World-leading canola genomics researcher Professor Jacqueline Batley was last night named Scientist of the Year at the 2025 Premier's Science Awards – one of six winners from The University of Western Australia.
Former chief scientist, director of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and UWA Professor Peter Klinken was also inducted into the Science Hall of Fame after dedicating more than 50 years to medical research and innovation.
One of the world's most highly cited in her field, Professor Batley is a biological scientist and Laureate Fellow with the School of Biological Sciences, who has made significant contributions to our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and the role of genome diversity in disease resistance.
Her research identified genes underlying important traits for crop improvement and has led to improved food security, enhanced productivity and stable yields.
Coastal oceanographer Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi, from the UWA Oceans Institute and School of Engineering, was honoured with the People's Choice Award.
Professor Pattiaratchi has made pioneering contributions to coastal oceanography, particularly in WA and the Indian Ocean region.
His work – using novel techniques including ocean gliders – has shaped much of the current knowledge about WA oceanography. Major discoveries include dense shelf water transport, sea level variability, tsunami impacts and the Leeuwin Current system.
Mid-Career Scientist of the Year was awarded to paediatric infectious disease specialist Clinical Professor Asha Bowen OAM, from the UWA Medical School, Perth Children's Hospital and The Kids Research Institute Australia, where she heads the Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention team.
Professor Bowen's work is reducing the high burden of skin infections for Aboriginal children in Australia, particularly in remote communities and has driven change in clinical care, policy and global knowledge.
Dr Jessica Kretzmann, from UWA's School of Molecular Sciences, was named Early Career Scientist of the Year.
Dr Kretzmann uses nanotechnology and 'DNA origami' to design materials for next-generation drug and gene therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Based at UWA, her breakthrough research is positioning WA as a global biotechnology leader. Having grown up in the Pilbara town of Karratha, she is also a strong advocate for science outreach in rural schools.
UWA and The Kids PhD student Shakara Liddelow-Hunt was named Student Scientist of the year for their research into mental health of Indigenous LGBTQA+ young people.
A Wajarri person born in Boorloo, they are recognised as a national leader in research focused on the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous LGBTQA+ young people.
Taleah Ugle, a Menang-Ballardong Noongar woman from Albany who is working towards a career in medicine, won Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM Student of the Year.
Currently completing a Bachelor of Science at UWA, with a double major in Anatomy and Human Biology and Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage, she is also an Aboriginal research assistant with the Healthy Skin team at The Kids.
