NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence, announced today that Chief Technology Officer Dr Chris Nicol has won the inaugural NSW Scientist of the Year Award for Computer Science.
The CTO of Embedded Systems at NICTA, Dr Nicol received his award at a ceremony held at Government House in Sydney last Friday. “It was an honour to receive this award,” said Dr Nicol. “I would like to acknowledge the many people I have worked with over the years, who contributed to this most welcome recognition.” Dr Nicol established the first Asia-Pacific Bell Labs research facility in Sydney’s North Ryde. His team invented new circuit techniques that have been deployed in mobile phones and mobile network infrastructure around the world.
NICTA Chief Executive Dr David Skellern commended Dr Nicol on his achievement. “NICTA congratulates Dr Nicol on his award. His outstanding research contribution to his home-state reflects NICTA’s national goal of delivering real impact through research breakthroughs and a use-inspired basic research approach.”
The NSW Scientist of the Year Awards is an initiative of the NSW Government’s Department of State and Regional Development through its Office for Science and Medical Research. The awards were established to recognise New South Wales’ leading researchers who are doing cutting edge work of economic, health, environmental or technological benefit to the state.
Dr Nicol received the award in the Computer Science category and joins an esteemed group of researchers who were applauded in eight other categories. In 2003, Dr Nicol transitioned his Bell Labs team to Agere Systems Australia, attracting millions of dollars of investment to Australia. In 2005, Engineers Australia named Dr Nicol “Entrepreneur of the Year” and in 2007 they added him to their list of “Australia’s 100 Most Influential Engineers”.
As Chief Technology Officer at NICTA, Dr Nicol has played a pivotal role in establishing Embedded Systems Australia, an industry cluster headquartered in NSW to develop embedded systems technologies and whose members include nine companies and the NSW Government.
World-leading solar energy expert Professor Martin Green won the overall award for 2008 NSW Scientist of the Year. The inaugural 2008 NSW Scientist of the Year Awards involved nine category awards each offering $5,000 prize money as well as the NSW Scientist of the Year award valued at $40,000.
Document(s): NICTA’s Dr Chris Nicol Wins NSW Computaer Scientist of the Year Award
Contact: Dorothy Kennedy
Phone: +61 2 9376 2098
Email: dorothy.kennedy@nicta.com.au