Faculty of Science

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Making an impact on global issues

Science is central to almost all areas of modern life and technology. It provides a foundation for and advancements in fields such as agriculture and the environment, biological sciences, human sciences, molecular sciences, psychological sciences and earth sciences.

Advances in technology and science are transforming our world at an incredible pace, and the next generation will undoubtedly experience leaps in technology we can only imagine.

UWA science researchers tackle global, regional and local issues to make the world a better place. Their work translates into economic, social and environmental impact. As a research-intensive university in the top 1% of the world, we contribute to global knowledge, while meeting the needs of communities. We benefit from vital funding which helps us translate our research into tangible benefits for all.

1st in Australia and 18th in the world for Agricultural Sciences (ARWU 2019)

1st in Australia and 19th in the world for Environmental Science and Engineering (ARWU 2019)

24th in the world for Ecology (ARWU 2019)

28th in the world for Oceanography (ARWU 2019)

22nd in the world for Anatomy and Physiology (QS 2019)

24th in the world for Sports-Related Subjects (QS 2019)

37th in the world for Earth and Marine Science (QS 2019)

Top 50 in the world for Psychology (QS 2019)

At the Faculty of Science, you will learn how to harness the power of science to change lives for the better. Your studies will involve not only the theory, but the crucial technical skills of your chosen field. Whether it's in our world-class laboratories, on exciting field trips or in real-world industry placements, we give you the chance to become immersed in the hands-on side of science. I am sure you will find your scientific journey with us rewarding and fulfilling.
Professor Tony O'Donnell
Executive Dean
Faculty of Science

Bettering the world

The diverse nature of our Faculty and Western Australia's resource-rich environment give our students unique research opportunities. Our Faculty focuses on meaningful change for the world and humanity in six areas:

Feeding the world

Our agricultural research is helping make chronic hunger and malnutrition a thing of the past.

Preventing, diagnosing and treating disease

Our wide-ranging research addresses some of the world's most significant health issues, from prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and cure.

Furthering human knowledge and serving humanity

Our research is redefining the boundaries of scientific knowledge and driving positive global change for better lives and communities.

Harnessing resources and energy for a sustainable future

Our energy and geoscience research is helping create a world of secure, sustainable and emission-free minerals and energy.

Restoring and maintaining balance in our natural environment

Our environmental research at UWA is protecting biodiversity and helping keep man-made climate change in check.

Optimising physical and mental performance

Our researchers are discovering ways to improve the quality of life by better understanding how we think, feel and move.

Scholarships

There are a number of prestigious scholarships available to domestic and international students, offered by UWA and the Faculty of Science.

The Global Excellence Scholarship
The University of Western Australia is offering high achieving students across the globe scholarships to study with us. This significant scholarship will be awarded to high-achieving undergraduate and postgraduate students, from selected countries, who apply for particular courses at the University.

If you're looking to study in Australia, you could be awarded up to AUD$45,000 for undergraduate studies and up to AUD$30,000 for postgraduate to assist with your tuition fees.

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Find out more
The Dean's Excellence in Science PhD Scholarship

Our facilities

The Faculty of Science is home to a wide range of facilities which support world-class research and teaching activities.

Shenton Park Field Station

The Shenton Park Field Station is a 67-hectare facility supporting research by plant and animal biologists.

Barry J Marshall library

Extensive study spaces and a wide range of convenient facilities

Earth and Environment Analysis Laboratory

Chemical and physical analyses in environmental and agricultural areas.

Cell and Molecular Life Facility

The Cell and Molecular Life Facility teaches and supports research staff and students advanced molecular biology techniques.

Bayliss Building

The Bayliss Building is a stunning five-storey facility that’s the largest and most technically complex building on our campus. Home to the School of Molecular Sciences, the building was named after Emeritus Professor Sir Noel Stanley Bayliss (1906-1996), an eminent Australian chemist whose name was given to the mineral ‘baylissite’.

UWA Exercise and Performance Centre

The UWA Exercise and Performance Centre (EPC) provides individual and group exercise services for people of all ages and backgrounds to improve health, function and physical performance.

The UWA Centre for Sleep Science

UWA’s Centre for Sleep Science is committed to researching sleep and sleep disorders and offers a variety of educational opportunities.

Imaging at Science

Imaging at Science is one of the leading biological imaging facilities in Western Australia.

Robin Winkler Clinic

The Robin Winkler Clinic clinic provides individual and group psychological treatment and assessment for people of all ages and backgrounds is linked with UWA’s School of Psychological Sciences.

Plant Growth Facilities

A high-quality, practical growing site for carrying out controlled experiments with the capacity for a wide range of research and teaching.

Histology

UWA’s Histology Laboratory produces high-quality work for teaching and research purposes within the University and broader scientific community.

Remotely Piloted Aerial Sensing Platform

The Remotely Piloted Aerial Sensing Platform provides the latest in drone and sensing equipment to support UWA students, researchers and collaborators.

International partnerships

UWA has more than 200 agreements with international partners. We are the only Western Australian university to belong to the Group of Eight – a coalition of the top research universities in the country.

We’re also one of only two Australian universities to belong to the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a partnership of 18 research-led universities from Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific. This international alliance fosters and encourages collaboration between members, bringing together the experience, equipment and expertise necessary to tackle the big issues currently facing societies, governments, corporations and education.

The University is also a foundation member of the Matariki Network of high-quality, research-intensive universities with a particular focus on student experience.

