The green machine
Martin Green, brilliant Australian solar cell scientist, may well be the man who has done the most to help ward off impending climate catastrophe [August 26]. Professor Green has devoted more than 40 years of his life to increasing the efficiency of solar cells. He is now winning top international awards and deserves to be known as a very famous Australian. His very surname, Green, is the perfect ideal for our critical time for climate! Thanks to Nick O’Malley and photographer James Brickwood for this absorbing account.
Barbara Fraser
Burwood, Vic
From modest beginnings in Camp Hill, Brisbane (where I grew up) to “rock star” of the science world, Martin Green has forged a remarkable career in the world of solar research, and so much more. With Professor Green’s extraordinary intelligence, ability for forward-thinking, problem-solving and mentoring of PhD students, is it any wonder that this man’s work is recognised globally and deserving of awards. His groundbreaking work in solar research has changed our world in ways that we could never have imagined. And now with his ongoing research work, there is much to be excited about in the world of science.
Judith Caine
Donvale, NSW
The big and the small of it
I’m with Professor Peter Newman [August 26]. Pickup trucks and even large SUVs are “completely inappropriate” in our cities. In an era of stark environmental decline, our tendency towards “auto-besity” is ludicrous. We should be following the lead of Europe, not America. It’s time to rein in the gas-guzzling behemoths that take over the roads and car parks while polluting our air and atmosphere. Walkable, sustainable cities incorporating the “electric micro-mobility” of scooters, e-bikes and quadricycles are the safer and healthier path forwards.
Amy Hiller
Kew, VIC
ONLINE COMMENTS
The green machine
This is perhaps the most profound article I have read in The Age in the past 40 years! What an extraordinary individual is Professor Martin Green. And it’s even more astounding that we are hearing this as “news” in 2023. Let’s change that, today! Stitch in time
“Suntech set up vast factories in China using UNSW technology, American capital and Chinese expertise.” Says it all, really. If governments could get beyond sport, much of this could have been in Australia. Mick3A
It has been frustrating for years since to watch successive governments support the bare minimum of science in Australia, knowing our scientists are capable of so much when backed. We don’t know which research will be vital or commercial, but we cannot afford to support only the status quo. Congratulations and thank you to Martin Green for all his work and achievements. Shay
I was vaguely aware of Professor Green’s involvement in the development of solar, but Nick O’Malley’s writing made the story jump off the page. It’s not until mainstream media tells these stories that the general public gets to learn about it. I’d love to see the ABC do a series on our great minds – for some odd reason I see the creators of Bluey telling stories like this to our kids. Leef139
My goodness ... Martin Green, your name will go down in history as the man who revolutionised the world in terms of electricity generation. Others, of course, can be included in the pantheon, but nobody comes close when thinking “renewable power”. That is one hell of a legacy to leave to the human race. As a person who lives completely off-grid, I thank you for your genius, dedication, perseverance, generosity and selflessness ... from the bottom of my heart. Mark Turl
Great story about someone who has done so many amazing things and has inspired so many others but remains relatively unknown in this country. Hopefully, that will change. It’s infuriating that domestic funding could not be found to commercialise his technology in Australia. It’s a pattern which has been repeated over many, many years with many discoveries being ignored locally but successfully taken up overseas. The Professor Greens out there should be properly revered ... much as sports stars who have achieved considerably less are. BC60
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