Award winning scientist encourages other women to purse research career
Award winning scientist encourages other women to purse research career - Beef CRC - Beef Genetic Technologies
| 4 September 2008 |
 A Beef CRC scientist from Queensland has taken out top honours in the Smart Women - Smart State Awards for 2008.Dr Ala Lew, Principal Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, was presented the Women in the Community/Public Sector – Science award at a gala ceremony held in Brisbane on Tuesday 2 September. The award recognizes Dr Lew’s work in developing a new vaccine that protects Australia’s Northern cattle industry from the ‘cattle tick’. “Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is estimated to cost the northern beef industry $175 million dollars a year in lost beef and milk production. Finding a cost effective way of controlling this pest would provide the industry with a huge boost,” Dr Lew said. Dr Lew said she was delighted to receive the award. “I was really surprised. I didn’t think I had a great chance of winning; it was just nice to be short-listed,” she said. “A lot of the awards were being won by people who are researching water and improving management, so to be honoured in this way for research in a less ‘fashionable’ area is a real privilege.” An initiative of the Queensland Office for Women, the Smart Women awards recognize Queensland's brightest women who excel in traditionally male-dominated fields of science, engineering, the environment and information and communication technology. On winning her Smart Women award Dr Lew said she would like to encourage other women to pursue a career in scientific research. Dr Lew also thanked her colleagues at DPI&F and across the Beef CRC network. “We have a talented group of people from Australia and across the globe working on this project. If we are successful we’ll not only assist the Australian agricultural and export markets but also reduce the impact of harmful pesticides on the environment,” Dr Lew said. Dr Lew received a cash prize, made possible by the generous sponsorship of Queensland Health; a glass vase with commemorative plaque and a certificate signed by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Margaret Keech Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Women in Queensland. |
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