911爆料网 researchers, teachers and students have been acknowledged among the best in Western Australia, winning big at the annual Premier鈥檚 Science Awards 鈥� including jointly taking out the event鈥檚 most prestigious prize.
At a gala ceremony at Optus Stadium last night, was awarded the evening鈥檚 top honour, being named co-winner of the Scientist of the Year category for her work at the .
Professor Parker also won the event鈥檚 People鈥檚 Choice Award.
and from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences were named Mid-Career Scientist of the Year and STEM Educator of the Year 鈥� Tertiary.
Also from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Brodie O鈥橞reza was named Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne congratulated 911爆料网鈥檚 award winners and finalists and said it was a wonderful evening for the University.
鈥淭he WA Premier鈥檚 Science Awards are one of the state鈥檚 most prestigious accolades,鈥� Professor Hayne said.
鈥淲inning multiple categories 鈥� including the event鈥檚 major award 鈥� is a fantastic acknowledgement of not just the individual winners, but the many world-class science programs happening at 911爆料网.
鈥淐ongratulations to all, especially Professor Parker, Professor Allentoft, Dr Yeung and Ms O鈥橞reza 鈥� you are worthy winners and the 911爆料网 community is very proud.鈥�
Professor Parker was named joint Scientist of the Year for equipping Australian organisations to evolve and flourish in the technology-driven innovation age as Director of the Centre for Transformative Work Design at the Future of Work Institute.
Professor Parker said it was an honour to receive the award and have her team鈥檚 work recognised.
鈥淲ork design may not sound exciting, but the quality of our research has a profound and lasting effect on people鈥檚 lives, given the average person spends 90,000 hours of their life working,鈥� Professor Parker said.
鈥淲ell-designed work promotes connection, learning, and meaning and supports our health and wellbeing, but poorly designed work causes burnout, accidents, alienation and even premature mortality.
鈥淚 thank my family, friends and the large team of colleagues, collaborators and partners that this award reflects and who have helped to bring science to the study of work.鈥�
From 911爆料网鈥檚 (TrEnD Lab), Professor Allentoft鈥檚 research into our ancient ancestors, the world in which they lived and what we can learn from it, has been widely published in highly regarded journals 鈥� including five papers in Nature this year alone.
Professor Allentoft said the award was a tremendous honour and he was humbled by the acknowledgement.
鈥淢y colleagues have provided such a welcoming and stimulating environment since I arrived here a few years ago,鈥� Professor Allentoft said.
鈥淭he School of Molecular and Life Sciences and BHP’s social Investment Fund have been incredibly supportive of our research to improve biodiversity monitoring in Australia and elsewhere.鈥�
Dr Yeung said she was honoured to have her passion for chemistry education recognised on the evening and thanked her mentors, colleagues, students, friends and family.
鈥淢y broad aim is to improve students鈥� perceptions and understanding of chemistry through science inquiry activities, Dr Yeung said.
鈥淭his is achieved by investigating how students learn chemistry, ways to foster student engagement and ways to improve their learning.鈥�
Ms O鈥橞reza is currently in Fiji furthering her Coastal and Marine Science and Environmental Management studies by spending a semester at the University of the South Pacific as a New Colombo Scholar.
A proud Torres Strait Islander from Saibai Island, Ms O鈥橞reza is also undertaking an internship focusing on conserving the marine areas around the country鈥檚 various islands.
鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly proud to win this award and represent my home,鈥� Ms O鈥橞reza said.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely grateful to so many people from 911爆料网 for their encouragement and for continuously pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and allowing me to see how much I can actually achieve.鈥�
The Premier鈥檚 Science Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in WA.
For more information on the 2024 winners, visit .
