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ACADEMY APPLAUDS WINNERS OF L’ORÉAL AUSTRALIA FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE FELLOWSHIPS
27 August 2008

The Australian Academy of Science congratulates Angela Moles, Amanda Barnard, Natalie Borg and Erika Cretney on receiving 2008 L'Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellowships.

The four winners received their $20,000 Fellowships last night from Professor David de Kretser FAA, Governor of Victoria and Mark Tucker, CEO of L'Oréal Australia at a ceremony at Eureka89 in Melbourne.

Judging was made difficult with over 200 high quality applications. An additional Fellowship was added to the established three reflecting the high level of applicants.

The Fellowships aim to recognise the contributions of women researchers to scientific progress and to encourage the participation of women in scientific research – a key factor of economic, social and cultural progress.

Evolutionary biologist Angela Moles from the University of NSW is a leader in developing a new approach to ecology – one that could allow us to accurately model and predict the impact of climate change on ecosystems.

Theoretical physicist Amanda Barnard from the University of Melbourne will use her Fellowship to create computational tools to predict the behaviour of nanoparticles in the environment.

Protein chemist Natalie Borg from Monash University is analysing protein crystals with synchrotron light, to figure out how our bodies mount a rapid defence when we are attacked by viruses. The Fellowship will help her become established as an independent researcher.

Immunologist Erika Cretney from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne is researching a small group of T cells that play a role in controlling inflammation and in auto-immune diseases. The Fellowship will help with childcare costs as she balances a full-time research career with the needs of her young son.

The Fellowships are supported by L'Oréal Australia, the Australian National Commission for UNESCO and the Australian Academy of Science.

The Academy is delighted to be involved with the L'Oréal Australia For Women in Science Fellowship program. President of the Academy, Professor Kurt Lambeck, and Academy Fellows Professors Julie Campbell and Jenny Graves were on the judging panel. The Academy supports early-career researchers through several initiatives including symposiums, workshops and international study programs.

Further information: www.scienceinpublic.com/loreal/2008