Issue 11 | Winter 2021
HORIZONS
Postcards from MARS:
Francesca Cary provides a glimpse of the Martian horizon, courtesy of Rover
ALSO Minds, Hearts, & Bugs
Jessa Thurman returns with more stories from the ento-verse
Entomology | Planetary Science | Criminal Justice Reform
The Fulbright Program The Fulbright Program is the flagship foreign exchange scholarship program of the United States of America, aimed at increasing binational collaboration, cultural understanding, and the exchange of ideas. Born in the aftermath of WWII, the program was established by Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946 with the ethos of turning ‘swords into ploughshares’, whereby credits from the sale of surplus U.S. war materials were used to fund academic exchanges between host countries and the U.S. Since its establishment, the Fulbright Program has grown to become the largest educational exchange program in the world, operating in over 160 countries. In its seventy five year history, more than 370,000 students, academics, and professionals have received Fulbright Scholarships to study, teach, or conduct research, and promote bilateral collaboration and cultural empathy. Since its inception in Australia in 1949, Fulbright has awarded over 5,000 scholarships, creating a vibrant, dynamic, and interconnected network of Alumni.
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Our future is not in the stars but in our own minds and hearts. Creative leadership and liberal education, which in fact go together, are the first requirements for a hopeful future for humankind.
Fostering these—leadership, learning, and empathy between cultures—was and remains the purpose of the international scholarship program that I was privileged to sponsor in the U.S. Senate over forty years ago. " Senator J. William Fulbright The Price of Empire
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Contents
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Beyond Partisanship
James Arvanitakis
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Minds & Hearts & Bugs
Jessa Thurman
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Old Horizons
Francesca Cary 3
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The Tom Dougherty Legacy
18 Justice & Art Angela Leech 26
Faces of Fulbright
40 Landscapes Tym Yee
Cover image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
F u l b r i g h t A l u m n i U p d a t e s
The Hon. Kate Warner AC, Governor of Tasmania hosted a reception at Government House in May to congratulate this year's Fulbright Tasmania Scholars.
Tjhe Hon Nick Greiner AC (1968, University of Sydney to Harvard University) Australian Consul General to New York hosted a number of NY-based Fulbright Scholars for a reception in June to celebrate the Australia-U.S. bilateral educational relationship.
The Hon Michael Goldman, U.S. Charge d'Affaires (1995, UC Berkeley to Univesiti Sains Malaysia) hosted a reception at the U.S. Embassy, Canberra in June to congratulate this year's Fulbright ACT Scholars, and thank retiring Fulbright Executive Director Thomas Dougherty for his five years of service to the Commission.
Clare Sullivan (2011, University of Adelaide to George Washington University) won a National Science Foundation IUCRC grant to expand the multidisciplinary cyber research activities of the insitute she founded at Georgetown University; the Cyber SMART Center.
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Sundhya Pahuja (2016, University of Melbourne to Harvard University) won an ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship for her research into the threats to democracy posed by international corporations, AND a Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship to assist her work mentoring women and younger researchers.
Holly Ransom (2019, Emergent to Harvard University) published her new book The Leading Edge, which examines what true leadership look like in the 2020s, and how people can we be part of the solution, while crafting meaningful and satisfying careers.
Paul Harpur (2020, University of Queenslad to the Burton Blatt Institute and Harvard University) was named as one of the 2021 Australian Research Council Future Fellows. Paul will use his grant to investigate how the higher education sector can better support people with disabilities to transition from economic exclusion to work.
Commodore James Renwick CSC SC RAN (2007, University of Sydney to Johns Hopkins University) was appointed to the position of Deputy Judge Advocate General for the Royal Australian Navy.
Dan Sherrell (2020, Brown University to the University of Adelaide) published his book, Warmth, a new kind of book about climate change: not what it is or how we solve it, but how it feels to imagine a future–and a family–under its weight.
Haig Patapan (2014, Griffith University to Harvard University) published his new book A Dangerous Passion: Leadership and the Question of Honor, which posits that leadership and honor are mutually constitutive and that this dynamic relationship fundamentally shapes the character of political practice.
Arman Siavashi (2020 University of Western Australia to U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) was named as a co-winner of the 2021 Woodside Energy Early Career Scientist of the Year for his work in the hydrogen/ clean energy space.
Allison Hempenstall (2020, James Cook University to Harvard University) won the 2021 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health James H. Ware Award for her tireless contributions to Indigenous Health, at home and abroad.
