The talents and achievements of Griffith Sciences personnel have been recognised with the presentation of the 2014 Pro Vice Chancellor’s Griffith Sciences Excellence Awards.
Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Debra Henly has praised the contribution of researchers, teachers and general staff, saying: “Griffith Sciences has made a very significant contribution to the rise of Griffith through the world university rankings in recent years, and to our reputation as a provider of distinctive and quality higher education.”
Professor Henly said she was particularly proud of the group’s Learning and Teaching achievements in 2014.
“This draws on our strengths in multi-disciplinary programs and the use of capstone courses and Work Integrated Learning to develop ‘work and world ready’ graduates.”
Highlights during the year included Dr Giovanna Di Trapani (School of Natural Sciences) receiving an Australian Award for University Teaching citation and Dr Tim Stevens (School of Environment) receiving the Award for Excellence in Teaching (Griffith Sciences).
Professor Henly said the University’s commitment to sustainability has been showcased outstandingly by Griffith Sciences in 2014.
“The inaugural Griffith University Sustainability Awards were held this year with Griffith Sciences staff figuring prominently,” she said, acknowledging the School of Environment’s Professor Catherine Pickering and PhD candidate Mark Ballantyne for winning the Group award, Dr Michael Howes for winning the Individual award, and Ms Delwyn Langdon (EcoCentre) as the recipient of the Lifetime Recognition award.
This year the Sciences group received a number of major funding allocations for research, topped by a grant of more than $8 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to Griffith’s Institute for Glycomics.
Led by Professor Mark von Itzstein and Professor Michael Jennings, the project Proteins and glycans in host-pathogen interactions: targets for novel drugs and vaccineshas brought together a team of researchers from Griffith, the University of Adelaide and the University of Queensland.
Funding in 2014 also included seven successful ARC Discovery grants totalling $2.9 million; two ARC DECRA grants ($761,949); four ARC Linkage Projects ($1.9 million) and an ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities grant ($2 million).
The group was also awarded two NHMRC Projects grants ($972,573); two NHMRC Early Career Fellowships ($609,192); one NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship ($601,689) and an NHMRC Australia/EU Collaborative grant totalling $266,353.
Recipients of the 2014 Pro Vice Chancellor’s Griffith Sciences Excellence Awards are:
Research
Early Career Researcher Award: Dr Benoit Gilbert, School of Engineering.
Midâ€Career Researcher Award: Dr Francesca Iacopi, Queensland Microâ€and Nanotechnology Centre.
Research Leadership Award: Professor Huijun Zhao, Environmental Futures Research Institute.
Research Supervision Award: Dr Steve Drew, Griffith Sciences.
Excellence of a Research Group Award: SEQ CARI Team comprising the School of Environment’s Professor Darryl Low Choy, Dr Silvia Serraoâ€Neumann, Dr Marcello Sano, Dr Oz Sahin, Ms Gemma Schuch, Professor Scott Baum, Professor Rodger Tomlinson, Associate Professor Rodney Stewart and members not currently employed by Griffith — Florence Crick, Rudi van Staden and Ben Harman.
Learning and Teaching
Australian Award for University Teaching Citation: Dr Giovanna Di Trapani, School of Natural Sciences.
Griffith Sciences Learning and Teaching Citation: Dr Jason Byrne, School of Environment; Dr Sarah Cresswell, School of Natural Sciences; Associate Professor Ann McDonnell, School of Natural Sciences; Dr Benoit Gilbert and Associate Professor Hong Guan, School of Engineering.
Griffith Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr Tim Stevens, School of Environment.
Griffith Award for Excellence in Teaching — High Impact Strategies for Progression, Retention and Attainment: Dr Caryl Bosman, School of Environment.
Griffith Sciences Grants for Learning and Teaching: Dr Jahangir Hossain, School of Engineering; Dr Ivan Gratchev, School of Engineering; Dr Wayne Pullan, School of Information and Communication Technology; Associate Professor Karine Dupre, School of Environment; Dr Jun Jo, School of Information and Communication Technology; Associate Professor Junhu Wang, School of Information and Communication Technology.
General Staff Service
Outstanding Contribution in Service, Individual: Mr Daniel Tonzing, School of Environment.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety Initiative Award: Dr Carieâ€Anne Logue, Institute for Glycomics.
Sustainability
Sustainability Excellence Award: Professor Lex Brown, School of Environment; Ms Delwyn Langdon, EcoCentre.
Sustainability Excellence Award in a Group: Dr Wayne Hall and Professor Andreas Oechsner, School of Engineering; Professor Catherine Pickering and Mark Ballantyne, School of Environment.