From understanding the flow of gases that shape galaxies and researching the impacts of growth hormones on beef, to investigating how big black holes grow and uncovering efficient ways to optimise hydrogen production, the recipients of the 2024 Forrest Fellowships will continue to expand the world- class research being undertaken by Western Australia’s universities.
"We are so proud to back this vital collaborative research centre that is continuing to attract some of the globe’s brightest minds who will make significant contributions to the Western Australian community through their research and leadership."
Minderoo Foundation Co-Chair and Founder, Nicola Forrest AO
WA researcher Dr Ruby Wright will return to Perth after completing her current fellowship at the University of Helsinki in Finland, joining Singaporean Dr Yu Jie Lim, Bangladesh and Australian National University-based researcher Dr Upama Aich, and fellow Australian Dr Adelle Goodwin in taking up prestigious Forrest Research Foundation Fellowships next year.
Dr Wright, currently based in the Department of Physics at the University of Helsinki, has also researched at the Flatiron Institute in New York, and will attempt to answer many of the open questions in the field of galaxy formation.
Inspired to return home and work with the UWA node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) by the Federal Government's $320 million investment in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), she wants to ensure Western Australia strives to be a world-leading site for space research.
Dr Goodwin, an astrophysicist, will be based at the Curtin University node of ICRAR and is also working to unlock the mysteries of the universe. A passionate science communicator who wants to make science accessible to all, Dr Goodwin will be investigating how black holes, which are formed with the death of massive stars, represent the extremes of physics and can actually bend time and space.
Dr Upama Aich will be based at UWA’s Centre for Evolutionary Biology to investigate the value of dung beetles in protecting Australia’s $15 billion annual livestock production. Dung beetles perform a vital ‘ecosystem service’ across Australia as they improve water penetration, nutrients and carbon in soils and boost pasture productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They are critical for maintaining healthy agricultural ecosystems and ensure Australia’s place as a world-leading healthy livestock producer.
Dr Lim will join Curtin University from the prestigious Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. His research at the Western Australian School of Mines has the potential to enable a carbon-neutral chemical industry and will contribute to efforts to accelerate renewable hydrogen as a critical technology that will play a crucial role in WA’s energy future.
The Forrest Research Foundation was established in 2014 by Andrew and Nicola Forrest through their Minderoo Foundation. Forrest Research Foundation Fellowships are available for outstanding international and Australian researchers, to continue their work at one of five Western Australian universities.
Minderoo Foundation Co-Chair and Founder Nicola Forrest AO said the mission of the Forrest Research Foundation was to identify and support world-leading researchers to tackle our biggest challenges.
“We are so proud to back this vital collaborative research centre that is continuing to attract some of the globe’s brightest minds who will make significant contributions to the Western Australian community through their research and leadership,” Mrs Forrest said.
UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said the four new Fellows would join a community of researchers living at Forrest Hall and work with local, national and international organisations to confront the world’s biggest challenges.
“Forrest Hall is a community like no other with researchers working together with the State’s five universities to ensure Western Australia continued to build its reputation as a global knowledge hub,” Professor Chakma said.
“The University of Western Australia is proud to play a role in furthering the great research of Dr Wright and Dr Aich.”
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said Curtin was proud to play a part in enabling an inclusive and diverse research community in WA.
“Curtin is delighted to be hosting two of the excellent Forrest Research Fellows in Dr Goodwin and Dr Lim who will join our world-renowned Science and Engineering research hubs as they continue achieving excellence in their respective fields,” Professor Hayne said.
Forrest Research Foundation Director Professor James Arvanitakis congratulated the new Forrest Fellows and said they were joining an organisation whose reputation for excellence was growing internationally.
“It is exciting to see that we continue to attract the best emerging researchers from around the world as well as entice leading Western Australian researchers to return home.
“As a Foundation, we are only on our fifth cohort of researchers and already we have seen our global reputation grow as evidenced by the 230 applications from 46 nations for these prestigious fellowships,” Professor Arvanitakis said.
He said through the support of the Foundation, the University was able to help early-career researchers expand their world-class research across a diverse range of fields.
More information is available on the Forrest Research Foundation website.
Photograph at the top of page (from left to right): New Forrest scholars Dr Yu Jie Lim, Dr Ruby Wright, Dr Upama Aich and Dr Adelle Goodwin.