New Churchill Fellows to enrich Australia’s environment and sustainability knowledge

A total of 115 Australians have been awarded 2012 Churchill Fellowships for a diverse range of research projects, with a number focusing their attention on enriching our knowledge and practice in the areas of environment and sustainability.

Innovative decontamination techniques for public facilities and spaces, low-input farming systems, species diversity among unique Australian plants, investigating a centre for natural resources arbitration, impacts of severe and extreme heatwaves, sustainability education and practice, the genomics and biodiversity of endangered cycads, fish habitat restoration and a possible new model for managing threatened species are amongst the areas that the 2012 Churchill Fellows will explore.

“Every one of the recipients has demonstrated dedication and a thirst for knowledge in their area of expertise,” said Paul Tys, CEO of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

“We can be certain that this year’s Churchill Fellows will make a tangible difference to the lives of every Australian in one way or another in the years to come.

“I warmly congratulate each and every one of them.”

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which was established after the death of Sir Winston Churchill in accordance with his final wishes, has now funded more than 3600 fellowships for Australians.

With an average value of more than $20,000 per fellowship, recipients have the opportunity to travel overseas to further their passion and return to Australia to implement their findings and share them with others.

The 2012 fellowships are valued at more than $2.2 million and cover a broad range of topics, as applicants design their own Fellowships in their field of expertise.

For more information, including the full list of recipients, visit www.churchilltrust.com.au.