An offshore geotechnical engineer working to advance sustainable energy solutions will attend a conference in France after receiving a Business Events Perth 2024 Aspire Award.

Dr Vikram Singh, from The University of Western Australia’s Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems and the Oceans Institute, is making waves in his collaborative efforts to advance the foundations of offshore wind structures.

His research combines geotechnical centrifuge model testing and numerical analysis, to provide insights that are essential for accurate and reliable design of offshore wind turbines.

He aims to showcase WA’s position as a global leader in offshore geotechnics, with state-of-the-art research facilities like UWA’s National Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility, which contributes to the State’s sustainable energy solutions.

Image: Dr Vikram Singh and Professor Anna Nowak.

Business Events Perth, funded by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia, has been running the Aspire Awards program for 25 years, sponsoring hundreds of local academics and researchers to attend an international conference in their discipline, to further their development and profile WA on the international stage.

Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), commended Dr Singh on his academic achievements and dedication to his field of research.

“Dr Singh’s commitment and enthusiasm is evident to anyone who is fortunate enough to discuss his research with him,” Professor Nowak said.

“I’m sure he will benefit significantly as the recipient of the UWA Aspire Award and share the value of his learning and expanded network with his colleagues and community.”

Dr Singh will attend the International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics in France next year, where cutting-edge offshore wind technologies will be discussed.

“Winning the Aspire Award was an incredible honour and is a chance to represent WA and UWA on the international stage and connect with global experts,” Dr Singh said.

Associate Professor Elena Juan Pardo, from UWA’s School of Engineering, is the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research’s Aspire Award recipient.

Associate Professor Pardo is a biomedical engineer and co-founder of CoraMetix, a spin-off company undertaking research at the Perkins and supported by UWA.

Her research is enabling the manufacturing of a next-generation heart valve that uses polymeric materials and automated 3D printing to deliver lifetime durability.

The design offers distinct advantages and value proposition over existing products and takes inspiration from the natural structural components found in human valves.

Dr Danielle Rudler, from UWA’s Medical School, is The Kids Research Institute Australia Aspire Award recipient.

Dr Rudler is working at The Kids Research Institute Australia to develop cures and treatments for mitochondrial diseases as well as improved diagnosis using diverse technologies.

Mitochondrial diseases can have cause diminished growth, brain and nervous system failure, loss of hearing, motor function, liver dysfunction and heart failure that result in premature death.

Dr Chidozie Anyaegbu, from UWA Medical School, the Perron Institute and Curtin University, and Dr Pamela Laird, from UWA Medical School and The Kids Research Institute Australia, were also named Aspire Award early-stage career grant recipients.

Dr Anyaegbu's research focuses on how damage spreads following traumatic brain injury and aims to reveal how brain injury alters the gut bacteria and immune system to prolong symptoms.

Dr Laird, who is based at the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre at The Kids and is a paediatric respiratory physiotherapist at Perth Children’s Hospital, is working to improve respiratory health outcomes for children through early symptom recognition and effective management, especially in First Nations children.