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75 Years of
FULBRIGHT 1946 - 2021
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Educational EXCHANGE
International COLLABORATION
Cultural UNDERSTANDING
BEYOND PARTISANSHIP
On 1 July 2021, I was honoured to begin my tenure as the new Executive Director of the Australian American Fulbright Commission. Taking over from Ambassador Thomas Dougherty (ret.) is no easy task who, as is outlined elsewhere in this issue of Hearts and Minds, achieved a great deal in his six years overseeing the Commission. My own research is driven by understanding the future of democracy. In my conversations with scholars, my former students and broader members of the community, there is a sense that democracy is under threat. We have seen Tunisia, the last of the democracies that followed the Arab Spring over a decade ago reverse many of its democratic reforms, a crackdown on Hong Kong’s vibrant democratic culture and democracies around the world paralysed by hyper-partisanship and wicked policy problems such as climate change, mass forced migration and a global pandemic. A number of studies have also shown that we are losing trust in democratic institutions. The Pew Research Centre ‘Trust in Government’ survey shows a steady decline over the last few decades – though a recent up tick is positive but hardly reverses the trend. Similar trends are evident in Australia as we struggle with similar challenges. Social media bubbles seem to amplify this sense of partisanship which also contribute to the sense of frustration at our political leaders. Despite this, there is much room for optimism. A study by More in Common (US) titled Hidden Tribes found that over 80 percent of Americans have more in common that they realise. The authors describe these Americans as ‘the exhausted majority’ who want solutions not ideology, collaboration not partisanship, and share a surprisingly similar view of what they want the future of America to look like.
In my own Fulbright Program as the Milward L. Simpson Fulbright Scholar, which was hosted by the University of Wyoming, I was interested in understanding some of the deep divides in American society but was frequently surprised to meet many who worked to cross these. Amongst them was a vibrant grassroots organisation, the Better Angels Society . The Society finds inspiration form Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address which was delivered while the country was being torn apart. Seven states had already seceded from the Union, and over the next four months, five more would join them. At this crucial moment, when Lincoln could have easily resorted to the rhetoric of divisiveness, he had the courage to appeal to ‘our better angels’. At a time when rhetoric of divisiveness has become louder than ever, The Better Angels Society is dedicated to finding ways to cross political divides. It is from this tradition that the Fulbright Commission was founded 75 years ago. Even a cursory glance through this issue of Hearts and Minds showcases the work our scholars are doing to perpetuate the Commission’s vision. It is through such work that combines policy and grassroots work that strives to serve 7 community that cuts through any sense of partisanship and ensures a positive future for liberal democracies around the world. It is work built on through collaboration, the free and open sharing of ideas, entrepreneurship, shared democratic values and a sense of social justice. While we may disagree on the details, we tend to agree on the broad goals. It is how we deliver on the vision of J. William Fulbright and moves us beyond partisanship.
Minds & Hearts &Bugs Fulbright Scholar Jessa Thurman (Homo sapiens) is an entomologist from a small part of Arkansas who came to Australia in order to pursue her passion for studying insects. She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Queensland, investigating how we can decrease our usage of pesticides to save farmers' personal health and economic wellbeing, alongside decreasing the negative impact we have on the environment. Jessa's other passion is photography, and for this issue, she wanted to share three symbiotic stories featuring insects and their host plants.
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WOOLY RAMBUTAN (Alectryon tomentosus) THE
is an Australian rainforest tree that is commonly used by revegetation groups. And thankfully so for Stilida indecora, a large bug that feeds on this plant. This bug can carry out its entire life cycle on the Wooly Rambutan, mating, laying large clutches of eggs, guarding over the eggs and young nymphs, then letting the nymphs disperse. Several predators feed on the numerous nymphs produced by Stilida indecora, but some of these cute bugs make it to adulthood in the end.
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BRONZE ORANGE BUGS (Musgraveia sulciventris) can feed on a variety of Citrus Trees. With tastes which resemble our own, we often consider these large native bugs to be pests. The most reliable way to find several of them is to have a Citrus Tree which is stressed. The plant volatiles emitted by the tree can attract the bugs to come feed on it, and alert you to a plant in need.
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THE SUNDEW BUG
(Setocoris sp.; Miridae) is named after its home on the
FORKED SUNDEW, Drosera binata. These sundews can grow in nutrient-poor soils since they are carnivorous plants. They catch insects with their attractive and sticky stalked glands, and once an insect is captured, the sundew digests its prey. The Sundew Bug takes advantage of this relationship, navigating around the plant's traps and feeding on the captured prey.
It's thought that the Sundew Bug helps the plant, as it feeds on items that the plant cannot fully consume. While most Mirids are known as pests that feed on and cause damage to plants, the Sundew Bug is unique, with many species currently undescribed.
THE CARNIVAL BUG
(Peltocopta crassiventris) is a hidden wonder in Australian rainforests. These bugs can be found on the underside of their soft-leaved host tree, Mallotus discolor. The female Carnival Bug is pale in color, helping her camouflage on the underside of the leaves, while the male is brightly colored. The cause and role of this sexual dimorphism is not well understood in these bugs, but it can only be observed in the summer months when the bugs are adults. This species overwinters as nymphs, which are transparent, flat, and nearly invisible. As for their common name, I made it up! This species is normally only known to entomologists, since it is rare and difficult to find.
