Cynthia Whitchurch named as Academy ‘top scientist'

Microbiologist Cynthia Whitchurch has scrutinised her fair share of microbes down the microscope but it was a “strange observation that no one had noticed before”, of bacterial cells exploding, that has helped elevate her to the ranks of Australia’s top scientists.

Whitchurch, a professor in the UTS ithree institute, is one of eight women among 22 scientists recently elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

The AAS President, Professor John Shine, congratulated the new Fellows for making significant and lasting impacts in their scientific disciplines, adding that the Academy was "committed to ensuring that the outstanding contributions of our female scientists are properly recognised”.