Victoria‘s best in Science and Innovation shine
Published: 25 November 2020
Victoria is the Australian capital of innovation and the state’s best and brightest were celebrated in today's virtual award ceremony for the 2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation and Victoria Fellowships.
The Victorian Government has proudly supported Victoria’s most prestigious awards for science and innovation since 1998, delivering them in partnership with VESKI since 2004. These awards and fellowships provide Victoria’s top scientists and researchers with global opportunities to expand their research and collaboration networks, driving new ideas and products in local industries that will drive future innovation and economic recovery.
2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation
The Victoria Prize acknowledges exceptional professional achievement, supporting innovators to continue their important work – forging new frontiers and developing the technologies and treatments that improve quality of life for people around the world.
2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in Life Science
Professor Kay Crossley
Congratulations to Professor Kay Crossley, recipient of the 2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in Life Science. Her research has revolutionised how we manage hip and knee pain – exercise is now considered medicine. She’s a world leader in the development of non-surgical, exercise-based treatments that not only address these incredibly common conditions, but also help to treat the chronic health issues that often co-exist with them, such as mental health disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Her efforts have transformed the treatment of hip and knee pain – conditions that would traditionally see people sent for expensive imaging, injections and surgeries. These traditional interventions are not only costly, they also carry risks, and only treat one part of a larger problem.
In the four years since she began as the inaugural Director of the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, she has produced more than 200 research papers per year and led the centre to become one of the world’s leading institutions of its kind.
Her work has helped countless people in Victoria and around the world to manage debilitating hip and knee pain and live happier, healthier lives. As the winner of the Victoria Prize, Prof Crossley receives $50,000 to support her important research.
Watch the following video to find out more about her work.
2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in Physical Science
Professor Yi-Min (Mike) Xie AM
Congratulations Professor Mike Xie, winner of the 2020 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in Physical Science.
Prof Xie is recognised globally for his major contributions to the development and worldwide use of a technology known as Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (ESO) and Bi-directional ESO (BESO).
Inspired by naturally occurring structures such as bones, shells and trees, ESO/BESO is now widely used in engineering, architecture, biomedicine and materials science.
The organic and strikingly elegant shapes produced by ESO/BESO have been used in landmark buildings around the world.
Among its many practical applications, ESO/BESO can be used to reduce the weight of cars and aircraft, significantly reducing the amount of fuel used by transport. Companies like Boeing and Arup have collaborated with Prof Xie to design and manufacture lightweight, high-performance components.
His team also designs and fabricates new composite materials with special properties, such as biomedical implants for surgery patients and body armour for soldiers.
As the winner of the Victoria Prize, Prof Xie receives $50,000 to support his ongoing work.
Watch the following video to find out more about his work.
2020 Victoria Fellowships
Victoria Fellowships valued at up to $18,000 each were awarded to 12 early-career researchers to assist them to take international study missions when conditions allow – six Fellowships in life sciences and six in physical sciences. Congratulations to the 2020 Victoria Fellows. You can read more about the 2020 Victorian Fellowships recipients on the Veski website.