Organic electronics pioneer takes over academy presidency

Professor Andrew Holmes, a pioneer in organic electronics, has become the Australian Academy of Science’s new president. Holmes formally took over from current president Professor Suzanne Cory at the academy’s annual general meeting in Canberra.

“At this crucial time, it is essential to recognise the role of science and technology for wealth creation and improved productivity,” said Professor Holmes.

Professor Holmes has been recognised for his groundbreaking work on light-emitting polymers. These polymers play an important role in the newly emerging field of flexible electronics and have applications in flat-screen televisions and solar cells.

He has also been the recipient of a long list of awards including the Royal Society’s Royal Medal and the Descartes Prize. Professor Holmes was elected to the academy in 2006 and has served as foreign secretary since 2010. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

He is currently a Melbourne Laureate Professor Emeritus at the Bio21 Institute in the University of Melbourne and a CSIRO Fellow at CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering.

Along with a new president, two new secretaries of the academy will take office at the annual meeting - botanist Professor Pauline Ladiges took over from Professor Jenny Graves as secretary of education and public awareness, and mathematician Professor Cheryl Praeger assumed the role of foreign secretary. Professor Holmes will become the 18th president of the academy. Past presidents have included Sir Gus Nossal and Sir Mark Oliphant. The presidency alternates between the physical and biological sciences every four years.