Professor Brett Neilan, University of NSW
Winner: Environment, Water and Climate Change Sciences Category, NSW Scientist of the Year 2009 Awards

Professor Neilan is considered to be a world leader in the genetics of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

The results of his research on cyanobacteria has helped revolutionise an entire field of environmental science by identifying and characterising the four biological pathways responsible for the algae, which chokes waterways and can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals through contact or ingestion.

Professor Neilan is head of the UNSW Cyanobacteria Research Laboratory and deputy director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology. Since 1998 he has been a Fellow of the Australian Research Council at UNSW. He is also engaged in “molecular bioprospecting”, which has led him to study the secondary metabolism of microorganisms from unique environments, such as Antarctica and the hypersaline coasts of Shark Bay in Western Australia. He has been awarded the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Medal in 2004 and the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research in 2001, 2005 and 2009.