MEDIA RELEASE

Australia's best and brightest win Fulbright Scholarships

19 March 2008

Twenty-four outstanding Australians have been awarded prestigious Fulbright Scholarships at the annual Fulbright Presentation Dinner. The Scholars will study, or conduct further research in their chosen field, in the United States over the next twelve months with their Fulbright Scholarship.

The 2008 Scholars were announced at the Presentation Dinner at Winthrop Hall at the University of Western Australia by Australian-American Fulbright Commission Executive Director, Mr Mark Darby. Mr Darby said the successful scholars truly demonstrated the breath and diversity in research amongst Australia’s brightest.

The Scholars were presented to and congratulated by the Honorary Co-Chair U.S Ambassador to Australia, Mr Robert D. McCallum Jnr; the Western Australian Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Mark McGowan MLA; and National President of the Australian Fulbright Alumni Association, Dr Tony Worby.

The twenty-four Australia Scholars will study a diverse range of fields while in the U.S., including marine and environmental science, viticulture, epidemiology, law, visual arts and electrical engineering. The Scholars come from across Australia and include state government staff, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, and senior academics.

The Scholarships, worth from $25,000 - $40,000, allow each scholar to study and research in the U.S. for three to twelve months.

In congratulating the Scholars, Ambassador McCallum spoke about the importance of the Fulbright Program as the American Government’s premier exchange program.

“The importance of this program in Australia to the United States can not, to my view, be overstated because it provides a certain texture and strength to the fabric of good relations that have existed for so many years between our two countries – the studying abroad, the exchange of ideas, the exchange of information, the familiarity with which that breeds, is something that has enriched both our nations, over that extended period of time.”

The list of 2008 Australian Scholars is below - media profiles and individual photos of each Fulbright Scholar are available from the Commission's Communications Manager.

The prestigious Fulbright Program is the largest educational scholarship of its kind and was created by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright and the U.S. Government in 1946. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through educational exchange, it currently operates between the U.S. and 150 other nations.

The Australian Fulbright Program was established in 1949 through the first treaty ever signed between the Australian and U.S. governments. The Prime Minister of Australia and the U.S. Ambassador serve as Honorary Co-Chairs and the Program is funded by both governments and a select group of sponsors. Applications for 2009 Fulbright Scholarships open 1 June 2008 and close 31 August 2008.

2008 Australian Fulbright Scholars

Postgraduate Scholarships

• Sarah Beavan (ACT) – Physics, The Australian National University (Technology and Communications Scholarship sponsored by Telstra)
• Sharon Bonython-Ericson (QLD) – Health Sciences, The University of Sydney (Queensland Scholarship)
• Tegan Brink (ACT) – Law, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, The University of Sydney
• Azadeh Dastyari (Vic) – Law, Monash University, The University of Sydney (Alumni (WG Walker) Scholarship)
• Kim Edwards (NSW) – Economics, University of New South Wales
• Natalia Galin (Tas) – Electrical Engineering, University of Tasmania, University of New South Wales (Science and Engineering Scholarship sponsored by BHP Billiton)
• Jenny Giles (Qld) – Marine Science, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales
• David Keith (Vic) – Environmental Sciences, University of Melbourne
• Christopher Lawrence (NSW) – Epidemiology, The Georges Institute for International Health, The Australian National University (Indigenous Scholarship sponsored by Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)
• David Liu (Qld) – Computer Engineering, University of Queensland
• Clyde McGill (WA) – Visual Art, Curtin University, Murdoch University (Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship sponsored by Anthony Joseph Pratt)
• Keith Pembleton (Tas) – Rural Technologies, University of Tasmania, University of Queensland (Tasmania Scholarship)
• Anthony Robinson (WA) – Viticulture, University of Western Sydney (Western Australia Scholarship)
• Ramtin Shams (ACT) – Computer Engineering, Australian National University

Postdoctoral Scholarships

• Tony Kemp (QLD) – Geology, James Cook University, Australian National University, LaTrobe University
• Ken Pang (Vic) – Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research/University of Melbourne

Senior Scholars Scholarships

• Brenda Cherednichenko (WA) – Education, Edith Cowan University, Victoria University
• Robin Gasser (Vic) – Molecular Parasitology, University of Melbourne
• Jennifer McKay (SA) – Law, University of South Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Adelaide.
• Jiyuan Tu (Vic) – Computational Fluid Dynamics, RMIT

Professional Scholarships

• Christopher Ainsworth (SA) – Business Administration, The University of Adelaide (Vocational Education and Training sponsored by Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)
• Abul Hashem (WA) – Weed Science, WA Department of Agriculture and Food (Business/Industry (Coral Sea)
• David Hobbs (SA) – Rehabilitation Engineering, Novita Children’s Services Inc, Flinders University
• Cameron O’Reilly (NSW) – Public Policy, Energy Retailers Association, Monash University, University of Sydney (Australian United States Alliance Studies sponsored by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Contact

Jennifer Cahill
Australian-American Fulbright Commission
T: 02 6260 4460
E: commsmanager@fulbright.com.au