2025 NSW Scientist of the Year

19 November 2025

Professor Nalini Joshi AO is a world-leading mathematician whose pioneering work has transformed the field of integrable systems. She is internationally recognised for introducing geometric and asymptotic methods to study discrete and continuous nonlinear mathematical models. Her results have led to crucial information about singularity structure and to improved tests for the identification of critical models called integrable systems.

Nalini describes her research as developing methods to solve mathematical puzzles involving non-linear differential and difference equations, studied through a wide variety of lenses, including analysis, algebra, algebraic geometry, topology and asymptotic methods in limits.

Nalini has tackled traditional continuous systems, where her results have brought a more unified understanding. She has led the development of complex analytic techniques to study integrable discrete systems, with applications ranging from collisions of sub-atomic particles to the operation of the New York subway system.

Nalini is the first woman to hold the position of Chair of Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney. She is a past ARC Georgina Sweet Australian Laureate Fellow and past President of the Australian Mathematical Society (2008-10). She was the first Australian to hold the position of Vice-President of the International Mathematical Union from 2019 to 2022.

An ambassador for maths, women and minority groups, Nalini is inspiring our next generation of leaders and demonstrating the powerful applications that numbers can have in our complex world. Nalini generously gives her time to mentor other academics and students. She has mentored over 30 researchers in her career, sharing the power of maths and encouraging leadership skills and independence. She is also passionate about encouraging women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine, and played an integral part in establishing the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and was its first co-chair.

Nalini was born and spent her childhood in Burma. After moving with her family to Australia in the 1970s, she attended Fort Street High School and gained her Bachelor of Science with honours in 1982 at the University of Sydney, and her PhD at Princeton University under the supervision of the pre-eminent mathematician, Professor Martin David Kruskal.

Nalini has 121 research papers and book publications and has attracted over $7 million in grant funding. She has received significant recognition and awards during her career. No stranger to the NSW Premier’s Prize for Science & Engineering, she was awarded the prize for Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry and Physics in 2019. Other awards and recognitions include: