MEDIA RELEASE
29 May 2025
The Australian Academy of Science has announced its newly elected Fellows for 2025. Among them are Professor Jessica Purcell and Distinguished Professor Aidan Sims. Recognised as one of the highest honours in Australian scientific achievement, this election pays tribute to their outstanding contributions to the mathematical sciences.
Professor Jessica Purcell (School of Mathematics, Monash University) is internationally renowned for her work in low-dimensional topology and geometry. A passionate advocate for equity in mathematics, Professor Purcell is a dedicated mentor and is committed to increasing the participation of women in the mathematical sciences. She has shared her expertise with students as a lecturer at AMSI Summer School, and contributed to the Out-of-Field Teaching (OOFT) position paper which outlines the key challenges of out-of-field maths teaching in Australia.
Distinguished Professor Aidan Sims (School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong) has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of quantum mathematics. A world leader in pure mathematics, his research has transformed the field of operator algebras and deepened our understanding of the maths behind quantum mechanics, positioning him as a key figure in Australia’s mathematical landscape. He currently serves as an AMSI Board Observer in his position as President of AustMS.
AMSI Director, Professor Tim Marchant congratulates both Fellows on their prestigious award.
“This election to the Academy is a testament to the outstanding contributions of Professors Purcell and Sims to the mathematics sciences community, recognising their groundbreaking research and influential leadership.”
Professor Purcell and Sims are amongst 26 Fellows elected to the Academy in 2025.
