UWA ERDi TestLab Co-Founder awarded WA Scientist of the Year 2021
We are proud to share that Co-Founder and Director of the ERDi TestLab, Professor Eric May, from UWA’s School of Engineering, has been awarded WA Scientist of the Year 2021.
This prestigious award is awarded to a world class scientist who, over the past 10 years, has demonstrated excellence in a field of science, scientific research or technological advancement.
In addition to running the world’s leading industry 4.0 Testlab and centre of excellence for mining and energy, Professor May is an internationally recognised leader in the areas of fluid science, thermodynamics, metrology and natural gas engineering and was instrumental in establishing the UWA I4.0 ERDi TestLab.
Professor May’s development and use of measurement technology has produced explanations for long-standing scientific mysteries, revealed unexpected physical phenomena, and helped improve industrial processes. Real-world outcomes of Professor May’s research include reducing the cost and environmental impact of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from coal mines and optimising air conditioning cycles based on new, environmentally-friendly refrigerants. His work has also helped difficult offshore gas reserves be developed and advanced carbon capture and storage operations.
“With green hydrogen and i4.0 interoperability both being major contributors to addressing mining decarbonisation, I suspect Professor May will be in the headlines for many more successes in the years to come” said John Kirkman, Co-founder of the ERDi TestLab.
Professor May also leads the Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre. He described the award as “great recognition” for his team.
“Awards like WA Scientist of the Year are important because they inspire young people at the beginning of their careers to pathways that will help them reach their full potential. Getting that new talent into the pipeline builds on the work we are doing and will help us reach the targets we’re aiming for,” Professor May said.
The awards, a State Government initiative, were established in 2002 to honour the outstanding achievements of WA’s science and innovation community.
The ERDi TestLab team extend our hearty congratulations to Professor May on this well-deserved award and recognition of his many years of dedication, continuing hard work and successes.