Two CDU staff recognised as 2023 NT Young Tall Poppy finalists
Two Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers have been nominated as 2023 Young Tall Poppy Finalists for the Northern Territory, recognising their achievements in scientific excellence.
CDU Research Fellow and Lecturer Dr Mariana Campbell and Researcher and Lecturer in Engineering Mathematics, Dr David Ompong have been selected as finalists as part of the Northern Territory 2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards.
With both invited to attend an award ceremony in September where one will be awarded the Tall Poppy of the Year Award for the NT.
The Young Tall Poppy Science awards are an initiative of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science and aims to recognise excellence in research as well as enthusiasm for communicating science beyond the walls of the laboratory.
The Awards are widely considered to be an early indicator of Australia’s future scientific leaders, identifying excellent early career scientists.
Dr Campbell’s research is focused on interlinking ecology and conservation science with community engagement to improve outcomes for some of Australia’s most threatened species.
Specifically, Dr Campbell has led a 15-year collaborative community research program that is focused on saving the Mary River Turtle from extinction.
"We are facing a global biodiversity extinction crisis and governmental spending on protecting and recovering threatened species is inadequate and insufficient,” Dr Campbell said.
“Consequently, the protection and conservation of many threatened species is becoming ever more reliant upon the actions of self-funded community groups.”
“This long-term collaboration project to save the Mary River turtles, has enabled national priorities to be set for this threatened freshwater turtle and ensured research findings were incorporated into local water resource planning, infrastructure projects, and economic development.”
Dr Ompong, who is a lecturer at CDU’s Faculty of Science and Technology specialises in engineering materials and their applications.
Dr Ompong’s research examines the design of organic hybrid solar cells and organic light emitting diode for optimal performance and minimising the environmental impact of additive manufacturing.
“Organic hybrid solar cells are relatively easy to fabricate, and their efficiencies are increasing. Hence, they could play a vital role in transitioning to renewable energy sources. We also need to consider manufacturing processes that will minimise the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr Ompong said.
“I am passionate about STEM education, and I want to encourage more people to get involved with engineering materials and how they can be applied,” Dr Ompong said.
“In collaboration with Inspired NT I have been organising robotics workshops for students and teachers in the Northern Territory to help high school students understand the application of mathematics in robotics.”
Previous CDU winners of the NT Young Tall Poppy Award include Professor of Information Technology and cyber security expert, Professor Mamoun Alazab (2021) and Lecturer in Stem pathways Dr Carla Eisemberg (2020).
The award ceremony will be held on September 23 at the George Brown Botanic Gardens Event Centre.
For more information see here.