Some of Murdoch University’s best and brightest were recognised at the School of Engineering and IT annual awards ceremony.

For the first time, the event combined the awards presentations for both students and staff. A total of 92 prizes were awarded to students for the 2017 academic year.

In presenting the awards, Dean of the School Bogdan Dlugogorski welcomed those in attendance, including special guest Mrs Ann Ritchie and Murdoch University Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor David Morrison.

“An excellent university is underpinned by excellent students, excellent academics and excellent professional staff,” Professor Dlugogorski said.

“You are here because you are either an expert in your field, if you are an academic or member of professional staff, or you are developing your own expertise as a student. Developing true expertise takes about seven years - that is about 10,000 hours of sustained effort.”

Physics student, Michael Hough, who is currently completing his research on the co-evolution of galaxies and their host black holes, received three awards, which included:

• The inaugural Dr Craig Bowers Physics Enrichment Prize for best academic achievement by a student undertaking an Independent Study Contract in Physics
• The Frank Gillespie Memorial Prize in Physics/Nanotechnology for best academic performance in the final year of the Physics and Nanotechnology major, and
• The Nicholas Searcy Prize in Modern Physics best academic performance in 'Modern Physics'

In addressing the audience during his vote of thanks, Mr Hough acknowledged the award donors; Murdoch University staff, as well as friends and family who supported all recipients to achieve their dreams and pursue their passions.

“The path to fulfilling those dreams is not an easy one. The path can change, zig and zag and sometimes uphill seems like a cliff face. The fact that we are here today, means that we have overcome some of those hurdles,” he said.

“To have unsought acknowledgment of the hard work, however, makes the path a little less rocky and quietens the voice of self-doubt for a while.”

Mr Hough explained how he had harboured a desire to study at university for nearly 20 years, before he finally had the opportunity to attend.

“The learning curves were steep - they were, in large part, the aforementioned cliff faces,” he said.

“Needless to say, through the support of my family and some dedicated and encouraging educators, I am here giving the ‘thank you’ speech on behalf of my exceptionally deserving fellow award recipients.”

“It is through endeavours such as this, that potential can be realised.”

In addition, 23 staff awards were presented for excellence in teaching, research and professional staff, including:

• Professor Peter May receiving the Ian M. Ritchie Award for Life Long Research Achievement,
• Dr GM Shafiullah receiving the AJ Parker Outstanding Early Career Researcher Award,
• Dr David Parlevliet being presented with the Lance C.C Fung Award for Intra-School Research Collaboration; and
• Dr Fang Xia receiving the IR James Award for External Research Collaboration.

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Some of Murdoch University’s best and brightest were recognised at the School of Engineering and IT annual awards ceremony.