Steven Prawer is Professor of Physics at the University of Melbourne. He has a world wide reputation in advanced diamond science and technology with over 30 years of experience and over 390 scientific publications.

A particular focus has been the merging of the areas of nanoscience and neuroscience to push the boundaries of bionic devices. He has held numerous senior positions, including Director of the Melbourne Materials Institute, a multidisciplinary research initiative dedicated to using advanced materials science and technology to address problems of global significance (2008-2014), Node Director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computing Technology (2000-2002), and Inaugural Director of the Defence Science Institute (2011). In 2015-2016 he served as scientific advisor at the National Research Council of Canada, working on developing pathways to impact for early stage basic research. He has led numerous consortia bids, most recently championing attempts to establish an electric medicine initiative in Australia. In 2000 he spearheaded The University of Melbourne’s entry into the world of quantum computing and nanotechnology becoming the inaugural Director of the Melbourne node of the Special Research Centre for Quantum Computer Technology.