University of New England’s Professor Annette Cowie has been named as the recipient of the Innovation in NSW Public Sector Science and Engineering award at the 2024 Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering.
“These awards are about recognising and thanking our state’s most outstanding scientists, engineers, and teachers. ” said Premier Chris Minns.
The NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science & Engineering seek to recognise excellence in science and engineering, and reward leading researchers for cutting-edge work that has generated economic, environmental, health, social or technological benefits for New South Wales.
The Prizes replaced the NSW Science & Engineering Awards (held annually from 2008 – 2014) and reflect the NSW Government’s strong commitment to the local research and development community.
The Prizes aim to raise community awareness and appreciation of the important contribution scientists and engineers make to our daily lives and encourage careers in both fields.
Professor Annette Cowie
Professor Annette Cowie is a prominent climate scientist and policy advisor known for her cross-disciplinary research on climate change mitigation in the land sector. Internationally recognised as an authority in her field, Professor Cowie’s work balances production and environmental objectives, promoting sustainability and enhancing resilience to climate change and other shocks.
Professor Cowie’s research informs climate change policy at local, national and international levels, and supports the transition to a circular bio-economy. She leads pivotal projects, including an emissions reduction roadmap to support NSW’s Net Zero 2050 target, development of methods and standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting for the land sector, and sustainable options for durable carbon dioxide removal using biochar.
Annette’s innovative leadership has significantly influenced climate change and land management policy in NSW and globally. She was a lead author on the seminal Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, including the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) and the Special Report on Climate Change and the Land. She co-leads an International Energy Agency Bioenergy research group and co-led the development of the Scientific Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality, that underpins land management in over 130 countries.
Professor Cowie contributes to many cross-agency technical advisory and working groups at state, national and international levels. Her research has been applied in GHG accounting through the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme, international voluntary carbon market platforms, ISO standards and IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories.
In the last decade, Professor Cowie has attracted over $15 million in research funding. She was recognised as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher from 2018 to 2020 and has published in prestigious journals such as Nature and Nature Climate Change, amassing over 27,000 citations and an h-index of 75.
Awards Winners
Ten category winners were announced today, each receiving a trophy and $5,000 in prize money:
- NSW Scientist of the Year
Professor Helen Christensen AO - Excellence in Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Physics
Professor Susan Coppersmith, UNSW Sydney
- Excellence in Biological Sciences (Ecological, environmental, agricultural and organismal) Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, Macquarie University
- Excellence in Medical Biological Sciences (Cell and molecular, medical, veterinary and genetics)
Professor Stuart Tangye, Garvan Institute of Medical Research - Excellence in Engineering or Information and Communications Technologies
Distinguished Professor Willy Susilo, University of Wollongong
- NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Biological Sciences)
Dr Ira Deveson, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
- NSW Early Career Researcher of the Year (Physical Sciences) –
Dr. Jiayan Liao, University of Technology Sydney
- Leadership in Innovation in NSW
Distinguished Professor Karu Esselle, University of Technology Sydney
- Innovation in NSW Public Sector Science and Engineering
Professor Annette Cowie, NSW Department of Primary Industries and University of New England
- Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics Teaching in NSW
Jodie Attenborough, Tottenham Central School
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