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Education Showcase Building future experse across the water industry

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Page 1: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Education ShowcaseBuilding future expertise across the water industry

Page 2: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Water for the wellbeing of all Australians Water Research Australia Limited (WaterRA)

Cover 2014 Honours graduate Michael Webber, SA Water Employee

Michael Webber is 25 and responsible for the health of 50,000 people over 15,000 km2. A slight overstatement perhaps...

Michael is part of a small team of Technical Support Officers at SA Water who manage all aspects of drinking water quality in South Australia outside of metro Adelaide.

The team deals with troubleshooting, performance and optimisation of conventional, reverse osmosis, microfiltration, MIEX and other treatment processes feeding into chlorinated and chloraminated distribution systems. Michael’s role extends to monitoring programs and customer calls, as well as support for other personnel in these areas. This requires a lot of office, plant and field work touching most aspects of the business.

“I completed a Biotechnology (Honours) degree at Flinders University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water AWQC, working with live Cryptosporidium, and everything changed”.

Following the industry-sponsored summer scholarship Michael went on to a WaterRA Honours Scholarship before joining SA Water’s graduate program. Since then he has worked with SA Water’s research and operations groups, Allwater and GWMWater before landing his current role. He was finalist for two undergraduate research awards, won the Michael Flynn Award for best paper at OzWater in 2014, and was the AWA SA Young Water Professional of the year in 2015.

With the networks he has developed as a student with WaterRA Michael can see himself returning for further study, perhaps a master’s degree in Engineering or returning to microbiology research to complete a PhD “but for now I love this role, there is an enormous amount more to learn, always something interesting and eventful and a great balance of office and field based work and so many opportunities to make a difference”.

Philanthropic Sponsorship(WaterRA Scholarship Fund)Do you have a commitment to education and research for the water industry?WaterRA now offers Philanthropic Scholarships to support students interested in a career in the water industry to become tomorrow’s young professionals - skilled and employable researchers and practitioners.WaterRA’s not-for-profit status means that you, or your company, can sponsor post-graduate student scholarships in the water industry. The WaterRA Scholarship Fund is an option for organisations looking at ethical or philanthropic support for Australian industry, via a student project.

Development of future professionals is a critical factor in the sustainability of Australia’s water industry.

The National Skills Audit 2008 anticipates that by 2018, a projected gap of 26,600 jobs - or 47 per cent of national requirements - will challenge future delivery of key requirements across the industry.

A focus on building future capacity and succession planning benefits the water industry, and most importantly, the community. Australia’s water industry needs high calibre research to inform operational practice and water industry guidelines, respond to emerging issues and ensure the continued supply of safe water for our communities.

Postgraduate and honours student projects remain an effective means of undertaking research projects and provide excellent research training for future water professionals.

Sponsorship Packages

PhD $40,000

Masters $25,000

Honours $17,000

The funding comprises a top-up stipend and operating allowance.

The benefits of WaterRA sponsorship are not just financial! WaterRA provides an orientation day, networking opportunities, professional development, exposure to the water industry and a mentor. PhD candidates are supported to attend an international conference, and give at least one presentation at a domestic water industry meeting.

- See more at: http://www.waterra.com.au/education-program/philanthropic-sponsorship/

For more information contact Program Manager - EducationCarolyn Bellamy on 08 7424 2443.

2 WaterRA Showcase April 2016 EDUCATION

Page 3: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

RMIT University PhD candidate Ana Martins is the 2012 recipient of the WaterRA’s Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship. In late 2014 Ana presented her work at the Lab on a Chip, Microfluidics & Microarray World Congress in San Diego. Her project focuses on the development of a versatile, portable flow injection analysis system for the chemiluminescent detection of pesticides in source waters (recently published in Analytical Chemistry). The project utilises surface acoustic waves to enhance the sensitivity of the chemiluminescent microanalyses in a newly designed flow cell (Australian Patent # 2014903317 Filed).

