Civil engineer named top NSW scientist

A civil engineer whose work is helping ensure stability in London's Underground has been named NSW's Scientist of the Year.

University of Newcastle's Professor Scott Sloan took out the top honour, including a $55,000 cash prize, at the NSW Premier's Prizes for Science & Engineering in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Premier Mike Baird said Professor Sloan's work on predicting how roads and tunnels collapse is being used to ensure cheaper and safer construction of civil infrastructure across the globe, including tunnel stability in the Underground.