Each year Professionals Australia provides up to two scholarships for scientist members to attend Science meets Parliament (SmP), a two-day event that brings together more than 200 of Australia’s top scientists and decision-makers in Canberra.
The scholarship is selected on the basis of an essay competition and each scholarship covers recipient members’ conference fees, travel and accommodation.
The aim of the event is twofold – firstly to demonstrate our commitment to the continuing professional development of our early-career Professional Scientist members, and secondly to take what we see as the key issues facing science in Australia direct to politicians in Canberra.
Professional Scientists Australia have awarded the 2018 Science meets Parliament scholarships to Ryan Hopprich and Katie Havelberg.
Ryan works for SA Pathology as a Microbiology Senior Medical Scientist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science and Graduate Diploma of Applied Science from the University of South Australia and a Certificate in Laboratory Skills. He has been involved in auditing Tuberculosis programs in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, and providing Tuberculosis diagnostic and specialised testing for Vietnam, Indonesia and East Timor. He is a member and group convenor of the Mycobacteria Special Interest Group and a participant in the Bio-threat and bioterrorism program.
Katie is a Queensland-based Medical Scientist with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Medical Science) and a Masters in Health Science from Queensland University of Technology. She works for the Platelet and Granulocyte Reference Service with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and has been a member of Professionals Australia since 2009.
Katie and Ryan will attend alongside Professional Scientists Australia President Robyn Porter.
Congratulations Ryan and Katie!
The winning essays:
Science meets Parliament 2018 photos by Mark Graham – available at https://markgraham.photoshelter.com/gallery/STA-2018/G0000T1BMg2XFOKU.