ACEAS investigators recognised with prestigious Australian Academy of Sciences 2026 Honorific Awards
The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) congratulates two investigators who have been recognised with 2026 Honorific Awards from the Australian Academy of Sciences, celebrating excellence and leadership across the national scientific community.
ACEAS Chief Investigator Dr Adele Morrison (Australian National University) has been awarded the Frederick White Medal, one of the Australian Academy of Sciences’ early‑career honourific awards recognising research of intrinsic scientific merit with actual or potential impact on society, industry and the understanding of natural phenomena.
Dr Morrison is recognised for her work on Southern Ocean circulation and climate dynamics, helping to improve understanding of how the ocean responds to climate change and influences global climate systems. Her research has important implications for projections of sea‑level rise, ocean heat uptake and changes in Antarctic‑driven ocean processes. The Academy notes that Dr Morrison has made a substantial contribution to Australia’s capability to model Antarctic oceanography and is a leader of the Australian ocean–sea ice modelling community.
Video credit: Australian Academy of Science
ACEAS Affiliated Investigator Dr Mark Hoggard (Australian National University) has received the Anton Hales Medal, an early‑career honourific award that recognises outstanding contributions to research in the Earth sciences.
Dr Hoggard is an observational geodynamicist whose research links the evolution of Earth’s surface to dynamic processes within its interior. His work addresses fundamental Earth science questions of societal importance, using interdisciplinary approaches that integrate modelling with observations across multiple Earth science disciplines. His research collaboration with ACEAS is about building next-generation computer software for modelling patterns of sea-level change in response to melting ice sheets, which will eventually underpin future forecasts of sea-level rise around Australia and its neighbours.
Video credit: Australian Academy of Science
The 2026 Honorific Awards recognise 23 leading scientists and emerging research leaders whose work addresses some of humanity’s greatest challenges, from climate change and environmental sustainability to health and clean energy innovation.
The Australian Academy of Sciences’ Honorific Awards program spans early‑career, mid‑career and senior researchers, acknowledging both foundational discoveries and emerging scientific leadership across Australia’s research ecosystem.
ACEAS Director Professor Matt King said the recognition of Dr Morrison and Dr Hoggard reflects both the strength of Antarctic and Earth system science in Australia, and the importance of tackling complex scientific challenges with real societal impact.
“These awards recognise not only individual excellence, but also the broader impact of research that deepens our understanding of Antarctica and the Earth system, and supports communities to better prepare for and respond to climate change,” Professor King said.
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