New Videos Explore If Scientists Are Born or Made

Above: Professor Helen Christensen's international work on mental health is just one of the 26 inspiring stories in the new Fellows videos.

Inspiring stories

Are brilliant scientists born or made? Twenty-six inspiring stories on the research and personal journeys of some of Australia's most distinguished scientists shed some light on this question.

The Australian Academy of Science will launch video stories of its Fellows elected in 2025 at Science at the Shine Dome this week, bringing to life the people behind the remarkable research undertaken by Australia's stellar scientists.

The annual event brings together Australia's science sector to celebrate science and to honour outstanding achievements.

The new Fellows span diverse scientific disciplines - from researchers decoding our earliest solar systems to pioneers shaping the future of robotics - and the videos reveal the stories behind groundbreaking discoveries.

Highlights from the new Fellow videos include:

• Professor Deli Chen's path to soil science began with a childhood observation that would shape his career: walking home from school, he noticed dying fish in rice paddies near his home. This moment of curiosity now drives his critical research into the more efficient use of nitrogen fertiliser and its environmental impact.
• Dr Marlene Kanga's persistence in elevating engineering's global profile led to establishing World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, now recognised worldwide every 4 March - showcasing engineering's vital role in sustainable development.
• Professor Aidan Sims is part of an academic dynasty - taught by his father in first-year university, he now teaches his own son first-year mathematics 29 years later. His philosophy challenges common misconceptions: "There's no such thing as just being good at maths or bad at maths - it takes practice."

The Academy's newly elected Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy and will present their research at Science at the Shine Dome on 2 and 3 September 2025 in Canberra. The presentations will be livestreamed from our event webpage.

With the election of our 2025 Fellows, the Academy's Fellowship now stands at 630 Fellows. Check out the individual videos below, or see this showcase page with all the videos.

Agricultural Sciences

• Professor Deli Chen AO FAA
• Professor Rajeev Varshney FAA FRS

Biology

• Professor David Adams FAA FAHMS
• Professor Gabrielle Belz FAA FAHMS
• Professor Jeff Errington FAA FRS
• Emeritus Professor Mark Howden AC FAA FTSE
• Professor David Huang FAA FAHMS
• Associate Professor Andrew Nash FAA FTSE
• Professor Michael Stumpf FAA
• Professor Nicole Webster FAA
• Professor Tony Weiss AM FAA FTSE FAHMS

Chemistry

• Professor Guoxiu Wang FAA

Earth Sciences

• Dr Pep Canadell FAA FTSE
• Professor Trevor Ireland FAA

Engineering

• Professor Xiaojing Hao FAA FTSE
• Dr Marlene Kanga AO FAA FTSE

ICT

• Professor Robert Mahony FAA
• Emeritus Professor Rick Middleton FAA

Mathematics

• Professor Jessica Purcell FAA
• Professor Aidan Sims FAA

Medical Sciences

• Professor Helen Christensen AO FAA FAHMS FASSA
• Professor Jürgen Götz FAA FAHMS
• Professor Christina Mitchell AO FAA FAHMS
• Professor Clare Scott AM FAA FAHMS

Physics

• Professor Tamara Davis AM FAA
• Professor Derek Leinweber FAA