Griffith University has been named in Nature, the world’s leading multidisciplinary science journal, as the Nature Index Rising Star for the Oceania region in 2018.

This significant recognition for science researchers at Griffith was announced in the Nature Index 2018 Rising Stars Supplement published today. It follows a rise of more than 80% in Griffith University’s output since 2015, making it the fastest-rising Australian institution in the Nature Index.

Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Ned Pankhurst, described the announcement as compelling acknowledgement of the scientific and societal impact of research by scientists at Griffith University.

“These endeavours are consistent and sustained across a range of scientific fields, including clean energy, human evolution and quantum physics. Recognition as the Nature Rising Star 2018 acknowledges that Griffith University researchers are providing far-reaching solutions to global challenges,” Professor Pankhurst said.

Professor Pankhurst highlighted the work of Professor Huijun Zhao as just one example of a Griffith researcher whose work has contributed to a rise in fractional count of 81.5% for Griffith University based on data in the annual Nature Index tables released in June 2018.

Professor Zhao is leading the development of advanced clean energy technologies at Griffith’s Centre for Clean Environment and Energy. His research aims to activate principles to unlock catalytic powers of nonprecious materials for the development of sustainable production of clean fuels and valuable chemicals from abundant non-fossil resources. His latest research study has been presented in a paper published inNature Energy.

“He is among those at Griffith who make a difference, those who capture opportunity, apply expertise and continue to challenge themselves,” Professor Pankhurst said. “His program of research enables the use of science and technology to meet and address major challenges of energy and environmental sustainability.”

Among Griffith research areas highlighted by the Movers and shakers section of the Supplement are the pursuit of solutions to water management issues and the discovery of the oldest fossil of modern humans outside Africa which involved researchers at theAustralian Research Centre for Human Evolution.

The Nature Index is of significant value to the global researcher community on a number of important levels including the production of high-quality scientific research in different institutions. It compares high-quality scientific research with work in similar fields at other research organisations across the world.

It also tracks which institutions make the biggest absolute contribution to high-quality scientific research in different fields around the world, and the institutions and countries that are collaborating with each other in high quality research.

The Nature Index is a database of author affiliation information collated from research articles published in an independently selected group of 82 high-quality science journals. The database is compiled by Nature Research which is dedicated to serving the scientific and medical communities and the wider scientifically interested general public.