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Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners - NSW & ACT 2008 |
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Associate Professor Ian Anderson, University of Western Sydney, uses DNA fingerprinting, along with other techniques, to describe and understand the biodiversity of soil microbes (particularly fungi). He is interested in how these microorganisms will respond to future climate changeand the role they have in increasing soil carbon storage. His research aims to quantify the influence of CO2 levels on the abundance of fungi and their capacity to enhance carbon sequestration in Australian forests. His work will help to improve carbon accounting for current and future emissions trading schemes. More
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Dr Kathy Belov, The University of Sydney, who studies immunity, health and disease in our native wildlife such as Tasmanian devils, wallabies, platypuses and koalas. She has found a direct link between loss of genetic diversity and the emergence of a new disease in the devils. Her research is beneficial both to monitoring the health of our antive wildlife, many of which are facing conservation issues, and also to provide insights into the evolution of the mammalian immune system. More
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Dr Culum Brown, Macquarie University, examines how genes and the environment shape the behaviour of fish. His primary focus is on how fish change their behaviour as a result of experience. He also examines how native fish interect with exotic pest species and develops protocols to enhance the survival of hatchery-reared fishes after release. He believes that by teaching fish to recognise predators and prey, we better prepare them for life in the wild and increase their chance of survival. More
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Professor Bryan Gaensler, The University of Sydney, who studies the static and crackle of the radio waves produced by stars and galaxies to study the magnetic fields in interstellar and intergalactic space to determine what role they have played in the evolving universe. He has received eight awards and fellowships including Young Australian of the Year (1999) and the NASA Long Term Space Astrophysics Award. More
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Associate Professor Rebecca Ivers, The George Institute for International Health, studies road traffic injury and ways to reduce its impact, both in Australia and in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. She also conducts studies to evaluate the effectiveness of injury prevention programs. Working as an injury researcher allows her to work across a diverse range of projects from motorcycle helmets in Vietnam to Indigenous road safety in the Northern Territory. More
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Dr Rebecca McKetin, The University of New South Wales, aims to find out how many people are addicted to the drug 'ice' (or methamphetamine), how many of them have mental problems like psychosis or depression, and how many get help. Understanding who is addicted and the types of problems they experience helps in the treatment of drug addiction. Rebecca's data will help formulate a response to social problems that are created by drug addiction. More
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Dr Malcolm McLeod, The Australian National University, is focussed on three related areas of organic chemistry: the creation of active natural compunds, the development of new catalysts for improved synthesis processes and the chemistry of drug testing. He hopes his synthesis will provide new compounds to solve real world problems such as treating drug resistant ’super bugs‘ and catching sports drug cheats. More
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Dr Ben McNeil, The University of New South Wales, whose research focuses on the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the oceans and the consequences of this increased absorption on the marine ecosystem. He hopes to use his findings to lobby governments here and overseas to develop better greenhouse gas emission and energy policies. More
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Dr Angela Moles, The University of New South Wales, whose research aims to understand the different ecological strategies that plants use when they grow in different environments, trying to improve our understanding of the selective processes underlying global patterns in these strategies. Her findings will contribute to improvements in predicting how plant species may changeas a result of global climate change. More
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Dr Ajay Narendra, The Australian National University, whose research aims to understand how insects, particularly ants, locate places of signifcant interest in their environments. This understanding can be used in artificial intelligence projects like creating planes that can navigate without pilots. Ajay regularly leads 'ant tours' in different habitats for students and the general public. More
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Dr Peter Rutledge, The University of Sydney, applies the tools of chemistry to tackle important medical and environmental challenges such as developing new antibiotics to combat 'superbugs', building improved technologies for detecting and cleaning up toxic pollutants and designing new catalysts. More
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Dr Pall Thordarson, The University of New South Wales, uses nanotechnology inspired by or mimicking biological systems to create new self-assembled materials and devices. These could be then used for drug delivery, biofuel cells or biosensors. His bioelectronics research is aimed at making a better biosensor for medical applications as well as combining waste treatment with renewable energy production. More
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Dr David Wilson, The University of New South Wales, uses complex mathematical equations to formulate likely explanations for observed trends in HIV epidemics and predict the best public health intervention strategies that should be implemented to reduce new infections and AIDS deaths in the future. He is currently involved in advising HIV stakehiolders in Australia, South Africa and many South East Asian countries. More
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