Premier's Fellows to advance biosecurity and coastal science

• Two Premier's Science Fellows and two Early-to-Mid-Career Fellows appointed in fields of coastal science and data analytics and tools for biosecurity
• Part of Cook Government's $3 million commitment over four years to attract and retain four world-class researchers
• Fellows will attract research investment and create jobs in Western Australia

The Cook Government has today unveiled key scientific appointments to bolster the State's research credentials in biosecurity and coastal science.

Professor Graeme Cumming and Professor Ben Phillips have been appointed as Premier's Science Fellows, while Dr Abbie Rogers and Dr Brenton von Takach have been appointed Premier's Early-to-Mid-Career Fellows. 

The four appointments will mean significant growth for research in WA in the fields of coastal science and data analytics and tools for biosecurity, addressing needs and delivering benefits and opportunities.

Professor Cumming and Dr Rogers will work together as Premier's Fellows to advance coastal management through studying interactions between people, nature, and economics in coastal environments -especially protected and adjacent areas - and land and seascape changes.

They will be hosted by The University of Western Australia, with Professor Cumming moving from James Cook University in Queensland.

Professor Phillips and Dr von Takach will work together as Premier's Fellows to leverage genomics technologies and biological invasion theory to develop decision support tools to assist biosecurity, targeted at surveillance, spread, containment, and eradication of invasive species.

They will both be hosted by Curtin University, with Professor Phillips coming to WA from the University of Melbourne.

The new Fellows will join the previous 15 leading scientists brought to WA by the Premier's Science Fellowship Program and other similar programs over the past 19 years. Two are still current Fellows.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"It is fantastic to be able to bring such brilliant scientific talent to WA, helping to drive research into two such important areas for our State - coastal management and biosecurity.

"All four Fellows will serve as ambassadors for science in WA and encourage further investment into their fields of study."

Comments attributed to Science Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The Cook Government is proud to attract the best and brightest to our shores through the Premier's Science Fellowship Program.

"This is also an investment in future research talent, who the Premier's Fellows will train and mentor."