Professor Tanya Monro at her lab at the University of Adelaide

Credit: Mark Trumble

The University of Adelaide's Professor Tanya Monro has been named by national science magazine COSMOS as one of the top 10 brightest young minds in Australia.

The inaugural Cosmos "Bright Sparks" awards – announced today by the magazine and published in its August/September issue – are aimed at recognising the excellent work of some of Australia's top scientists under the age of 45.

Tanya Monro is Professor of Photonics within the School of Chemistry and Physics and is Director of the Centre of Expertise in Photonics. Photonics is the science and technology that allows the generation and control of light using glass optical fibres. Research by Professor Monro and her team is leading the world in the development of a new generation of optic fibres.

It's this potentially world-altering work that has been recognised by COSMOS magazine. Professor Monro was chosen for the honour by the editorial advisory board for COSMOS, which includes Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Professor of Natural Philosophy and author Paul Davies, and the presenter of The Science Show on ABC Radio National, Robyn Williams.

Originally from Australia, Professor Monro joined the University of Adelaide in early 2005 following more than six years of research at the University of Southampton in the UK. The Centre of Expertise in Photonics is part of a strategic alliance between the University of Adelaide and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), with support from the State Government.