Rate My Professor Colin Scholes

Scholes' research specializes in advanced membrane technology for gas separation, purification, and processing, with applications in clean energy sectors including carbon capture, hydrogen fuelling, electrochemical compression, and toxic gas handling. With nearly two decades of expertise, he has pioneered revolutionary membrane solutions that enhance efficiency in hazardous chemical processes, reduce CO2 emissions, and lower industrial energy intensity. These innovations have been implemented in Australian energy company assets, contributing to the clean energy transition. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers, including 'Helium Recovery through Inorganic Membranes Incorporated with a Vacuum Membrane Distillation Unit' (Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2018), 'The Economics of Helium Separation and Purification by Gas Separation Membranes' (Separation & Purification Technology, 2017), and 'Membrane gas-solvent contactor process for efficient carbon capture from multiple emission sources within an industrial complex' (Chemical Engineering Science, 2023). Notable awards include the Grimwade Prize for Industrial Chemistry (2023) for his membrane technology research, the 2012 Young Tall Poppy Science Award, the FEIT Excellence Award in Teaching (Kelvin Medal, 2024), and the MSA Applied Research Award (2025). Scholes is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and a Chartered Chemical Engineer with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). He serves on the editorial board for the 'Membrane Applications for Gas Separation' section of Membranes journal and has delivered public lectures, such as 'Fuelling the future with hydrogen'.