Five Tall Poppies of science at Uni of Adelaide

Tall poppies: Dr Galen Halverson, Dr Megan Mitchell, Dr Catherine Gibson, Dr Tamath Rainsford and Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw
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Thursday, 21 August 2008

Five University of Adelaide researchers have won half of this year's SA Young Tall Poppy Science Awards announced this morning.

The prestigious awards for scientists under 40 are selected on the basis of research achievement and passion for communicating their science.

The University of Adelaide winners are: Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw, Dr Catherine Gibson, Dr Galen Halverson, Dr Megan Mitchell and Dr Tamath Rainsford.

The awards were presented at Ayers House this morning by Science Minister Paul Caica and science broadcaster Dr Robyn Williams.

"These young scientists are not only contributing to our State's innovation and well-being but they are also fantastic role models for the next generation of scientists," said Minister Caica.

As part of the Tall Poppy Campaign, the Award winners will undertake a program of school visits to inspire a new generation to get passionate about science.

University of Adelaide Award winners

• Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw, Research Director of Marine Impacts, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, and SARDI
  Corey Bradshaw is a conservation ecologist who uses mathematics and biological data to examine and understand the ways in which species respond to changing environments, changes effected from habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, over-exploitation and invasive species. His research aim is to provide a strong scientific basis for justifying conserving biodiversity.

• Dr Catherine Gibson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  Catherine Gibson's research is aimed at identifying possible causes for cerebral palsy, the most common major physical disability in childhood. She is investigating how genetics and the environment interact during pregnancy to cause cerebral palsy, in the hope of understanding and possibly preventing this debilitating disorder, for which there is no cure.

• Dr Galen Halverson, Lecturer, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
  As a geologist, Galen Halverson endeavours to reconstruct the history of the Earth's surface environment as recorded in ancient sedimentary rocks. His research aims to understand how the Earth came to be the way it is today and how the Earth's surface behaves and responds to climate change.

• Dr Megan Mitchell, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  Megan Mitchell's research in reproductive biology looks at how nutrition and the increasing age of first-time mothers affects development of the female eggs, and embryos. Her aim is to better understand the mechanisms that determine the quality of the egg and embryo, and how this impacts on the developing pregnancy and subsequent health of the baby after it is born.

• Dr Tamath Rainsford, Lecturer, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  Tamath Rainsford's research is about applying mathematics to various real-world problems, especially those that are medical or biological in nature. She has demonstrated how combining mathematics with the latest medical tools can potentially create new medical solutions.
  

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