The Western Australian Government has announced several major scientific appointments to strengthen the State’s research credentials in biosecurity and coastal science.
Professor Graeme Cumming and Professor Ben Phillips have been named Premier’s Science Fellows, while Dr Abbie Rogers and Dr Brenton von Takach have been named Premier’s Early-to-Mid-Career Fellows.
The four appointments will result in considerable expansion for research in the State in coastal science, data analytics, and biosecurity technologies, addressing needs and delivering benefits and opportunities.
“It is fantastic to be able to bring such brilliant scientific talent to WA, helping to drive research into two such important areas for our State — coastal management and biosecurity,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“All four Fellows will serve as ambassadors for science in WA and encourage further investment into their fields of study,” Premier Cook stated.
Professor Cumming and Dr Rogers will collaborate as Premier’s Fellows to promote coastal management by exploring interactions between people, nature, and economics in coastal environments, particularly protected and adjacent regions, and land and seascape changes.
The University of Western Australia will host them, with Professor Cumming moving from James Cook University in Queensland.
As Premier’s Fellows, Professor Phillips and Dr von Takach will use genomics technologies and biological invasion theory to build decision support systems to aid biosecurity, focusing on surveillance, spread, containment, and containment of invasive species.
Curtin University will host them both, with Professor Phillips travelling to the State from the University of Melbourne.
The new Fellows will join the previous 15 prominent scientists who have been brought to Western Australia through the Premier’s Science Fellowship Program and other similar programs over the last 19 years. Two of them are still current Fellows.
“The Cook Government is proud to attract the best and brightest to our shores through the Premier’s Science Fellowship Program,” Science Minister Stephen Dawson said.
“This is also an investment in future research talent, who the Premier’s Fellows will train and mentor,” Minister Dawson added.
