Two SAEF researchers honoured by the Australian Academy of Science

SAEF Director Professor Steven Chown FAA and SAEF Chief Investigator Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie FRSN FAA  have received career honours in the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Honorific Awards. 

SAEF Director Professor Steven Chown FAA and Chief Investigator Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie FRSN FAA  have received career honours in the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Honorific Awards. 

The awards celebrate the achievements of Australia’s leading minds and emerging stars. 

Professor Steven Chown, who is based at Monash University, has received the Suzanne Cory Medal, which recognises outstanding research in biological sciences. It is named for Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS, a molecular biologist who has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic causes of cancer. 

Steven’s research focuses on biodiversity variation across space and time and the conservation strategies needed to mitigate the impacts of environmental change. He co-developed the field of macrophysiology, which explores large-scale patterns in and the processes underlying physiological variation and their ecological implications. 

He is one of the most highly cited researchers working on Antarctic environmental science and policy. He has represented the science community in the Antarctic Treaty System in various roles, notably as President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) (2026–2021) and as SCAR’s representative to the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) (2007-2014). In addition, he advises international Antarctic programs through various advisory committees and boards. 

Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie, who is based at the University of Wollongong, has received the Hannan Medal, which recognises outstanding research in statistical science and and other areas of mathematics. It is named for the late Professor E.J. Hannan FAA FASSA, who, as a statistician, made a significant contribution to time series analysis. 

Noel is a world leader in statistical science for the analysis of spatial and space-time data, in which he has made pioneering and highly-influential contributions to theory, methodology, and applications.

He is a leading authority on statistical methods in environmental science, especially for large-scale phenomena such as oceanic and atmospheric circulation and climate. He has developed powerful Bayesian-statistical methodology and has overcome its computational challenges to investigate causal links in these complex global processes. The methodology integrates physical principles with stochastic models to capture uncertainties in scientific inference from large and complex datasets.

Noel’s research has been instrumental in applications to global CO₂ flux, regional climate, sea surface temperature, air pollution, disease mapping, ocean biogeochemical cycles, soil carbon dynamics, glacier movement, and river pollution. His recent work on uncertainty in climate-model downscaling is likely to have a substantial impact on science and policy.

These honours are a testament to Steven and Noel’s contributions to their fields and in addressing global environmental challenges. SAEF extends our warmest congratulations to Steven and Noel on this well-deserved recognition of their outstanding achievements. 

View the full list of 2025 Awardees.