Five researchers from The University of Western Australia have been named Young Tall Poppies for their work in diverse fields including astrophysics, chemistry, advanced imaging, nutrition and how artificial intelligence influences human behaviour.
Awarded annually by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS), the Young Tall Poppy science awards recognise early career researchers who are making a significant impact in science and going out of their way to communicate their science to the broader community.
Dr Fiona Panther, a Forrest Research Fellow from UWA’s School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, was awarded for her work addressing some of the greatest problems in modern astrophysics: revealing the origin of antimatter in our galaxy, as well as advancements in real-time detection of gravitational waves from colliding black holes and neutron stars. She regularly communicates her research to a broad audience, including via school visits, Perth Festival performances, documentaries and New Scientist courses.
Dr Marcus Korb, a senior Research Fellow from UWA’s School of Molecular Sciences, was recognised for his work exploring how iron – one of the most abundant, affordable and familiar metals on Earth – can be used to solve major problems in medicine, manufacturing and sustainability. He develops new iron-based compounds and reactions that can perform similar sophisticated chemical tasks, helping make the production of medicines and other valuable molecules cleaner, cheaper and more secure. He is also using iron to address antimicrobial resistance, designing unusual iron-containing compounds that exploit the dependence of bacteria on iron.
Dr Amelia Harray from UWA’s Medical School was recognised for her research in nutrition, clinical dietetics and environmental health. Dr Harray’s work investigating the relationship between plastics and human health has helped reveal diet as a primary modifiable exposure pathway, showing that dietary intervention can reduce the presence of plastics-related chemicals in the body. She regularly translates complex nutrition science into clearly articulated, actionable guidance for public, clinical and scientific audiences.
Dr Kai Chen, an ARC Early Career Industry Fellow with the School of Biomedical Sciences, was recognised for his work helping visualise biological processes in the body that were previously hidden. He has developed advanced imaging technologies that allow scientists to watch, in remarkable detail, how cells inside real tissues use nutrients such as fats, sugars and amino acids, and how medicines travel to the places where they are needed most. In making the invisible visible, his work is helping scientists and doctors better understand why diseases like osteoporosis, arthritis and bone cancer develop, why some treatments don’t work as hoped, and how new therapies can be designed to be safer, more precise and more effective.
Dr Mehwish Nasim, senior lecturer and Office of National Intelligence Fellow with the School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, was recognised for her work exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) influences what people think, believe and share. She uses a combination of AI, psychology and complex systems to study the risks associated with AI, including the spread of disinformation and erosion of trust. Her work seeks to make AI safer, more transparent and better aligned with human values, and aims to help governments respond to misinformation, improve online safety, and build AI systems people can trust. She regularly translates her research for school students and broader community audiences and has been a TEDx speaker.
A sixth UWA researcher, PhD candidate and clinical embryologist Tammy Lee, is one of three national finalists for the inaugural Young Tall Poppy (Industry) Award, for scientists achieving significant impact and going out of their way to communicate science while working in industry.
Ms Lee’s PhD research focuses on embryo selection – in particular how some ‘funky’ or atypical embryos which would usually be set aside can in fact lead to successful pregnancies. She also works at Fertility North, where she uses her in vitro fertilisation (IVF) laboratory expertise to help Western Australians reach their fertility goals; and last year was crowned global winner of prestigious science communication competition FameLab International.
UWA’s Tall Poppies will receive their awards at the AIPS Science Summit in Sydney on 11 September alongside five other WA winners and winners from other states.
Overall winners from each state, along with the winners of the Industry and First Nations awards, will be announced at a gala dinner following the summit.
Image above: (L-R) Dr Fiona Panther, Dr Kai Chen, Dr Amelia Harray, Ms Tammy Lee, Dr Marcus Korb, Dr Mehwish Nasim