Dr Yuerui (Larry) Lu from The Australian National University (ANU) has been named the ACT Young Tall Poppy of the Year for his research achievements in nanoscale science and his passion for science communication.
Dr Lu said he was thrilled to receive the Young Tall Poppy of the Year award.
“It is an honour to be acknowledged for the important work that I and my colleagues are doing in the emerging field of nanotechnology, which is revolutionising the way we live,” said Dr Lu, who leads the Nano-Electro-Mechanical System (NEMS) Laboratory in Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering at ANU.
The NEMS Laboratory conducts multidisciplinary research combining electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, materials science, chemistry and biomedical sciences.
Dr Lu’s research includes developing high-throughput nano-manufacturing technology, new biomedical devices and high-efficiency nano-structured thin-film solar cells. He and his research colleagues have created the world’s thinnest lens, one two-thousandth the thickness of a human hair, opening the door to flexible computer displays and a revolution in miniature cameras.
The discovery of the 6.3-nanometre lens hinged on the remarkable potential of the molybdenum disulphide crystal, which is the perfect candidate for future flexible displays.
“The capability of manipulating the flow of light in atomic scale opens an exciting avenue towards unprecedented miniaturisation of optical components and the integration of advanced optical functionalities.”
The Tall Poppy Campaign was created in 1998 by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science to recognise and celebrate Australian scientific excellence and to encourage younger Australians to follow in the footsteps of our outstanding achievers.