Curtin recognises excellence at Research and Engagement Awards

Curtin University has announced the winners of its 2024 Research and Engagement Awards, celebrating exceptional research and media engagement.

The awards, held on November 14, highlight Curtin’s commitment to advancing impactful research that benefits society and the planet.

Curtin’s Researcher of the Year was awarded to Professor Penelope Hasking from the School of Population Health for her outstanding work in youth mental health, suicide prevention and non-suicidal self-injury. Leading the successful COMPAS program, Professor Hasking has secured funding to expand the initiative nationally to help university students across the country. Professor Hasking also leads a program at Royal Perth Hospital to train nurses in compassionate care for self-injury patients.

The 2024 Early Career Researcher of the Year went to wildlife ecologist and geneticist Dr Brenton von Takach, a WA Premier’s Early to Mid-Career Fellow and Research Fellow in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences. Dr von Takach uses environmental and genetic data to help better manage and conserve threatened species.

The following award categories – People, Planet and Partnerships – reflect Curtin’s strategic pillars.

Winners include:

People (celebrating outstanding research in any discipline with a focus on making a difference for society)

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné from the Future of Work Institute

People – Early Career

Dr Shelley Walker from the National Drug Research Institute

Planet (celebrating outstanding research in any discipline that makes a difference for the planet)

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Zongping Shao from the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering

Planet – Early Career

Dr Yijun Zhong from the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering

Partnership (celebrating outstanding research in any discipline that makes a difference through partnerships)

Associate Professor Vinicius Cavalheri from the School of Allied Health

Partnership – Early Career

Dr Cass Lynch from the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry

The winners of the 2024 Curtin Media Engagement Awards were also announced in recognition of the researchers who have played the greatest role in raising the profile of the University in the media.

Winners include:

Most Outstanding Research News Story

Anthony Clarke and Professor Chris Kirkland – A Scottish Provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge

Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Health Sciences

Dr Renee Carey

Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Anthony Clarke

Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Business and Law

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Alan Duncan

Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Humanities

Associate Professor Alexey Muraviev

Media Collaboration Champion

Dr Adam Crowe

9News Best New Media Talent

Louise Francis and Joshua Newton

Highest Contribution to ‘The Conversation’

Dr Nicole Lee

Highest Readership of an Article on ‘The Conversation’

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Steven Tingay

Highest Contribution to the Australian Science Media Centre

John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman