Fostering the future of science

Her most recent award, one of many, was given by the Australian Research Council in recognition of her groundbreaking research in nuclear physics. The Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellowship will give Professor Dasgupta additional funding to help recognise and foster the excellence of women in her field.

"The ability it gives me to do more innovative things with more ambitious goals is fantastic," she said.

The funding will allow her to employ younger people and branch out into different areas.

"My interest is in understanding base fundamental quantum mechanics," she said.

"It is very frustrating that society is dominated by science yet we have very few people doing science. How can we progress as a nation if we don't do that?"

She is a champion of getting young people involved in science, especially women. Professor Dasgupta said there were two levels the nation needed to focus on. "One is at a school level working with ... teachers to get students involved. The other level, which is a much bigger problem, is people leaving because they don?t see a career path."