Adelaide graduates among Fulbright Scholars

2010 Fulbright Scholar Matthew Lee.

2010 Fulbright Scholar Matthew Lee.
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2010 Fulbright Scholar Lewis Tunstall.

2010 Fulbright Scholar Lewis Tunstall.
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2010 Fulbright Scholar Simon Gamble.

2010 Fulbright Scholar Simon Gamble.
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2010 Fulbright Scholar Associate Professor Steven Lapidge.

2010 Fulbright Scholar Associate Professor Steven Lapidge.
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Thursday, 18 March 2010

University of Adelaide graduates and affiliates will conduct research in the United States on water regulation, particle physics, renewable energy technology and the control of feral pigs, after winning prestigious Fulbright Scholarships today.

Graduates Matthew Lee, Lewis Tunstall and Simon Gamble and University of Adelaide affiliate Steven Lapidge are among 25 Australians announced as the latest recipients of the major scholarships - worth up to $45,000 each - to study in the US over the next year.

Fulbright Scholars work on issues of key significance to Australia and the US. Awarded by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the scholarships give Australian researchers an opportunity to gain an international perspective on their research, and to develop international networks.

The scholars come from across Australia and include postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, senior academics and professionals from industry and government.

Matthew Lee is one of two winners of the prestigious Fulbright Postgraduate Alumni (WG Walker) Scholarship, which is funded through donations by Fulbright Alumni and awarded to the highest ranked scholar each year.

Mr Lee, a solicitor with the South Australian Crown Solicitor's Office and a tutor at the University of Adelaide's Law School, intends to study at Harvard Law School focusing on American approaches to water regulation, water dispute resolution and natural resources management. At Harvard, Mr Lee also intends to participate in interdisciplinary research on water regulation and management with the Harvard Water Security Initiative.

"Australia's water crisis is now at a critical point where our environment, population and industries are at serious risk as our river systems run dry," Mr Lee said. He said his experience working with the Crown Solicitor and the South Australian Solicitor-General on water litigation has made him aware of "the urgent need for Australia to consider alternative approaches to natural water regulation and dispute resolution that offer sustainable outcomes for all Australians".

Mr Lee has Honours Bachelor Degrees in Arts (Politics) and Law (both awarded with First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide.

Lewis Tunstall is the inaugural winner of the Fulbright South Australia Scholarship, which is supported by the South Australian Government and the SA-based universities.

A PhD candidate with the University of Adelaide's School of Chemistry & Physics, Mr Tunstall will undertake research in theoretical particle physics at the University of California (UC), Berkeley. His research aims to provide a solution to one of the outstanding problems within the Standard Model of particle physics.

"Despite the great success of this theory, there exist a small number of unresolved issues where the theoretical predictions don't match the experimental results," said Mr Tunstall, who has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide.

A major part of Mr Tunstall's research will involve the application of sophisticated mathematical techniques and their relation to experiments.

His research will lead to increased links between the theory group at UC Berkeley and Adelaide, and it will help to boost Australia's reputation in fundamental science.

Simon Gamble is the Fulbright Tasmania Scholar, sponsored by the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania.

The Manager of Technology and Commercialisation with Hydro Tasmania, Mr Gamble will spend four months with the US Government-funded National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He will study the integration of renewable energy technology in modern power systems, to support the development of a renewable energy power system and research facility for the Bass Strait Islands.

Mr Gamble has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and a Masters of Engineering Science from the University of Adelaide. He also has a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Tasmania and sits on the advisory board for UTAS CREPS.

Associate Professor Steven Lapidge has won the 2010 Fulbright Professional Business/Industry Coral Sea Scholarship.

A Program Leader with the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) at the University of Canberra, Associate Professor Lapidge is also an adjunct lecturer with the University of Adelaide's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

"Invasive animals rank only second to land clearing as the biggest threat to biodiversity around the world," Associate Professor Lapidge says. "Internationally there is a pressing need for more humane, species-tailored and environmentally benign toxicants for managing the threats posed by invasive species."

Through his Fulbright Scholarship, Associate Professor Lapidge will spend three months at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center in Colorado. He will conduct further research in the area of developing sodium nitrite (a common food preservative) for control of feral pigs.

The prestigious Fulbright Program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange, it currently operates between the US and 155 other nations.

For more information about the Fulbright Scholarships, visit: www.fulbright.com.au

 

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