Young Tall Poppy Award for researcher

Dr Hamish Clarke from the University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University has been recognised with a 2021 Young Tall Poppy Award by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) for his scientific excellence in bushfire risk and climate change.

Dr Clarke worked on the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC’s From hectares to tailor made solutions for risk mitigation project that examines the effectiveness of prescribed burning in reducing a range of risks across southern Australia. The project developed the Prescribed Burning Atlas, a tool that assists fire and land management agencies by presenting cost-effective options for their tailored prescribed burning strategies. Dr Clarke also leads the Black Summer bushfires: South Australia reconstructions project. His research to date focuses on fire weather and fuel, climate change and prescribed burning.

The Tall Poppy Campaign was created by the AIPS to recognise and celebrate Australian intellectual and scientific excellence and has made significant achievements towards building a more publicly engaged scientific leadership in Australia. The Campaign recognises the achievements of Australian scientists through the prestigious annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. Winners of these awards, known as Tall Poppies, engage in activities through the Campaign to promote interest in science among school students and teachers, as well as an understanding and appreciation of science in the broader community.

Congratulations to Dr Hamish Clarke on being one of the new Tall Poppies for New South Wales. Check out the AIPS website for more information on the award.