12- 05-2023

In this fortnight’s edition, we salute a John Monash Scholar who had the exceptional honour of attending The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay in London, we hear from our global Scholar community on their recent catch ups with John Monash alumni and pay tribute to the successes of Scholar awards and appointments

Lieutenant Matthew Newman, 2022 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar, had the great honour of meeting His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, for the start of the Legacy Australia Centenary Torch Relay. 

Since 1923, Legacy has kept the promise to support the families of Australian military veterans. To mark the occasion and to raise awareness of their important work, the Centenary Torch will visit all 45 Legacy clubs worldwide. In London, the route traversed several prominent landmarks before concluding at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.

Eva Mackinley, 2020 Chairman’s Circle John Monash Scholar, has contributed a feature article for the Lowy Institute, discussing the recent nuclear narrative in South Korea and postulating whether a pledge of additional support from the USA will be enough to retain the trust of its allies in the longer term. 

An avid campaigner for social change, Eva has been recognised as one of the 2018 100 Women of Influence and as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia fellow for 2019. As a John Monash Scholar, Eva completed a Master of International Relations and Security Studies at The University of Bradford in the UK. Her studies ambitiously sought to understand the dynamics of peace and security on Australia’s future in a rapidly changing world, and their implications on shared global challenges.

Hugo Rourke, 2023 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar, has been awarded the J F Kennedy Fellowship which will enhance his academic endeavours at the Harvard Kennedy School. We congratulate Hugo and wish him all the best for his studies at Harvard, which will commence later this year.  

Hugo was recently also a guest on the ‘Built It. They'll Come’ podcast with Helen Dalley. Hugo discusses his role as CEO and Founder of Perx Health, how he is pioneering a new market of behavioural solutions for health, and how empowerment will enable better health outcomes in the future. Listen here

John Monash Scholar sets ambitions towards sustainable development of the livestock sector

Dr Maja Arsic, 2017 BHP John Monash Scholar, recently took a trip to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, to attend the first meeting of the Livestock Environment Assessment Partnership Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Integrating Circular Bioeconomy Approaches in the livestock sector.  

“It was a pleasure to meet over 60 scientists from 27 countries to kickstart developing guidelines for circular bioeconomy and ecosystem services for sustainability in the livestock sector over the next year!” 

The Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership is a multi-stakeholder initiative that seeks to improve the environmental sustainability of the livestock sector through harmonised methods, metrics, and data. LEAP leads a coordinated global initiative to accelerate the sustainable development of livestock supply chain and to support coherent climate actions, while contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. 

“By promoting more efficient use of materials and energy through the reuse and recycling of waste and residues, circular bioeconomy aims to reduce the consumption of resources and make livestock production more efficient. While many studies map possible recovery options for livestock residues, waste streams from agri-food industries, and manure, the TAG aims to develop harmonised methodologies to assess the potential of the livestock sector to contribute to circular bioeconomy approaches.” 

Maja is a current CERC Winanga-y Postdoctoral Research Fellow at CSIRO Agriculture and Food and is passionate about plant science and developing a circular nutrient economy in Australia for sustainable agriculture.

Microfluidic mixology with bacterial stir bars

Microfluidics devices are gaining significant interest in biomedical applications. Associate Professor Matt Baker, 2005 John Monash Scholar, recently co-authored a research paper in Biomicrofluidics, which discusses a method of inducing mixing in microfluidic systems using a rotating flagellar motor from a bacterium.  

The researchers tethered bacteria to the microfluidic surface using a sticky filament, part of the flagellar motor, and remotely activated the rotation with green laser light. The bacterium generated micro vortices that mixed the fluids in the microfluidic system.  

The researchers plan to explore better methods of controlling rotation via light and manipulating the patterning of bacteria to control fluid flows more precisely. The study shows promise for controlling mixing and fluid flow in microfluidics by combining synthetic biology of microbes with microfluidics. 

Fossil Fuel Litigation: The context, the science, the cases

Dr Fergus Green, 2012 John Monash Scholar, and Dr Rebecca Nelson, 2009 John Monash Scholar, appeared as panellists at an informal discussion hosted earlier in the month by The University of Melbourne. The event provided context for coal litigation in Australia and the opportunities and challenges – legal, factual and evidentiary – it presents. 

The panellists discussed advances in attribution science and the role climate scientists play in fossil fuel litigation and introduced a new initiative aiming to streamline the process of establishing facts about the net impacts of proposed fossil fuel projects on greenhouse gas emissions, which are typically contested in such litigation. Watch here

AirSeed: Drone planting takes flight to promote reforestation in flood-affected NSW

Jessica Coldrey, 2021 Victorian Government John Monash Scholar, is the Community Partnerships Manager at AirSeed, an organisation that works with flood-impacted communities in northern NSW to rehabilitate landholders' properties damaged by landslides.  

In this interview, Jessica explains a recent project where AirSeed has developed a unique approach to tackle climate change and restore biodiversity by combining drone technology, machine learning, and seed pod biotechnology to carry out planting that’s 25 times faster than traditional hand-planting methods. This project was made possible through the Humanitech Lab, an innovation program by Australian Red Cross and founding partner Telstra Foundation. Watch here

'Defending Democracy' at the NYC Australian Consulate General

IN THE MEDIA

Dr Mark Schembri, 2009 John Monash Scholar, was interviewed by Channel Nine News discussing his professional career and passion for both animal and human medicine. Mark was also featured on Channel 7 News for helping save the life of Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft, after she was given less than three percent chance of survival.  

We applaud Mark’s passion and determination to help the lives of those in need and so proud of the extraordinary things he has achieved. We are delighted to share and celebrate his stories being recognised in these programs.  

Jillian Kilby, 2013 BHP John Monash Scholar, appeared on ABC’s The Drum. Alongside a panel of industry experts, Jillian discussed the energy transition in NSW as the Liddell coal fired power station closes, farmers mental health and the government's plan to deliver First Nations water across Australia.  

Stephanie Pow, 2013 NSW Premier's John Monash Scholar, was featured in TVNZ discussing parental leave and her business ‘Parental Leave Register.’