An analytical chemist and an ice-ocean scientist are among this year’s recipients of 2024 Tasmanian STEM Excellence Awards, which recognise leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) who are inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and helping chart the future for Tasmania.
The Awards are supported by the Tasmanian Government, Inspiring Tasmania and the University of Tasmania. They have been presented since 2016 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Tasmania’s foremost scientists, researchers, communicators, innovators and teachers – and to highlight how important the fields of STEM are in our economy and our community.
The Premier’s Tasmanian STEM Researcher of the Year was awarded to Professor Brett Paull from the University of Tasmania’s School of Natural Sciences, for his outstanding contributions to analytical chemistry.
His research, which aims to improve industrial processes and practices both nationally and internationally, has significant societal and environmental impacts.
Professor Paull’s work advances human and environmental health, resilience, and sustainability, supporting data-driven decision-making.
“In our group, we explore the composition of complex materials and processes to understand, optimise, and control their chemistry, stability, transformations, and environmental impact," Professor Paull said.
"This field is known as ‘separation science’ and is foundational to much of industrial, biomedical, and environmental science."
Working closely with industry partners, both technology providers and end-users, Professor Paull and his team focus on innovative solutions to real-world analytical challenges.
“Receiving the Premier’s STEM Researcher Award is a tremendous honour, as it reflects the collective effort, dedication and achievements of my research group. As a research leader, my role is to support and celebrate the team’s work, and this award recognises our shared success,” he said.
Dr Chen Zhao from the Univerity of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) received the Tasmanian STEM Early Career Researcher of the Year award, for her work to unravel the intricate puzzle of how Antarctica’s ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels, using numerical modelling to assess the impact of a warming ocean system on large ice sheets.
“The most inspiring part of doing science is the process of discovering the unknown and witnessing how these discoveries can positively impact the world,” said Dr Zhao, who completed her PhD at IMAS and is now an ARC DECRA Fellow and ice sheet modeller with the IMAS-based Australian Antarctic Program Partnership.
“Our world urgently needs better projections of future sea-level rise to help us plan for and adapt to the costly and widespread impacts along coastlines in Australia and around the world."
“So it’s vital for us to close the knowledge gaps about the Antarctic Ice Sheet and its influence on global sea levels, to reduce related uncertainties in sea-level projections – which will inform international climate policies and coastal adaptation initiatives.”
Dr Zhao said she was deeply honoured to receive this award. “It shines a light on my work, and it celebrates the contributions of my colleagues as much as my own – because science is a team effort.”
STEM Excellence Awards were also presented as follows:
- Tasmanian STEM Communicator of the Year – University of Tasmania alumni Dr Ben Arthur from the CSIRO Marine National Facility
- Tasmanian STEM Primary Teacher of the Year – Brett Mullins of Somerset Primary School
- Secondary Teacher of the Year – Kathleen O’Leary of St Michael's Collegiate School
- The Minister’s STEM Innovation of the Year Award – The Southern Ocean Subsea team for their specialised, integrated Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) net repair platform.
Congratulations to all STEM Excellence award finalists, and to the outstanding winners who were presented with a $5,000 cheque and trophy at the award ceremony in Hobart last night.
