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Professor honoured with prestigious industrial chemistry medal
RMIT University’s Professor Suresh Bhargava, Head of the School of Applied
Sciences, has received the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s prestigious RK
Murphy Medal.
Considered the most coveted award in the field of industrial chemistry, the medal
was presented in Newcastle this week as part of Chemeca 2008, an annual
national conference for academics and business professionals from chemical
engineering and chemical process-related sectors.
Professor Bhargava was nominated by previous recipient Professor Max Lu,
seconded by Dr Stephen Grocott, formerly Global Technology Manager with BHP
Billiton and currently Adjunct Professor at RMIT, and Dr Ian Harrison, Director
R&D, Global Refining, Alcoa World Alumina.
Dr Grocott said Professor Bhargava’s research was the catalyst for a number of
acclaimed innovations within the Australian chemistry industry.
“It is rare for a university researcher in industrial chemistry to see their research
output lead to a single new or modified industrial process,” he said.
“It is even more unusual to see that occur on a number of occasions.
“The industrial chemistry training Professor Bhargava has provided to students has
created a pool of absolutely outstanding, industry-ready researchers and industrial
scientists.”
Professor Lu said Professor Bhargava had an outstanding reputation both within
Australia and in the international scientific community in the field of Catalytic Wet
oxidation, making significant research advances in fields as diverse as alumina
production productivity and the reduction of car exhaust pollutants.
Professor Bhargava said he was honoured to receive the award and was grateful
to his research students and collaborators for their years of dedicated work.
“The award recognises the fact that we at RMIT have been successful in
developing sustainable partnerships with industry for productive R&D,” he said.
“It also helps in producing real world graduates – we develop knowledge in our
laboratories and transfer it to industry for application.”
For interviews: Professor Suresh Bhargava, (03) 9925 3691 or 0417 142 761.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Media and Communications,
Gosia Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
2 October, 2008
NEWS 
