L to R: Prof. David Solomon, Dr Ezio Rizzardo, Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard MP and The Hon Senator Kim Carr

Polymer scientists Professors Ezio Rizzardo and David Solomon were jointly awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Prize for 2011 for their research at CSIRO which reinvented polymer science, providing chemistry for precisely controlling the structure and hence the properties of polymers. In their acceptance speeches, both recipients thanked the CRC for Polymers which has provided them with funding support to apply their expertise in polymer science to develop other technologies to benefit Australia. Professor Rizzardo was the Inaugural/Interim Director of the CRC for Polymer Blends from 1992-94 and has been a Research Program Leader in continuing entity, the CRC for Polymers, since 1994. His research in the CRC has resulted in many licensed technologies, most recently polymer technology for reducing the biofouling of membranes. Professor Solomon joined the CRC in 2005 and is leading its research based at the University of Melbourne on applying polymer science to reduce evaporation from water storages.