Two researchers from the University of Adelaide's School of Biological Sciences have been awarded the Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship, facilitated by the Australian Academy of Science.
PhD candidate Rebecca Greening and Dr Nina Wootton.
Dr Nina Wootton was recognised for her study investigating the presence and impact of microplastics in food sources such as fish, mussels, mud crabs, and turtles in north-east Arnhem land.
The interdisciplinary research project, in collaboration with the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, employs both ecological and social sciences and seeks to fill knowledge gaps and provide actionable insights for mitigating microplastics pollution while protecting indigenous food sources and the broader environment.
"I am incredibly grateful and humbled to receive the 2025 Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship. Being recognised with such a prestigious award is a career highlight, and I deeply appreciate the generous donors who make this work possible," says Dr Wootton.
"As an early career researcher, securing funding for meaningful projects can be challenging, so I'm especially thankful for this opportunity.
"This award not only supports my current project but also opens doors for future initiatives that connect science, policy, and industry for more sustainable environmental practices."
PhD candidate Rebecca Greening was also awarded a fellowship for her project seeking to better understand how to sustainably manage Australia's arid rangelands for livestock grazing.
There are well-documented pervasive effects of livestock on plants and animals, but we know less about the impacts on soil microbial communities and the essential role they play in ecosystem function and services in arid ecosystems.
Greening's project adopts a multidisciplinary approach to compare a century-old livestock-excluded reserve to nearby areas with high- and low-intensity livestock grazing to determine how livestock indirectly affect soil biochemical cycling and plant recruitment.
It will fill a crucial knowledge gap and facilitate the implementation of sustainable management strategies and restoration techniques to support pastoral activities with positive biodiversity outcomes.
"I was so surprised to be awarded the Max Day Fellowship. This opportunity will not only open new doors for my project and career but also highlights the value of the TGB Osborn Vegetation Reserve, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary since its establishment in 1925," Greening says.
The Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award assists PhD students and early career researchers working on the conservation of Australia's flora and fauna, ecologically sustainable resource use, environmental protection and ecosystem services using an interdisciplinary approach.
The award is named in honour of the late Dr Maxwell Frank Cooper Day AO FAA, who spent a lifetime championing entomology, conservation and forestry, as well as helping other scientists.
