Professor Maier wins the Biennial Medal
Congratulations to Professor Holger Maier on winning the Biennial Medal from the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ).
In every odd-numbered year, to coincide with the Biennial Congress, the Society awards a limited number of Biennial Medals for 'exceptional research contributions to modelling and simulation, and for promoting the aims of the Society'.
To meet the criteria of the awards an exceptional and sustained research contribution is expected, as well as a proven record as a key influencer and disciplinary leader in the industry. In addition, the medal winner must have a public profile as an advocate of the role and importance of modelling and simulation, and an association with the society.
Holger says he is very humbled to receive this medal, as members of MSSANZ and the researchers who attend Modsim conferences are his research family.
“I have attended every Modsim conference since my PhD and have co-organised sessions at most of these conferences, so to be recognised by my peers in this way is very special”, he said.
Holger is Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Adelaide. His interests are in developing and applying methods that result in sustainable outcomes, especially when dealing with complex systems in an uncertain environment. Examples of this include the development of decision support systems for long-term disaster risk reduction under a range of plausible futures, the development of innovative bottom-up climate impact assessment methods, the development of adaptive approaches to urban stormwater management using smart technologies and the development of approaches supporting the decarbonisation of the gas industry.
He became a Fellow of the Society back in 2017 and he was also one of the Plenary Speakers at the Modsim21 Congress (at which the medals were awarded).
On top of this recent achievement, Holger has great things looming for 2022.
He will continue his leadership of both the Future Fuels CRC Project and SmartSat CRC Project. Holger has managed to secure significant amounts of funding for both these important projects.
The first project (Future Fuels CRC) will develop analytical tools to assist with the assessment of the viability of injecting bio-methane into gas networks to replace some of the “dirty” natural gas with “green” biogas. The conversion of waste to bioenergy is being regarded as an emerging opportunity to decarbonise energy systems in Australia, capable of meeting 9% of Australia’s total energy requirement. Exciting prospects loom.
The second project (SmartSat CRC), starting in February next year, is looking to develop an analytical tool – the Adaptive Analytical Bushfire Likelihood (AABL) Tool - for better understanding and reducing future bushfire risk. We’re all keenly aware how important this is as we start the summer holidays.
Keep up the great work, Holger!