Awards & Recognition

Nominations open for 2011 IA CRC Annual Prizes

Nominations for the three annual IA CRC prizes are now open. The prizes recognise the fantastic work of our staff, researchers and collaborators and acknowledge the valuable contributions they make to invasive animal management. These prizes will be the last awarded in this CRC, so please make the point by nominating.

Awards offered are:

• IA CRC Chair’s prize for excellence in science
• Participant’s Prize for outstanding contribution to invasive animal management
• Chief Executive’s prize for achievement as an IA CRC student.

Nominations for each of the three prize categories should be sent to: contact@invasiveanimals.com marked to the attention of Chief Executive, Andreas Glanznig, by no later than Monday 3 October 2011. This year, prizes will be awarded at IA CRC presentations which will be held on Wednesday 26 October in Canberra.

About the prizes

IA CRC Chair’s prize for excellence in science

The prize focuses on the nominee’s contribution to invasive animal science. Scientific papers will be considered, as will promotion of the science. The potential and actual impact on invasive animal management will be considered. To qualify for this prize, the candidate should have published quality work since the beginning of the CRC and presented high quality work to peer audiences.

Eligibility: All IA CRC staff, researchers, participants and students.

Participant’s Prize for outstanding contribution to invasive animal management

The recipient’s work will be identified as having made a significant difference in the field. Candidates should have conducted work that has benefited our participants in some way. The work may be for application of knowledge, successful use of new products, or advancement of a policy that improves invasive animal management.

Eligibility: All IA CRC staff, researchers, participants and students, PLUS any others operating in the field such as media or researchers from aligned areas that may have no association with the IA CRC.

Chief Executive’s prize for achievement as an IA CRC student

Students are an integral part of the IA CRC and make important contributions to projects, as well as providing the research and practitioner workforce of the future. Candidates may be undertaking postgraduate work for the CRC and certificate and course students are also eligible to apply.

Eligibility: All IA CRC students and affiliated students.

Feral Professor wins Eureka prize

Professor Tony Peacock, Chief Executive Officer of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, won the Australian Museum Eureka prize in the highly contested category of ‘Promoting Understanding of Science’, sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. “In my case, I get the privilege of talking about the work of dozens of scientists, so I’m very grateful to them for their work. I also only get the chance to do what I do because my family lets me take the time involved and lets me have my headspace occupied by feral animals so much, so the award belongs as much to Ros, Max and Sam,” said Professor Peacock. Click here to read the IA CRC media release. Find out more about this and other prize categories here.

The Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, awarding the Eureka prize to Professor Tony Peacock.

2010 IA CRC prize recipients

Chair’s Prize for Scientific Excellence – Prof Rick Shine, University of Sydney Rick has made a substantial contribution to our understanding of ecological conservation and has worked tirelessly to present research outcomes from his work, as well as the work of the CRC and the Australian Research Council. Participant’s Prize for Invasive Animal Management – Dr Greg Mifsud, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation Greg has been working on cooperative pest management programs since the wild dog management plan for the Brindabella and Wee Jasper Valleys was launched in May 2002. He continues to do a brilliant job of raising the profile of wild dog issues and management options as the National Wild Dog Facilitator.

2010 Prize recipients: Rick Shine, Jess King and Greg Mifsud

• Chief Executive’s prize for achievement as an IA CRC student – Ms Jessica King, IA CRC-supported student with the University of Sydney (affiliated with the UTS and ANU)
  Jess has significantly enhanced our knowledge of invasive animals during her candidature. As a ‘Balanced Scientist’, her work is crucial to our current understanding of the lifecycle of Neospora. She has a remarkably successful publishing record and has actively communicated her findings.

Steven Lapidge wins prestigious Fulbright award

IA CRC Uptake Program Leader, Assoc. Professor Steven Lapidge, has won the 2010 Fulbright Professional Business/Industry Coral Sea Scholarship.

Steve is among 25 Australians announced as the latest recipients of the major scholarships to study in the US in 2010. Awarded by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission in March 2010, the scholarships give Australian researchers an opportunity to gain an international perspective on their research, and to develop international networks.

“Invasive animals rank only second to land clearing as the biggest threat to biodiversity around the world,” Associate Professor Lapidge says. “Internationally there is a pressing need for more humane, species-tailored and environmentally benign toxicants for managing the threats posed by invasive species.”

His Fulbright Scholarship involves Steve spending three months at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Wildlife Research Center in Colorado. Building on his IA CRC work on HOG-GONE^® bait development, he is conducting further research in the area of developing sodium nitrite (a common food preservative) for control of feral pigs.

Glen Saunders receives Order of Australia

IA CRC Terrestrial Products and Strategies Program Leader, Professor Glen Saunders, has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia as part of the 2010 Australia Day honours.

Glen won the award ‘For service to the protection of Australia’s biodiversity and agricultural production as a research leader in vertebrate pest management strategies and technologies.’

2009 IA CRC prize recipients Chair’s Prize for Scientific Excellence – Dr Steven Lapidge, IA CRC Uptake Program Manager Steve has published a significant amount of quality work since the beginning of the CRC and has worked tirelessly to present research outcomes from both his work, and of the broader CRC. Participant’s Prize for Invasive Animal Management – Mr Brian Ferris, NSW Livestock, Health and Pest Authority. Brian’s involvement in the trial of HOG-GONE at Glenrock was critical to its success. There is no doubt that the IA CRC could not have achieved the 89 per cent feral pig knock-down without his immense efforts on the trial.

2009 Prize recipients: Brian Ferris, Megan Barney and Steve Lapidge

• Chief Executive’s prize for achievement as an IA CRC student – Ms Megan Barney, IA CRC-supported student with CSIRO / University of Tasmania.
  Megan submitted her PhD in August of this year, with a solid thesis on sex determination and differentiations in carp. She also has several scientific papers published, including one for which she is lead author.