Being the recipient of the Nancy Millis Scholarship is not only an immense honour; it is also a fantastic opportunity to make the most of all opportunities. Thanks to my scholarship, I was also able to present my work at several universities in the United States, including Harvard University, University of Massachusetts, Notheastern University, Ohio State University, New York University, Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology as well as visit their research laboratories and learn about university-industry partnerships in the USA. I also attended MicroTAS (Micro Total Analysis Systems) or Miniaturised Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Ana discovered many potential applications for her instrument through networking at the conferences and their workshops. Her work was extremely well received by all professors in the USA. Most of them were interested in establishing collaborations with RMIT University. Even though the work is primarily focussed on environmental analyses, researchers in other areas saw applications for this technology, in areas such as point of care diagnostics, medical and engineering systems. One example is the detection of circulating tumor cells and exosomes in blood samples.

Ana has written a Fact Sheet based on her project, Shining light on pesticide monitoring, which is available on the WaterRA website.

“Applied research is highly valued in the USA, especially when it can be applied to multidisciplinary fields. The presentations at the universities and the lab visits were invaluable opportunities to open channels for collaboration. I had time to share and acquire knowledge, as well as assess how our projects could contribute to one another. There are many opportunities for collaboration between Australia and the USA – it is up to us to make the most of them and shorten the distance between the two countries.”

MUHAMMAD Umar was awarded IPRS and APA scholarships to undertake a PhD in Chemical Engineering at RMIT University under the supervision of Professor Felicity Roddick. He also received a WaterRA top-up scholarship for the project “Treatment of municipal wastewater reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) using oxidation by UV-mediated processes.”

Muhammad’s project investigated the removal of organic matter in high salinity ROC from municipal wastewater, including reducing the toxicity of micropollutants, using UVC/H2O2 with coagulation as pre-treatment and biological treatment as post-treatment, for recycling and/or safe disposal. The potential of a novel mercury-free source of monochromatic UV radiation for the treatment of ROC was investigated and compared with a conventional UVC lamp system. Coagulation as pre-treatment and biological treatment as post-treatment markedly reduced energy consumption, enhanced water quality and reduced the formation of disinfection by-products (DBP) and toxicity in the treated water.

WaterRA’s support enabled Muhammad to present at the International Conference on Biological, Civil and Environmental Engineering in Dubai (UAE), and attend OzWater’14. All WaterRA PhD students become members of AWA, and this provided Muhammad an opportunity to network with water industry professionals and academics at national and international level through attending seminars and other events organised. The mentor support provided as part of the WaterRA Scholarship played an equally important role in Muhammad’s professional development during his PhD.

Muhammad received the School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering’s first prize in the “Higher degree by research student publication” award for 2013. It was awarded for publishing the highest number of high impact journal articles. He was also recipient of the “Higher Degree by Publication Grant” in September 2014 from the School.

Muhammad has been fortunate to have a few options to choose from following completion of his PhD. He has opted for a postdoctoral position in the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Muhammad UmarAna Martins - Nancy Millis Scholar

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase April 2016 3

Page 4: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

EMMA Plant completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide in January 2014. Her thesis, which received a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, was “Comparison and development of advanced techniques for organic matter characterisation in water and wastewater processing.” This work involved analytical organic chemistry, developing a method for determining the amount of complementary information provided by different characterisation techniques used to study the structural features of dissolved organic matter. The study increased understanding of the limitations of some well-established characterisation techniques, and these key findings were shared in conference and journal publications. Emma’s supervisors were Dr Ron Smernik (University of Adelaide), Dr John van Leeuwin (University of South Australia), and Dr Paul Greenwood (University of Western Australia). She also received in-kind support from the Australian Water Quality Centre for this project.

Emma’s PhD was sponsored by top-up scholarships from the Playford Memorial Trust and Water Research Australia. The benefits of the WaterRA scholarship were significant — enabling Emma to use some of the best available software for statistical analyses, undertaking research in Perth with her supervisor, and presenting her research at a number of national and international conferences including OzWater ’13 and ’14 and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Nashville, Tennessee, 2014.

An invaluable aspect of the WaterRA top-up scholarship was the professional and personal development opportunities available through this, including mentorship from Paul Atherton, GWMWater. In particular, Emma had many opportunities to network with Australian water industry professionals who shared her drive for learning and water science. Emma became a committee member for the SA AWA Young Water Professionals, and remained on the committee for over 2 years.

