Western Australian research impacting the world

With a population of 2.3 million, Western Australia is a fast growing and dynamic state with natural strategic advantages for researchers.  For example, it is home to the only UN declared biodiversity hotspot in Australia, providing a huge advantage to researchers in biology, geology, land management, reef ecosystems, agriculture, astrophysics and mining.  In addition, it is located on the Indian Ocean Rim and in the same time zone as one third of the world’s population.  This has made it an ideal centre for multinational corporations, renowned academics, artists and engineers to establish themselves to access the global market. 

Some notable research in Western Australia includes:

•    Two Nobel Laureates, Professor Barry Marshall and Dr Robin Warren, made their breakthrough discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.  This has revolutionised      the well-being of millions of people around the world.
•    Dr Fiona Wood developed the ‘Spray on Skin Cell’ that has revolutionised the treatment of burn victims worldwide.
•    Algae Biofuel project in Karratha works towards extracting oil from algae grown using pollution waste with minimal impact to crops and food producing land areas.  Algae Biofuel is being lead by Professor Michael Borowitzka, Director of Algae Research Group and Biofuels Manager of Murdoch’s Renewable Energy Research Institute and is the largest project of its kind in the world.
•    iVEC’s Pawsey Super Computing Centre, part of the infrastructural development for the SKA (Square Kilometre Array).  Western Australia is a strong contender in the ongoing bid to build the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope to map the ‘billion galaxies out to the edge of the observable Universe’.
•    Telethon Institute for Child Health Research lead by Professor Fiona Stanley who is an Australian “living national treasure” and UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
•    CETO wave energy, harvesting wave energy and generating power off the Perth coast.  This is the largest Australian government-funded trial of its kind in the country.
•    Orbital Combustion Engine was invented by Mr Ralph Sarich and is now used around the world.
•    The Western Shield program being administered by the Department of Conservation and Land Management provide one of the most significant programs to conserve the biodiversity of the flora and fauna in the region.  Conservation International have recognised the continuing work of leading conservationists and environmental scientists in Western Australia.

The combination of excellent research facilities and teaching staff within the tertiary system in Western Australia and the dynamic work done at WA’s Technology Park have helped foster a culture of innovation.  WA’s geographic location, history and entrepreneurial spirit in Western Australia help support this climate of innovation.  This, in turn, enriches local international researchers working here and inspires them to meet future challenges. 

Western Australia has maintained a progressive regional leadership role in education, research and development.  In the past decade, more than 200,000 students from the Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas have completed their school, college, undergraduate and postgraduate research here.  At July 2011, there were around 250 international postgraduate researchers registered in Perth for their PhD.

Perth Education City is the central point for students to obtain further information on WA’s Centres of Excellence that foster so much of the research in WA as well as on the diverse and exciting options on scholarships and postgraduate research.