Describing the win as a real honour, Ross, 70, has notched up many achievements throughout his career both here and overseas.
He was head of the Marine Radioecology Laboratory in Monaco for six years, helping to inform international governments on the effects of climate change on the ocean.
At that time he also created training programs in conservation for scientists in developing countries.
He is also proud of having leadshot ammunition banned after he discovered crocodiles in the Kakadu had been contaminated after eating magpie geese which had been shot.
A keen supporter of The Orangutan Project, he was part of the the International Atomic Energy Agency Secretariat awarded a Nobel Peace Prize Certificate in 2005.
The author of more than 160 scientific publications, says he nearly missed finding out about the AM award because it went into his junk mail.
“I got a call from the Governor-General’s office asking why I hadn’t responded,” he said with a laugh.
“It was a shock but a nice one.”
Another resident to be honoured was Professor Tuan Van Nguyen who won an AM in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to medical research, to osteoporosis and fracture prevention, and to tertiary education.
He said the win was extra sweet as it occurred on the same day as his arrival in Australia from Vietnam 40 years ago.
Discovering the first Vitamin D receptor gene and going on to develop a model for assessing the risk of fractures for individuals, Tuan’s Garvan Fracture Risk Calculator is now used all over the world in the treatment of prevention of osteoporosis.
“I’ve also studied the pattern of bone loss, establishing the link between it and earlier death,” the former Head, Genetic and Epidemiology of Osteoporosis Laboratory at the Garvan Institute, said.
“I feel proud that I have helped change the perceptions surrounding this disease.”