Networking was a major factor leading to her current employment, and Emma has worked for the Water Corporation as a Source Protection Consultant in the Drinking Water Quality Branch since June 2014. Based in Perth, Emma is a part of the team that manages, maintains and protects drinking water catchments and quality around Western Australia. The work is diverse and many new professional and personal development opportunities have become available to her.

Emma Plant

WATERRA’S Education Program gives PhD students a unique prospect to conduct high quality research with practical applications for the water industry.

“Without the funding and support provided by WaterRA, it would have been a great challenge to conduct the large scale experiments for my project.”

Rachael Aganetti, a PhD student at Victoria University is working closely with project collaborator Melbourne Water investigating the subject of spontaneous ignition of stockpiles of biosolids at the Western Treatment Plant. The data collected from the experiments will assist in the refinement and validation of a numerical model she has been developing, with which she intends to investigate alternative stockpiling strategies to mitigate the hazard.

The research conducted through WaterRA’s Education Program has the benefit of continual exposure to industry leaders through student engagement at member meetings, symposiums and conferences. Additional to this is the encouragement to attend at least one international conference, giving PhD students the opportunity to disseminate the ongoing findings of their research, opening doors to collaborative ventures.

“I spent six months in Marseille, in France, working with numerical simulation experts who were able to assist me with refinement of my model and also gave me more ideas about where I could take the research. I am going back over there to meet with European wastewater treatment plant operators who are experiencing the same problem as the Western treatment Plant and are interested in the outcomes of my work, this will likely lead to new funding opportunities to continue the research.”

Rachael is excited about how much interest has been generated around her project and hopes that the outcomes of her research will be able to assist a wide range of wastewater treatment plants around the world.

Rachael Aganetti

4 WaterRA Showcase April 2016 EDUCATION

Page 5: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Dan Kousbroek & Richard Connor

RICHARD AND DAN completed their Bachelors of Environmental Science and Management from the University of Newcastle in 2013 and were looking to further their careers and job prospects by completing an Honours project. Hunter Water, in association with the University of Newcastle, had developed a project to examine the extent to which treated effluent from groundwater infiltration ponds at a wastewater treatment works was influencing the receiving estuarine environment. They were both awarded a WaterRA Honours scholarship to complete this project and, whilst working in parallel using Stable Isotope Analysis, they approached the problem using different indicator organisms. Richard used oysters while Dan examined mangrove leaves and seagrass.

The results of their research have given Hunter Water information on the area of ecological influence of the waste- water treatment works and provided baseline data for comparison against future changes in effluent management. The methods used in their research also provide a blueprint for future investigation into interactions between wastewater and estuarine systems.

The WaterRA Honours scholarship enabled them to concentrate on the project throughout the year, reducing their need to work to support themselves. It was the other aspects of the scholarship, however, that Richard and Dan felt could be the most beneficial to them. Attending the OzWater conference, which in 2014 included a Water in the Environment stream, membership of Australian Water Association and the Young Water Professionals have given them access to like-minded people from around Australia and from all aspects of the water industry.

Presenting the results of their research to a wide range of industry professionals and researchers at the WaterRA Members meeting at the end of their honours year raised their profiles and provided them excellent networking opportunities.

Yulia Shutova

YULIA SHUTOVA has always had a passion for science and research. Based at the University of New South Wales Water Research Centre, Yulia was awarded her APA and WaterRA scholarships in 2011. Her PhD project focussed on the development of an organic matter monitoring protocol using the advanced characterisation technique fluorescence spectroscopy. This project was part of an ARC Linkage Project with partners including Hunter Water, Melbourne Water, Seqwater and WaterRA. The aim of this research was to investigate the use of fluorescence spectroscopy for monitoring organic matter character in drinking water treatment systems to improve early warning of elevated organic matter events and process optimisation and control. This aim was achieved via a combination of laboratory and field experiments.

