SA scientist wins national award for Global Hawk
News Item
- Date:
- 1 July, 2002
South Australian scientist Dr Jackie Craig has today been awarded a national science award recognising her pivotal role in the success in deploying the Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
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- Jackie Craig accepting her award
Defence Minister Robert Hill today presented Dr Craig with the 2001 Minister’s Achievement Award for Defence Science at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) laboratories at Edinburgh, north of Adelaide.
Senator Hill said Dr Craig received the award for her substantial national and international contribution in defence imagery research and development.
"One of DSTO’s most valuable achievements in 2001 has clearly been the success of Global Hawk," Senator Hill said. "Dr Craig was a key motivator who led the team to adapt the Global Hawk’s land reconnaissance system for maritime surveillance."
Several hundred of Dr Craig’s colleagues attended the award presentation at which Dr Craig received a plaque and a winner’s cheque.
Senator Hill also presented international awards for excellence in defence science to a large group of DSTO researchers.
"These prestigious awards recognise work that contributes significantly to the technological edge of the Australian Defence Force," Senator Hill said. "This technology impacts on everything from the uniforms our troops wear in Afghanistan to their vehicles which have been modified for mine detection."
The annual awards are presented as part of The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) – Australia’s most important collaborative agreement in defence science involving the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
"The TTCP allows our defence scientists to gain important national and international recognition and to benchmark their work against the world’s best, especially where the work is security sensitive," Senator Hill said.
Senator Hill congratulated the recipients of 50 awards that were presented for work undertaken by Australian Defence researchers during 2001.
The awards are for successes in the fields of radar technology, electro-optic sensors, human factors, sonar technology, paint technology, simulation and modelling and rocket motors.
Awards were presented to:
- Mr Richard Lindop and Dr Stephen Howard for their significant contribution in extending emitter identification capabilities to military radars.
- Dr Michael Skinner for contributing to the development of an integrated suite of Human Factors Engineering tools based on theoretical models of human behaviour.
- Dr Terry Moon and Mr Graeme Murray for identifying and addressing critical technologies and key issues related to future coalition operations for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
- Mr Ian Cox for his contribution to low-cost rapidly deployable underwater acoustic sensors.
- Dr Lindsay Wake for the development of ship exterior coatings that reflect a large proportion of incident solar energy while maintaining all the desirable qualities of existing paints.
- Dr Poh Lian Choong and Dr Douglas Kewley for their contribution to advanced radar system modelling and simulation.
- EO Sensor Systems and the Surveillance from Space Based and High Altitude Platforms Action Group (40 members) for their significant contribution in collecting multi-sensor/multi-spectral data to support national and joint programs in detection and classification in heavy clutter.
- Dr Sook Ying Ho for her analytical techniques to predict the service life of solid rocket motors.
Media contact: Minister's office Sascha Meldrum 08 8237 7820 or 0409 201126
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is part of Australia's Department of Defence. DSTO's role is to ensure the expert, impartial and innovative application of science and technology to the defence of Australia and its national interests.