Six emerging researchers share in $120,000 funding at the third annual Big Science Pitch
Heat-resistant Green Christmas beetles, decreased Sugarbag bee activity, and heat-loving extreme corals were among the cutting-edge research projects funded by the Native Australian Animals Trust at this year’s Big Science Pitch.
Hosted by science communication expert Associate Professor Jen Martin, the third annual Big Science Pitch saw up-and-coming researchers pitch their ideas to a panel of industry and academic judges. The projects were chosen for their potential to lead to new discoveries in science and have major impacts on our environment and conservation, focusing on Australia’s native animals and their habitats.
The Big Science Pitch judging panel, host, and six emerging researchers
With just three minutes to present their idea, the pitches addressed some big questions: Why are we seeing decreased activity from Australia’s culturally important Sugarbag bees? How can we help the tropical coral species expected to succumb to ocean warming? How can we bring back Victoria’s lost shellfish reefs from the brink of extinction? What can we learn from Green Christmas beetles to reduce the temperature in hot cities? How does weather affect the breeding biology of superb fairy-wrens? Are some fish braver than others when it comes to using fishways?
All researchers received $10,000 for being shortlisted for their public pitch, with judges then awarding $15,000 for first prize, $10,000 for second prize, and $5,000 for third prize. An extra $10,000 was awarded for the People’s Choice Award, voted by the online audience of nearly 200 guests, and $10,000 was awarded for the ‘Winton’s Choice’ award chosen by award-winning author, Tim Winton, patron of the Native Australian Animals Trust. In a surprise announcement on the night, an additional $10,000 prize was awarded by the Faculty’s School of BioSciences.
The Winners
- First place went to Laura Bibiana Ospina-Rozo, who is studying Green Christmas beetles and what we can learn from their heat-resistant wing layers to help keep human cities cooler.
- Rachele Wilson won second place for her project investigating Australian Sugarbag bees – an important source of cultural and physical sustenance for Yolgnu people of Arnhem Land peoples – and why decreased bee activity has been reported in recent years. Rachele was also awarded the People’s Choice and Winton’s Choice awards.
- Wing Yan Chan won third place for her pitch on ‘the secrets of extreme corals’ – what we can learn from coral species naturally surviving in hot environments to help save the 90 per cent of tropical corals expected to succumb to ocean warming.
The judging panel was chaired by Professor Mick McCarthy, Deputy Dean of Science at the University Melbourne, and consisted of Dr Ellen Cottingham, first place winner of the 2022 Big Science Pitch, Tanya Ha, award-winning environmental campaigner, science communicator and broadcaster, and Christian Williams, Enterprise Academy Manager at Mentone Girls’ Grammar School.
The online audience also voted for their favourite pitch through interactive live voting.
The judges said it was a difficult task to agree on the winners, with all pitches demonstrating curiously brilliant minds focused on our wildlife and environment.
“We assessed the pitches on innovation, delivery and impact,” said Professor McCarthy.
“Tonight's prizes were generously funded by the Native Australian Animals Trust and through the Robert Johanson and Anne Swann fund,” he said.
“The Native Australian Animals Trust is a way for people who are passionate about Australia’s wildlife and their environments to connect with the University of Melbourne’s research, teaching, and engagement activities. Thanks to our generous donors, the Trust helps fund our students and researchers to advance important environmental and ecological projects.”
Watch the live event recording below.
The Projects
Dr Rachele Wilson – Conserving sugarbag bees in Arnhem Land
Dr Wing Yan Chan – The secrets of extreme corals
Dr Brendan Lanham – Bringing back Victoria’s lost shellfish reefs from the brink of extinction
Dr Laura Bibiana Ospina-Rozo – Interview with the green beetle: How to keep our cities cool?
Dr Claire Taylor – Does nature always nurture? Investing in young in a changing world
Dr Joshua Barrow – Are fishways a silver bullet solution or just another obstacle for native fish?