WaterRA support enabled Yulia to purchase specific equipment for her project and attend specialised conferences and workshops such as Ozwater, the IWA Natural Organic Matter specialist conference and the International Workshop on Organic Matter Spectroscopy. Yulia observed that “Attending a conference is always a great opportunity to present and discuss your work with researchers and industry professionals at international level. I found it to be very rewarding and inspiring to meet people, share ideas and learn from experienced colleagues.“

Yulia also explained that while WaterRA financial support was very helpful, having a mentor, as well as being invited to attend and present at WaterRA events, was particularly important during her PhD. It was a perfect opportunity to communicate, to learn and to enjoy being a part of the Australian water community. She would definitely encourage potential students to apply for WaterRA scholarships, as the support extends beyond just funding.

Yulia was awarded several prizes during her PhD, including a Runner Up prize for the UNSW Facility of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research in 2014; UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering Overall and Environmental Engineering Prizes in 2013.

Yulia believes that the exposure to international conferences and networking opportunities helped her to gain the confidence required to grow as a young researcher and to excel in her postgraduate research.

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase April 2016 5

Page 6: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Casey Furlong

URBAN water infrastructure planning has been practiced in much the same way since the creation of the first water supply dams and sewer systems. This has generally involved reactive infrastructure upgrades to meet specified service standards. In the last decade the growing acceptance of the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) ideology has resulted in the adoption of more complex and proactive planning processes, and the construction of many alternative water source projects. Planning of these IUWM projects is still an emerging practice, with no industry-wide instructions to assist water authorities.

Casey Furlong, PhD student at RMIT University with support and supervision from Melbourne Water, is running a research project to investigate and improve Australia’s IUWM infrastructure planning processes. The aims of the research are to (1) understand the IUWM paradigm and its practical implications for water infrastructure planning, (2) develop frameworks for the planning of IUWM infrastructure at a system level and a project level, and (3) learn from previous planning efforts to inform future planning.

“Over the last two years I have had the chance to conduct interviews with 34 Australian water industry experts from 20 different organisations. I have had one journal paper published in an international journal (another two under review), presented at an industry conference, and attended three additional conferences. On top of this, I have had the chance to meet and associate with countless more industry experts at WaterRA research symposiums and member meetings.”

“The WaterRA PhD program ensures that you are placed in a professional industry environment where help never seems too far away. Support and friendship from my mentor Ross Young, and WaterRA staff have made the PhD experience a great deal more achievable and enjoyable than it would have been as a solitary academic.”

Memorial ScholarshipsThe Education Program has two flagship scholarships for exceptional students. They were established to commemorate two people who played a pivotal role for WaterRA and for the Australian water industry. These scholarships are:

Michael R Moore Memorial Honours Scholarship

Professor Michael R Moore was Chair of WaterRA Board from inception in 2008 – 2014. This scholarship is for a stellar Honours student who has demonstrated leadership skills within the university or wider community. The successful student will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship.

Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship

Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was Chair of the CRCWQT Board from 1995 – 2007 and was held in high regard within the water community for her pioneering accomplishments throughout her career. This scholarship is for an exceptional student who has a strong academic record and demonstrated initiative. The successful

student will receive an additional $15,000 scholarship and $10,000 for professional development.

Mentor supportWaterRA arranges a mentor for each Masters and PhD student. In general, mentors are from a different state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference, skype or face time on average every 6 – 8 weeks with support to meet face-to-face annually. The mentoring role is to be a sounding board, offering alternative perspectives to the student. This is an opportunity for the experienced workforce to give back to the industry and steer the next generation of young researchers.

Mentoring should be a rewarding experience for both student and mentor — there is a lot of wisdom that just doesn’t appear in textbooks!

If you would like to be part of our Mentor program please contact Carolyn Bellamy at WaterRA. ([email protected] P 08 7424 2443)

Associate StudentsWaterRA now has an Associate Student Member category. The intent is to engage additional students (in the water domain) from member universities, and provide benefits such as networking and exposure to the water industry by participating in the student orientation event. This opportunity will be offered annually and is open to Summer, Masters and PhD students.

