Research excellence showcased

Eight up-and-coming University of Queensland researchers have received awards at the 2006 UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards held at Brisbane Customs House.

The researchers are conducting studies in areas such as the ethics of terrorism, reducing greenhouse gases in coal-fired power stations, new treatments for breast cancer and science communication.

UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor David Siddle congratulated the winners and commended the diversity of their research.

"UQ Research Week has highlighted a selection of important projects and the UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards have introduced the work of some of our brightest young researchers," Siddle said.

The 2006 winners are:

• Dr Joan Leach, of the School of English, Media Studies and Art History, received $55,000 to study the growing professional class of science communicators, which has sprung up to mediate between science and the general public.
• Dr Mark Schembri, of the School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, received $75,000 to identify good bacteria that will prevent harmful bacteria from causing urinary tract infections and better treatments.
• Dr Steve Chenoweth, of the School of Integrative Biology, received $80,000 to investigate the genetic triggers of key differences between males and females including longevity and particular disease rates.
• Dr Joe da Costa, of the School of Engineering, received $80,000 to develop hollow fibre technology that can separate oxygen from air, making the process of capturing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in coal-fired power stations much easier.
• Dr Ming-Xing Zhang, of the School of Pharmacy, received $67,000 to investigate calcium transportation and how it could lead to a treatment for breast cancer.
• Dr Darren Trott, of the School of Veterinary Science, received $55,000 to improve understanding of a remarkable bacterium, which is an important cause of diarrhoea in animals and humans, and develop new treatments to control it.
• Dr Alex Bellamy, of the School of Political Science and International Studies, received $75,000 to research and write a book about the ethics of terrorism.

22/9/06