Congratulations to OzGrav’s Dr Cullan Howlett on being awarded the 2026 Pawsey Medal Dr Cullan Howlett is one of Australia’s most exceptional cosmologists. His research – focused on assembling the largest and most complete map of our universe ever made – has shaped our understanding of the fundamental forces and ingredients that make up the […]
Congratulations to OzGrav’s Dr Cullan Howlett on being awarded the 2026 Pawsey Medal
Dr Cullan Howlett is one of Australia’s most exceptional cosmologists. His research – focused on assembling the largest and most complete map of our universe ever made – has shaped our understanding of the fundamental forces and ingredients that make up the world around us. He played key roles in the international Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument collaborations, with first-author papers in the top 1% most highly cited of the last decade and contributions to DESI’s recent findings on potential time-varying dark energy, which are among 2024/2025’s most cited physics papers.
He also co-led the discovery of a massive local ‘bubble’ of galaxies called Ho’oleilana. His innovations in combining galaxy clustering and velocity measurements have profoundly influenced the design of current major surveys. Beyond research, he contributes as an editor, advisory committee member, and science communicator. His career exemplifies the scientific excellence, leadership, and impact recognised by the Pawsey Medal.