RMIT University’s Professor Suresh Bhargava, Head of the School of Applied Sciences, has received the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s prestigious RK Murphy Medal

Considered the most coveted award in the field of industrial chemistry, the medal was presented in Newcastle last week as part of Chemeca 2008, an annual national conference for academics and business professionals from chemical engineering and chemical process-related sectors.

Professor Bhargava was nominated by previous recipient Professor Max Lu, seconded by Dr Stephen Grocott, formerly Global Technology Manager with BHP Billiton and currently Adjunct Professor at RMIT, and Dr Ian Harrison, Director R&D, Global Refining, Alcoa World Alumina.

Dr Grocott said Professor Bhargava’s research was the catalyst for a number of acclaimed innovations within the Australian chemistry industry.

“It is rare for a university researcher in industrial chemistry to see their research output lead to a single new or modified industrial process,” he said.

“It is even more unusual to see that occur on a number of occasions.

“The industrial chemistry training Professor Bhargava has provided to students has created a pool of absolutely outstanding, industry-ready researchers and industrial scientists.”

Professor Lu said Professor Bhargava had an outstanding reputation both within Australia and in the international scientific community in the field of Catalytic Wet oxidation, making significant research advances in fields as diverse as alumina production productivity and the reduction of car exhaust pollutants.

Professor Bhargava said he was honoured to receive the award and was grateful to his research students and collaborators for their years of dedicated work.

“The award recognises the fact that we at RMIT have been successful in developing sustainable partnerships with industry for productive R&D,” he said.

“It also helps in producing real world graduates – we develop knowledge in our laboratories and transfer it to industry for application.” — AAP

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