Matildas striker Sam Kerr named young Australian of the year and biophysicist Dr Graham Farquhar the senior Australian of the year

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The quantum physicist Prof Michelle Yvonne Simmons has been named the 2018 Australian of the year for her pioneering work in the field of quantum computing.

At an awards ceremony on Thursday, Simmons was praised for world-leading research that could result in the first working quantum computer – a machine that performs calculations using subatomic particles rather than components of classic computing.

In 2012, she and her team created the world’s first transistor made from a single atom, as well as the world’s thinnest conductive wire – which is 10,000 times thinner than a human hair but has the same current carrying ability of copper.

Her work had the potential to revolutionise all industries, the Australia Day committee said. A quantum computer could solve, in minutes, a problem that would take a classic computer thousands of years.

Drug design, weather forecasting, self-driving cars and artificial intelligence are among the areas that could benefit from such a discovery.

Simmons said it was important to encourage girls to pursue a career in science and technology.

“Seeing women in leadership roles and competing internationally is important [for girls to see],” she said. “It gives them the sense that anything is possible.”

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Also on Thursday, Matildas striker Sam Kerr, who last year became the all-time leading goal scorer in the National Women’s Soccer League and the Asian confederation’s player of the year, was named the Young Australian of the Year.



The 24-year old star striker had also won the Julie Dolan medal playing in the W-League with Perth Glory and was the leading goal-scorer when Australia won the Tournament of Nations.

The committee described her as “arguably the best women’s soccer player in the world” and an “engaging ambassador for all women’s sport”.



The 2018 local hero was mathematics teacher Eddie Woo, whose online videos have become a worldwide hit with students for making the subject accessible and fun.

Woo, the head mathematics teacher at Cherrybrook Technology high school in Sydney’s western suburbs, began posting his videos in 2012 and now has more than 100,000 subscribers and 8 million views worldwide.

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The senior Australian of the year is the biophysicist Dr Graham Farquhar, whose work in plant biology and agriculture has helped develop water-efficient wheat.

Last year, Farquhar also became the first Australian to win the Kyoto prize – the highest international award for biology. His research aims to improve food security for the Earth’s growing population amidst the challenges of climate change.

The chair of the Australia Day council, Danielle Roche, said the four winners were “making a real difference to the lives of others”.

“They are breaking down barriers, forging new futures, looking at old problems in different ways and creating new pathways,” she said.



In addition to Thursday’s award, Simmons has won the Pawsey medal for physics in 2005, awarded by the Australian Academy of Science, and the Unesco award for women in science in 2017.