CSIRO scientists come together to talk health and biosecurity
The event, organised by the Health and Biosecurity (H&B) Early-Mid Career Researcher Committee, brought together over 60 scientists from across the country.
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- Bev Mulhauser, Acting Science Director of H&B, and David Hansen, Research Director of the AEHRC.
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- Ofa Fitzgibbons, Industry Collaboration Support Officer, and Liz Minchin, Executive Editor of The Conversation.
3, 2, 1… Time’s up!
The highlight of the event was the three-minute research presentation competition. In the time it takes to make a cup of noddles, participants wowed the audience with their research.
Competition was fierce. Frances Zewe came away with first place for her talk on reducing Australia’s wild rabbit population using genetic manipulation.
The runner-up award went to AEHRC scientist Deepa Prabhu for her presentation on using environmental sensor data to screen for depression in older adults, and third place to Himali Ratnayke for her speech on preventing food spoilage by incapacitating fruit flies.
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- Frances Zewe won 1st place in the three-minute research presentation competition.
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- Deepa Prabhu, runner-up of the three-minute research presentation competition, presenting her work.
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- Himali Ratnayke received 3rd place in the three-minute research presentation competition.
Lessons in the lab (and life)
The event also welcomed some special guests.
Brett Sutton, director of the Health and Biosecurity unit, gave the keynote address. He spoke on leadership, the pursuit of knowledge, and the need for conversations around science and health.
Liz Minchin, Executive Editor of The Conversation, and Ofa Fitzgibbons of CSIRO’s Strategic Delivery team offered their tips and tricks on successfully communicating research.
To round out the day, industry representatives Ben Kraal and Andrew Gatenby joined CSIRO’s Alison Rice for a panel on engaging with industry. The panellists also opened up about their career journeys and provided advice on balancing work and life, making the most of every opportunity, and pushing past failure.
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- H&B Director Brett Sutton mingling with researchers.
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- Moid Sandhu, AEHRC scientist and an organiser of the event, capturing a moment with Liz Minchin.
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- Ben Kraal, Alison Rice and Andrew Gatenby participating in a panel moderated by AEHRC researcher Jessica Rahman
The Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC) is CSIRO's digital health research program and a joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government. The AEHRC works with state and federal health agencies, clinical research groups and health businesses around Australia.