Be inspired by our research

Partnerships and outreach

We collaborate with industry, government agencies and universities worldwide to offer diverse education and research programs and forge meaningful partnerships with organisations to strengthen their capabilities and achieve solutions.

Our Faculty also links with schools and the wider community through various programs and outreach activities to raise awareness and generate interest in science education.

Our people

We are home to award winning researchers and academics who are experts in their field.

Dr Archa Fox

Dr Archa Fox is a senior lecturer and leading researcher in the School of Molecular Sciences whose research has uncovered a new cellular structure, paraspeckles.

Professor Daniel Murphy

Professor Daniel Murphy is Head of UWA’s School of Agriculture and Environment whose work focuses on improving soil and its impact on sustainable agriculture in Australia and worldwide.

Professor Richard Hobbs

Professor Richard J Hobbs FAA, is a Professor of Ecology and IAS Distinguished Fellow, former ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, and Head of the ERIE Research Group at The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Dr Cyril Grueter

Dr Cyril Grueter is a senior lecturer and researcher in biological anthropology, studying the social organisation of primates as a basis for understanding human behaviour.

Professor Stephen Powles

Professor Stephen Powles is one of the world’s most highly cited agricultural scientists and is widely regarded as an expert in herbicide resistance in plants.

Professor Annette George

Professor Annette George is Head of the School of Earth Sciences and researcher in petroleum geoscience and early Earth environments.

Winthrop Professor Daniel Green

Winthrop Professor Daniel Green is a cardiovascular exercise physiologist in the School of Human Sciences studying ways to prevent chronic disease.

Emeritus Professor John Pate

Professor John Pate is a distinguished biologist and plant physiologist with a career spanning decades of scientific research and discovery.

Dr Tristan Clemons

Dr Tristan Clemons and his team use nanoparticles to revolutionise how we treat injuries and diseases, such as burns and cancer, by improving drug delivery and avoiding negative side effects.

Professor Sarah Dunlop

Professor Sarah Dunlop is Head of the School of Biological Sciences at UWA and a highly regarded researcher leading an integrated team in basic and clinical research to promote recovery after neurotrauma.

Associate Professor Carmela Pestell

Associate Professor Carmela Pestell is a clinician, researcher and lecturer in clinical psychology and neuropsychology, and Director of the Robin Winkler Clinic

Dr Louise Naylor

Dr Louise Naylor is a senior lecturer and researcher in exercise physiology whose research investigates exercise as medicine to treat disease.

Winthrop Professor David Badcock

Winthrop Professor David Badcock is an expert in behavioural and cognitive neuroscience, focusing on visual processing and perception.

Professor Romola Bucks

Professor Romola Bucks is Head of the School of Psychological Science and investigates cognitive disorders related to the process of ageing.

Professor Shane Maloney

Professor Shane Maloney's research focuses on the thermal physiology of humans and animals.

Associate Professor Shayne Loft

Associate Professor Shayne Loft is the Director of the Human Factors and Applied Cognitive Psychology Laboratory and Deputy Head of The University of Western Australia’s School of Psychological Science.

Dr Nat Benjanuvatra

Dr Nat Benjanuvatra is a researcher and lecturer in UWA’s School of Human Sciences working with elite athletes and coaches to optimise performance.

Professor Charlie Bond

Professor Charlie Bond is the head of UWA’s School of Molecular Sciences and an accomplished researcher in structural biology.

Professor Ryan Lister

Professor Ryan Lister is an award winning scientist at UWA whose research focuses on the information contained in the DNA of plant and animal genomes.

Associate Professor Jane Pillow

Associate Professor Jane Pillow is a clinical scientist and neonatologist whose work focuses on improving outcomes for premature infants.

Professor Colin MacLeod

School of Psychological Science Professor Colin MacLeod is an ARC Laureate Fellow, and Director of the Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion.

News

Weed chipper recognised in WA Innovator of the Year awards

Thu, 7 Nov 2019

A mechanical weed chipper designed by engineers and researchers from UWA and The University of Sydney last night won the Rio Tinto Emerging Innovation award category at the 2019 WA Innovator of the Year awards.

Marine research the winner in collaboration between UWA Oceans Institute and University of Mumbai

Thu, 7 Nov 2019

The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute and the Sindhu Swadhyay Sanstha School of Integrated Aquatic Education at the University of Mumbai in India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote marine research links across the Indian Ocean.

Postdoctoral researcher wins ACS Medal for UWA thesis

Thu, 7 Nov 2019

A postdoctoral researcher developing new methods for skeleton-based action recognition, Dr Qiuhong Ke, has won the inaugural Australian Computer Society (ACS) 1962 Medal for her University of Western Australia (UWA) PhD thesis.

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+61 8 6488 6770

Email

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contactscience@uwa.edu.au

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A-Z listing

Faculty of Science

Making an impact on global issues

Bettering the world

Feeding the world

Preventing, diagnosing and treating disease

Furthering human knowledge and serving humanity

Harnessing resources and energy for a sustainable future

Restoring and maintaining balance in our natural environment

Optimising physical and mental performance

Scholarships

Our facilities

Shenton Park Field Station

Barry J Marshall library

Earth and Environment Analysis Laboratory

Cell and Molecular Life Facility

Bayliss Building

UWA Exercise and Performance Centre

The UWA Centre for Sleep Science

Imaging at Science

Robin Winkler Clinic

Plant Growth Facilities

Histology

Remotely Piloted Aerial Sensing Platform

International partnerships

Be inspired by our research