Monica Oliphant

Monica Viviene Oliphant AO (née Kammer;[1] born 4 August 1940 in Ilford)[2] is a British–Australian research scientist, specialising in solar energy.

Monica Oliphant

AO
Monica Oliphant speaking at an awards ceremony in 2016
Born
Monica Viviene Kammer

(1940-08-04) 4 August 1940
Ilford, Essex, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipAustralian
Alma materUniversity of London
University of Adelaide
SpouseMichael Oliphant
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsUniversity of South Australia

Career

Oliphant began her scientific career with a master's degree in physics from the University of London and worked for almost 20 years as an energy research scientist for the Electricity Trust of South Australia, but since 2000 has been an independent consultant specialising in residential energy efficiency and renewable energy.[3][4][5][6] Oliphant attributes her interest in solar energy from hearing Sir Macfarlane Burnet in the 1970s claiming that "if we used solar energy we would not need to fight over oil" – this sparked a career of over 40 years in the renewable energy industry.[7] Key to her work was the belief that sustainable energy should be available to everyone and she claimed to be most proud of her work monitoring the effect of energy efficient devices on low income households in Australia, as well as being part of the Australian Federal Government's first Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) which enabled Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), helping make small scale renewable energy more affordable.

Oliphant was President of the International Solar Energy Society from 2008 to 2009 and is an adjunct associate professor at the University of South Australia.

Honors and awards

2002 – South Australia Great Environmental Award[8]
2012 – World Renewable Energy Network Pioneer Award[9]
2011 – Most Outstanding Contribution to the Clean Energy Industry, Ecogen
2015 – Officer of the Order of Australia – presented for services to the renewable energy research in solar photovoltaics.[10]
2016 – Senior South Australian of the Year[11]

References
  1. Bragg Centenary: Some reflections on Physics at the University of Adelaide, University of Adelaide, 1986.
  2. Who's Who of Australian Women 2016, ConnectWeb.
  3. Monica Oliphant elected President of ISES Archived March 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. Energy Options for a Warming World Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Eco Voice interviews Monica Oliphant
  6. Delaney, Brigid (7 March 2016). "Solar energy pioneer Monica Oliphant on charting her own path in science". The Guardian.
  7. Beam, The (5 July 2017). "When I started, people who promoted renewable energy were regarded as tree huggers". Medium.
  8. "Local Renewables Conference". series.local-renewables-conference.org. 2008.
  9. "Solar Pioneer South Australia's Senior Australian Of The Year – Energy Matters". Energy Matters. 12 November 2015.
  10. "Oliphant embraced renewables". 7 June 2015.
  11. "Solar Pioneer South Australia's Senior Australian Of The Year – Energy Matters". Energy Matters. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
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