The award was made in September in acknowledgement of his contribution over the years in building collaboration between Japanese and Australian scientific institutions such as CSIRO and the Japan Coal Energy Centre (JCOAL), mining companies and government.

Under Dr Mallett's leadership, collaborative research projects worth $40 million were established, involving research bodies in both countries.

The award recognises a 25-year collaboration in energy research which has brought benefits to both countries, and transferred a significant amount of Japanese R&D activity to Australia, Dr Mallett said.

"For Japan, it was a big decision to do some of their coal research offshore. They saw it as technology transfer to their leading provider, helping to ensure a continued, stable supply of economic coal.

"From Australia's point of view, we saw it as helping us to remain world leaders in efficient coal production and export."

Among the successful projects which the agreement yielded:

- Increased mine safety resulting from improved designs to the mining pick which digs through coal, to reduce frictional heating and so limit the risks of a gas explosion

- Improved gas management, reducing the safety risks, high costs and stoppages resulting from gas flowing into mines.

A current project attracting worldwide interest is the rapid underground roadway development project, which uses an automated excavation and bolting system to more than double the rate at which roadways can be safely constructed in coal mines.

Besides the immediate efficiency advantage of speedier construction, the use of automation improves human safety by removing the operator from the cutting machine to a remote location, Dr Mallett says.

"The collaboration has had significant payoffs for both countries and all the various partners, and is certainly helping to maintain Australia's competitive advantage as an international coal supplier.

"At the same time it's pleasing that our R&D expertise is being recognized by the desire of technology leaders like Japan to conduct research in Australia."

The Iki Award is named after Professor Iki, who formerly held the Chair of Mining at Tokyo University, a revered figure in the postwar development of Japanese industry.

Dr Mallett says he regards it as a great honour that an Australian has been chosen as the recipient for 2001.

Dr Mallett heads the Brisbane-based Sustainable Mining Research Group in CSIRO Exploration and Mining, and is also manager of business development.