Seven early-career scientists who are researching solutions to complex global challenges have been awarded Forrest Research Foundation Prospect Fellowships to carry out their work at The University of Western Australia.
They join an eighth recipient who will take up research at Curtin University.
The scientists’ projects include developing infrared sensing technology to improve response to bushfire emergencies, using natural marine ecosystems such as seagrass and coral reefs to prevent coastal erosion and flooding and creating spacial and geographic modelling to identify locations where there are gaps in mental health care.
The Prospect Fellowship Program inspires research and innovation that Australia needs to prosper in a post-COVID-19 world, and supports young scientists in an environment where funding for early-career research is becoming increasingly uncertain.
The fellow recipients include: Naomi Green, UWA School of Biological Sciences, Christopher Lean, UWA Public Policy Institute, India Dilkes-Hall, UWA Centre for Rock Art Research and Management, Shimul Nath, UWA Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Nicole Hill, TKI / UWA Centre for Child Health Research, Kieran Mulroney, UWA Translational Renal Research Group, and Arnold van Rooijen, UWA Oceans Graduate School.
The Forrest Research Foundation was established in 2014 by Andrew and Nicola Forrest through their Minderoo Foundation.
Nicola Forrest said COVID-19 and the challenges of the past 12 months had seen a huge impact on the funding available to the Australian research community.
“We are proud Forrest Research Foundation has been able to move quickly to respond to this challenge with the Prospect Fellowship program,” she said.
“It’s very exciting to welcome these eight exceptional new minds to Western Australia. It is wonderful they will continue their vital work here, and further strengthen our state’s growing research community.”