2016 Associate Student MembersHanaa Hegab UniSAMatthew Kube RMITTegan Hopwood University of NewcastleAmanda Clarke University of Newcastle

6 WaterRA Showcase April 2016 EDUCATION

Page 7: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Current Sponsors - 2016CHEMCENTRECSIROHEALTHY WATERWAYS MELBOURNE WATER SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATIONSEQWATERWATER CORPORATION OF WA

SponsorshipWaterRA seeks external funding to support student projects that address priority research topics for the water industry. Collaboration and industry relevance in project design ensures that students gain direct exposure to water industry issues.

WaterRA offers PhD, Masters and Honours projects in chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental studies and social sciences.

Benefits to participant sponsors are practical and provide the opportunity to contribute to the industry and research sector’s research skills base.

Student packages provide a top-up stipend and additional support for resources and professional development.

With 20 years’ experience in providing student support, we are proud of our track record in producing well-rounded young post-graduates to fill the many stimulating career opportunities in the water industry.

WaterRA takes a holistic approach to student development and support through additional benefits. Students are encouraged to advance their skills and knowledge and engage with industry professionals through the Young Water Professionals and Australian Water Association networks. The students receive support to attend relevant workshops and deliver presentations at conferences, providing opportunities for further skills development and networking.

WaterRA generates engaged, industry-conscious students who, through exposure and opportunity, are able to see and understand where their research fits in the big picture.

Water Research Degrees for industry member employeeswww.waterra.com.au/education-program/water-degrees/

Water Research Australia’s (WaterRA) Education Program invests in future water industry research capacity by funding and supporting water research degrees for employees at WaterRA member organisations.

This relatively new initiative encourages member organisations to support employees to undertake part-time study in an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters) program which addresses an industry need.

This is an introduction to research for experienced industry personnel who are looking for professional development outside the usual options and have an interest in research.

The model is tailored to suit individual employer and employee needs. WaterRA will assist in sourcing a suitable university at which to undertake the degree.

For this arrangement to be successful the employee must have full support of the employer and the research project MUST be part of the day-to-day work for the employee. The employee is also expected to commit a portion of their own time towards studying. WaterRA supports this initiative by facilitating the process (ie: sourcing a suitable university). WaterRA also provides funding for the candidate to attend WaterRA meetings and an OzWater conference, allowing the opportunity to network and engage with fellow researchers.

The benefit to the employer is the professional development and upskilling of their staff member, staff retention, and solving a business problem, whilst the employee gains the benefit of a professional qualification, job satisfaction and research skills.

Why Melbourne Water supports the Education ProgramMelbourne Water has been a long term supporter of the WaterRA Education Program because we recognise the importance of developing capability within the water industry. As a result, a number of Melbourne Water staff have come through the WaterRA PhD program and now hold senior positions with considerable responsibility. Melbourne Water also recognises it as an important mechanism for encouraging staff development leading to increased staff retention and greater continuity of corporate knowledge. A further attractive feature is the very simple contractual process used for sponsoring a graduate student.

The helpful and vibrant education team work hard to encourage development of a WaterRA student network through student conferences, student attendance at WaterRA meetings and local node meetings. The linking of students to industry mentors provides additional support for the students and gives them a greater understanding of the water industry.

The Honours and PhD program provides an opportunity for industry to sponsor students to research challenging problems facing the water industry. By working closely with an industry partner, the student learns about the water industry and the industry partner acquires greater insight into the issue being researched, with outcomes influencing industry practice. It also provides an excellent opportunity for industry to evaluate students with the potential for later employment, should the opportunity arise. Having completed a water related PhD in relative isolation, I can strongly recommend the WaterRA PhD program and the support and linkages to the water industry which it provides.

