Young Scientist Research Prizes Competition: Presentations, Judging and Prize Ceremony
To foster and recognise excellence in Victoria’s early career scientists, the Royal Society of Victoria has established four prestigious competitive prizes open to Victorian students in their final year of doctoral candidature, in all areas of the Biomedical & Health Sciences, Biological Sciences (Non-human), Earth Sciences and Physical Sciences.
Following assessment of applications across the four categories, we have selected eight PhD finalists to present years of research work to us in ten short minutes. Join us at the Royal Society of Victoria’s historic Hall in the Melbourne CBD to hear about the latest science from our emerging scientists, and to support and celebrate the achievements of Victoria’s upcoming high achievers.
Our finalists in each category are as follow:
Biological Sciences:
- Ms Eliza Thompson, The University of Melbourne: Promoting Bird Diversity in Plantation Forests of Western Victoria
- Mr Darcy Watchorn, Deakin University: Advancing Mammal Conservation in the Face of Fire and Invasive Predators
Biomedical & Health Sciences:
- Mr Dimuthu Harshana Ysakeerthi Angage, La Trobe University: Discovery of Broad-Spectrum Single Antibody Therapy Against Malaria, Toxoplasmosis, and Babesiosis
- Miss Leesa Lertsumitkul, The University of Melbourne: Novel human EphA3-specific CAR T cells eliminate adult and paediatric high-grade gliomas
Earth Sciences:
- Miss Calla Gould-Whaley, The University of Melbourne: Extreme southward displacement of the Australian monsoon during the abrupt climate events of the Last Glacial Period
- Mr Vinícius Werneck Salazar, The University of Melbourne: Metagenomic and oceanographic data integration reveals restructuring of global picoplankton biogeography under climate change
Physical Sciences
- Mr Bennet Sam Thomas, Monash University: Extraction and Separation of Rare Earth Elements from Victorian Brown Coal Fly Ash
- Mr Suraj Loomba, RMIT University: Synthesis of Scalable Two-Dimensional Materials for Industrial-Scale Electrochemical Seawater Splitting
Please register below to join us for the competition, awards ceremony and celebrations at the Royal Society of Victoria’s historic Hall in the Melbourne CBD. Alternatively, you can watch along via our YouTube channel at the appointed time without needing to register.
About our 2024 Sponsors:
Category Sponsor (Physical Sciences): ARPANSA
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. ARPANSA regulates Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation with the objective of protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. ARPANSA undertakes research, provides services, and promotes national uniformity and the implementation of international best practice across all jurisdictions.
Supporting Partner: Geoscience Australia
As the nation’s trusted source of information on Australia’s Earth sciences, Geoscience Australia empowers decision making by government, communities and industry. The breadth of our work covers the uniqueness of our island continent, our extensive marine jurisdictions and includes our frozen territories in the Antarctic.
