Rachel Caruso - Science Talk 2008

Introduction

Dr Rachel Caruso is a materials scientist who researches and teaches at the University of Melbourne. Rachel completed her PhD in 1997 and has worked in Germany and in Australia. She received the inaugural Centenary Fellowship at The University of Melbourne, before being awarded an ARC Australian Research Fellowship. She was awarded the prestigious Young Tall Poppy Science Researcher award in 2006. This award recognises outstanding achievements in science and science communication to the community.

Rachel works at the nexus between pure research and applied research in the area of chemistry, where she applies her chemical knowledge to produce novel advanced materials with specific and improved properties. She holds two patents for her innovative work.

Some of Rachel’s projects focus on the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy, water purification, and the removal of heavy metals or radioactive nuclei from nuclear waste. She currently supervisors a dynamic research group that has built strong national and international collaborations.

In this resource Rachel talks to female science students about her work in developing new materials that can be used for a range of applications from building materials, to fabrics and solar panels.