Interdisciplinary public health scientist Dr Aparna Lal has been awarded the 2023 ACT Emerging Scientist of the Year Award for her important work exploring how we analyse resilience to environmental crises.
I would like to congratulate Dr Lal on this incredible achievement and the extraordinary work that has seen her awarded 2023's ACT Emerging Scientist of the Year.
Dr Lal is an Associate Professor at the Australian National University and is responsible for pioneering research into environmental resilience.
Her innovative research looks at how ecological change affects population health unequally, and how strengthening environmental surveillance can enhance community health.
Dr Lal is an international expert on how human wellbeing can improve the outcomes of environmental repair and how changes in the environment can act as an early warning system for population health. Her work has had a profound impact across disciplines – including making a lasting contribution to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Lal led the ACT's sewage surveillance program for COVID-19, which was one of the first to be set up in Australia and became the longest running daily wastewater testing program.
Dr Lal's research, teaching achievements and the impacts they will have on future research and policy make her a worthy recipient of the 2023 ACT Emerging Scientist of the Year award.
Canberra has been the home of many significant scientific achievements and acknowledging the work scientists do for the benefit of our community and the scientific field is important.
Research and innovation play an important role in shaping how we move into the future, and the ACT Government is committed to recognising our up-and-coming scientists.
Quotes attributable to Dr Aparna Lal, 2023 ACT Emerging Scientist of the Year:
"I am honoured to receive this award. After celebrating by going out for ice cream, I plan to continue my work in this exciting field.
"I hope that being named the 2023 ACT Emerging Scientist of the Year will inspire other women and young people to consider working in a scientific field.
"My interest and love for science began with reading. I believe that reading sparks curiosity and imagination, the foundation of all science.
"I'd like to thank my children, colleagues and peers who have helped me throughout my journey."
