Health and minerals achievers
Nutrition, minerals processing, regional health and the wellbeing of young people are areas of expertise in which UniSA people have been recognised in recent State award programs.
During August, two prestigious award programs in South Australia recognised four different UniSA projects.
Most recently, Professor Stephen Grano received an Excellence in Research Commercialisation award at the South Australian Science Excellence Awards. Prof Grano was acknowledged for his success in forging a range of industry partnerships on a national and international scale in the area of minerals processing.
Prof Grano said that the award is recognition of many years of hard work and the $10,000 award will go towards advancing his research initiatives.
"It will facilitate continued interaction with industry and help the team establish new research and industry linkages," he said.
"I’d like to examine renewable energy resources like geothermal energy and develop new industry partnerships based on our existing strengths."
Prof Grano’s research interests include the surface chemistry of mineral flotation and the processing of minerals in industrial practice.
Also at the South Australian Science Excellence Awards, a UniSA collaboration - Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) - was the winner of the Excellence in Research Collaboration Award.
HDA addresses high priority research issues into the physical, psychological and social health of Australian infants, children and adolescents. Established in 2004, HDA is a collaboration between UniSA, the University of Adelaide, the Children Youth and Women’s Health Service and other supporting partners.
Just a week earlier, two young public health researchers from
UniSA were honoured at the South Australian Young Tall Poppy Science
Awards. The awards recognise scientific achievers who are in the
early stage of their careers and already making discoveries.
Nutrition scientist Dr Karen Murphy, 33, and population health scientist Dr Matt Haren, 31, were recognised for their research achievements and passion for communicating their work.
Dr Murphy, a lead researcher with UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, researches the role nutrition plays in optimising health, with a focus on investigating the health benefits of functional foods and nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, dairy and antioxidants.
"My research aims to determine how diet can improve physical and mental health throughout the lifespan, and more specifically, how foods and nutrients can help people improve their cardiovascular health and psychological wellbeing," Dr Murphy said.
Dr Haren, a research fellow with the Division of Health Sciences, researches health and wellbeing issues in regional communities. Working with communities to address these issues, Dr Haren concentrates on aspects of health and wellbeing related to obesity and ageing. He researches ways to address factors that impact on obesity and ageing, including social conditions, natural and built environments, employment, and personal behaviours.
"Developing strong partnerships with rural and regional communities is an integral part of my research," he said.
Both Dr Haren and Dr Murphy said they were delighted to be named Tall Poppies and look forward to continuing to promote science and technology to the public.