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 their work to us during National Science Week, on the evening of Wednesday, 19 August, 2020. Join us to hear about the latest science from our emerging scientists, and to support and celebrate the achievements of Victoria’s upcoming high achievers, who are:

Earth Sciences:

Mr Hayden Dalton, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Lead Supervisor: Professor David Phillips
“Temporal and Geochemical Evolution of Kimberlite Magmatism in Finland”

Ms Megan Withers, School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University
Lead Supervisor: Professor Alexander Cruden
“Investigating the development of the Marlborough Fault System, by recreating a tectonic plate boundary in a sandbox”

Biological (non-human) Sciences:

Ms Charlene Trestrail, School of Science, RMIT University
Lead Supervisor: Professor Dayanthi Nugegoda
“Foaming at the mouth: how eating floral foam microplastics harms animals’ health”

Mr Martin Estermann, Department of Anatomy & Developmental Biology, Monash University
Lead Supervisor: Associate Professor Craig Smith
“Cellular origin and developmental complexity of embryonic chicken gonads revealed by single cell transcriptomics”

Physical Sciences:

Mr Majid Laleh, School of Engineering, Deakin University
Lead Supervisor: Professor Mike Tan
“Microstructure and Localised Corrosion Characteristics of Additively Manufactured Austenitic Stainless Steel”

Ms Adelle Goodwin, School of Physics & Astronomy, Monash University
Lead Supervisor: Associate Professor Duncan Galloway
“On the nature of neutron stars in accreting systems”

Biomedical & Health Sciences:

Mr Roshan Selvaratnam, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University
Lead Supervisor: Dr Mary-Ann Davey
“Full Steam Ahead? The unintended harm of detecting fetal growth restriction”

Miss Lakshanie Wickramasinghe, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University
Lead Supervisor: Associate Professor Margaret Hibbs
“Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor: A new target in neonatal lung disease”

In light of COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s competition will be conducted online, with presentations pre-filmed and finalists answering questions from RSV members and guests in a Zoom conference (invitations to register are sent via email and the Society’s membership page). The presentations and Zoom conference will be livestreamed via the Society’s Facebook site – please tune in at the allotted time to follow the proceedings and add your questions and comments.