An ocean scientist at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in the University of Tasmania has been named the state's 2024 Young Tall Poppy of the Year.
Physical oceanographer Dr Edward Doddridge, a research associate with the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), explores ocean currents, sea ice, and the ways in which the Southern Ocean influences the global climate.
Dr Doddridge said that at a time when extreme and rapid changes are happening in Antarctica, he was heartened to receive recognition of his research and communication work.
"How Antarctica and the Southern Ocean respond to global warming will reshape the natural world and human society.
"For example, Southern Ocean currents control how much heat can reach the Antarctic ice sheets where it melts the ice, leading to sea-level rise.
"Until we understand the current state of the ocean and how it will respond to climate change, we cannot hope to accurately project what the future will look like.
"While the findings of my research are often very alarming, they also motivate me to communicate my science to the public and policymakers to inform the actions that must be taken to safeguard humanity's future," he said.
The Young Tall Poppy Science Awards are run by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) to honour up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science. They were instituted in 1998 on the centenary of Howard Florey's birth. Since then, over 1100 awards have been made across Australia. In 2024 over 360 applications were received and 73 awards have been made.
Dr Doddridge said he was deeply grateful to the Australian Institute of Policy and Science for his award, and honoured to be one of four finalists from Tasmania.
The other finalists for 2024 are crop physiologist Dr Tory Clarke from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, and atmospheric scientist Dr Marc Mallet and sea-ice scientist Dr Pat Wongpan, both from the AAPP.
AAPP program leader Professor Nathan Bindoff congratulated all finalists for being exemplars of cutting-edge research and proactive science communication.
"I'm particularly pleased that three of the four finalists are from fields of Antarctic science, highlighting the impact of the world-class polar research we do in Tasmania," he said.
Photo: Australian Antarctic Partnership Program Tall Poppy finalists Dr Ed Doddridge, Dr Marc Mallet and Dr Pat Wongpan. Absent: Dr Tory Clarke from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture.
