Dateline - May 31, 2006
First Scholarships in Photonics for Adelaide University Students

Seven students from the University of Adelaide have been awarded the first Scholarships in Photonics by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald, announced today. "I congratulate the seven scholarship recipients and wish them well in their study of photonics, which offers great potential as an emerging technology," Senator Macdonald said.

He said photonics was fundamental to many modern defence capabilities including communications, radar signal processing, electronic warfare systems and sensing. Photonics is the study and use of light, ranging from the visible to the mid infra-red spectrum.

The scholarships, worth a total of $17,000, were awarded across four years of study. Winners were:

DSTO's Deputy Chief Defence Scientist (Information), Mr Neil Bryans, said photonic technologies and their applications were of significant relevance
to DSTO research programs and had potential for commercial applications. "These scholarships are a mechanism to attract students to the study of
photonics and thereby develop local expertise to supplement the work of DSTO scientists," Mr Bryans said. "South Australia already has a significant industry capability in electronic warfare with over 650 people from industry, DSTO and Defence engaged in development and support activities."

The announcement of the scholarships coincided with the formation of an Australian Centre of Expertise in Photonics, a joint venture between DSTO and the University of Adelaide. The Centre is headed by Prof. Tanya Monro and located at the North Terrace campus of the University of Adelaide.