Dr Judy Blackbeard, Melbourne Water

EDUCATION WaterRA Showcase April 2016 7

Page 8: Education Showcase - WaterRA€¦ · University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water

Honours and PhD Projects: 2014–2016

www.waterra.com.au | PO Box 1751 Adelaide SA 5001 | P +61 8 7424 2443 | E [email protected]

Honours Projects

Angus Fanning [University of Newcastle] Sponsor: WaterRABeach macrofauna as an indicator of anthropogenic derived nutrients

Luke Kitchens [Murdoch University]Sponsor: ChemCentreCharacterising hydrophobic soils in water catchments and irrigated croplands

Damien Moodie [RMIT University]Michael R Moore Memorial Honours Scholarship recipientSponsor: WaterRAInvestigating bioaccumulation of chemical pollutants adsorbed to microplastics

Samantha Pandelus [Flinders University]Sponsor: SA WaterDetection of radionuclides from radiation medical treatments within South Australia’s wastewater

PhD ProjectsSriharini Chellappan [University of Melbourne]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipientSponsor: Melbourne WaterThe implementation of dry stacking operating methods in wastewater treatment evaporation pans

Zuo Tong How [Curtin University]Sponsor: WaterRAChloramine speciation in drinking waters: impacts on disinfection by-product formation

Rachael Aganetti [Victoria University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterMechanisms of spontaneous combustion in biosolids – risk reduction and process optimisation

Casey Furlong [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterInforming infrastructure planning processes for Integrated Urban Water Management projects

Yufei Wang [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterModelling and prediction of removal of micropollutants during wastewater treatment

Christine Close [RMIT University]Sponsor: WaterRASampling of chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants in Australian surface waters

Andrea Gonzalez [University UNSW]Sponsor: WaterRAOptimising algal floc structure for more efficient separation

Charndeep Chahal [Flinders University]Sponsor: Melbourne Water Particle protection of pathogens from disinfection

Nijoy John [University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterUse of MT-PCR in an operational environment to assess the toxicity of algal bloom

Adam Tomlinson [University of Adelaide]Sponsor: SA Water CorporationFormation of DBP from blue green algae following chlorination

Peter Wardrop [University of Queensland]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipientSponsor: Melbourne WaterOptimising anaerobic lagoons for improved energy production from waste

Sara Imran Khan [University of UNSW]

Sponsor: WaterRACharacterisation of cyanobacteria and their metabolites by fluorescence spectroscopy

Sonya Kozak [Griffith University]Sponsors: Healthy Waterways and SeqwaterEvaluating application of microbial source tracking markers for QMRA of recreational and drinking water sources

Rhys Carter [Curtin University]Sponsor: ChemCentreDistributed water in swimming pools:understanding chemistry of pool water to minimise health risks

Jennifer Lun [University of NSW]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterEpidemiology and detection of enteric viruses in clinical and environmental matrices

Florence Choo [ UNSW]Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipientSponsor: WaterRAOptimisation of coagulant and PAC doses during cyanobacteria blooms using fluorescence probes

Cameron McPhail [University of Adelaide]Sponsors: SA WaterCombining the strengths of engineering experience and formal optimisation

Tim Coggan [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterAssessing the impact of wastewater derived perfluorinated chemicals on aquatic ecosystems

Edward Tsyrlin [University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterDevelopment and evaluation of molecular techniques monitor-ing aquatic macroinvertebrates

Ben Thwaites [University of NSW]Sponsor: SA WaterUse of granular sludge to improve the capacity existing sequenc-ing batch reactors

Christian O’Dea [University of Sunshine Coast]Sponsor: CSIROAquatic pathogen metabolomics

Awards

WaterRA is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of students. To date five WaterRA Summer and Honours students have won state AWA Undergraduate Water Prizes. Many of our students have also been awarded ‘Excellent Publi-cation’ or ‘Best Poster’ prizes within their own universities.

AWA Undergraduate AwardsElissa O’Malley 2014 QLD Undergraduate Water Prize

Anna Wilson 2014 National Undergraduate Water Prize

Richard Connor 2014 NSW Undergraduate Water Prize finalist

Daniel Kousbroek 2014 NSW Undergraduate Water Prize finalist

Student AwardsFlorence Choo [UNSW]2015 Women in Engineering scholarship & 2015 Engineering Research Award

Michael Webber [Flinders University]Michael Flynn Best Paper Award at OzWater14 2015 AWA SA Young Water Professional of the Year

Philip Scott [ Griffith University] 2015 SETAC Australasian Postgraduate Research Publication Award (September 2015)