A fresh, new generation of outstanding scientists entered the spotlight last night (November 23) at the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. Among the ten award recipients, three were young researchers from Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards, judged by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) and presented by Premier Anna Bligh, recognise early career researchers who have achieved significant scientific milestones and have demonstrated their willingness and ability to engage people in science.
Two of the three QUT award winners are focussed on potentially groundbreaking cancer research, while the third is looking at improving the lives of those affected by spinal cord injury.
Dr Kerry Manton from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) is working to understand cell migration, to create ways of slowing down the spread of cancer (metastasis) and to speed up wound healing.
"I don't do the work for the recognition, I do it so that maybe one day, it will save a life," Dr Manton said. "I am hoping the recognition from this award will help to educate the general public about what we do and why."
Dr Ben Goss, also from IHBI, was recognised for his spinal cord injury research. Each year, around 280 people are paralysed by traumatic spinal cord injury. Dr Goss is developing strategies to minimise the effect of nerve fibre degeneration, which leads to additional loss of motor and sensory functions in injured patients.
Dr Elke Hacker works at QUT's AusSun Research Lab, with her research focussing on the interplay between sun exposure, genetic susceptibility and skin cancer risk.
She hopes her work will lead to more effective strategies for the prevention of this disease, which is the most common cancer in Australia. She is currently investigating the potential dangers of the nano-scale particles in sunscreens.
All of the award recipients will spend the next year engaging with teachers, school students, parents and the broader community as part of the Tall Poppy Campaign run by the AIPS.
However, community engagement is not new to the three QUT award recipients. Dr Manton has been an active participant in the Scientists in Schools program with Kingaroy State School in outback Queensland. She has worked to grow the program with the school to include more scientists and areas of research.
Dr Goss also shared his passion for science with young people through the Scientists in Schools program - partnering with Dutton Park State School. And he has engaged a totally different demographic when he recently took part in a Science for Seniors lecture.
Dr Hacker has presented her work at several international conferences, as well as through a local Talking Scientists initiative through which she addressed local community groups in regional areas, including Yeppoon.
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
