Dr Cullan Howlett (University of Queensland) has been awarded Ruby Payne-Scott Award for Excellence in Early-Career Research, recognising “his development, leadership, and analysis of the largest galaxy surveys in the world, leading to new insights into the fundamental ingredients and forces that make up our Universe.”

Current observations suggest 95% of our Universe consists of elusive dark matter and dark energy. These are detectable by the influence they have on the light from galaxies, stars and that permeates the background Universe itself, but they don't emit light themselves and we are yet to understand what they are. Cullan Howlett’s research seeks to uncover these using the largest galaxy surveys in the world.