcell FAA, Monash University
- Professor Clare Scott AM FAA FAHMS, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
- Professor Aidan Sims FAA, University of Wollongong
- Professor Michael Stumpf FAA, University of Melbourne
- Professor Rajeev Varshney FAA FRS, Murdoch University
- Professor Guoxiu Wang FAA, University of Technology Sydney
- Professor Nicole Webster FAA, University of Tasmania
- Professor Anthony Weiss AM FAA FTSE FAHMS, University of Sydney
2025 Corresponding Members
Professor Donna Strickland FAA FRS Nobel Laureate from the University of Waterloo and Professor Hiroaki Suga FAA from the University of Tokyo join the likes of Sir David Attenborough, and Nobel Laureates Professor Elizabeth Blackburn and Sir Fraser Stoddard, as Corresponding Members. Corresponding members are eminent international scientists with strong ties to Australia who have made outstanding contributions to science.