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THE MALLOTUS
HARLEQUIN BUG (Cantao parentum) is another summer delight, but one that can be found around city suburbs on the RED KAMALA TREE (Mallotus philippensis).
The Red Kamala Tree has lovely red fruits that this bug feeds 13 13 on and resembles. The tree is commonly planted in cities and is thankfully a native host plant that supports some of our local bugs.
OLD HORIZONS This cropped image, from a 360° panorama named Horizon, was one of the first Mastcam-Z ‘mosaic’ products I made from Perseverance rover data. This image drew me in immediately, giving me the feeling that I was really there. To see what I am talking about, try downloading the full image from here, view it in full screen, zoom right in, and scroll around! Can you spot the rover’s tire tracks, a dust devil, and the Ingenuity helicopter? The feeling of being there was partially due to how much the surface of Mars reminds me of the Nullarbor Plain – a desert in South Australia and one of the most remote places in the world – where I have spent much time partaking in field trips to track and recover fallen meteorites.
Many aspects of this image share striking similarities to the Nullarbor. Aside from the rim of Jezero crater towering high in the background, the two locations share prominent features such as the flat and barren terrain, red dirt, ancient eroded rocks, arid climate, and even roughly the same amount of trees… Additionally, drones often accompanied us to the Nullarbor to help us search for the meteorites, so seeing the Ingenuity helicopter (which is essentially an inter-planetary drone!) on the surface of Mars was yet another mirror to my experiences here on Earth. Inspiringly, in both places I have now been privileged enough to witness the first tire tracks made on otherwise untouched land. This image, Horizon, was aptly named, and I look forward to the new horizons to come in the mission, and back to the old rocky horizons that inspired me to be here with the rover on Mars today. By Francesca Cary, originally published on Mastcamz.asu.edu
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Francesca Cary, 2020 Fulbright Future Scholar, funded by the Kinghorn Foundation Home: The University of Western Australia Host:
The University of Hawai'i, Manoa
Francesca Cary is a geologist and a geneticist, combining her knowledge to research the origin of life on Earth, Mars, and Titan; focusing on how chemical differences between these planetary environments could potentially dictate what forms of life could emerge, what evolutionary trajectories life could take, and fundamentally what features are universal to life. Francesca is undertaking a Master of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa as a Fulbright Scholar, specialising in astrobiology. She is also a student collaborator on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, and aspires that this experience will help guide her future research and leadership with an understanding of not only where to look for life elsewhere, but also an understanding of how the search can be conducted.
(Up) Wheel tracks on the Nullarbor Plains desert of South Australia. Photo credit: Francesca Cary (Down) This Mastcam-Z image is cropped from a 41×2 matrix of Mastcam-Z left camera images that were stitched together into an enhanced colour 360° mosaic called ‘Horizon’ and taken on mission Sol 114 (June 15, 2021; Site 4, Drive 1062, Sequence ID zcam08094, Zoom 63 mm). Photo credit: NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
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Tom Dougherty. FULBRIGHT AUSTRALIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2016 - 2021
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In July 2021, after five successful years leading the Fulbright Commission, Executive Director Thomas Dougherty stepped down from his role to return to the U.S. The Fulbright Program in Australia enjoyed unprecedented growth duting the Tom Dougherty years, tripling the number of awards we can offer, improving our connections with universities and research institutions both at home and abroad, and fostering the development of the people whom he worked with. While it is difficult to convey the true impact that his leadership had on everyone in the Fulbright Family, the following pages serve as a tribute to some of the milestones that marked his tenure.
$ 62,162,708
New Funding
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Fulbright Scholars in 5 years
Study Programs
Collaborative Research Projects
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 - Fulbright Future Scholar, Funded by The Kinghorn Foundation
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Art Justice & .
In Western Australia, in the small dusty town of Coolgardie, I am listening to a man share his experience of his recent return from prison to society after 32 years. He explains how he built hope in prison by teaching art to his fellow inmates and how artmaking builds bridges from incarceration to society.
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This man’s name is Joseph Frye, and he is a new community justice scholar/learner in an Arts and Justice course where, this spring, I am also participating. This unconventional educational program was created by a socially-engaged artist and advocate for justice reform, Arizona State University Associate Professor Gregory Sale. This Art and Justice course is a continuation of Future IDs at Alcatraz, a large-scale collaborative art project led by Sale across California in prisons and communities impacted by high rates of incarceration. It invited justice systemimpacted individuals to tell their own stories of trauma, transformation, and resilience through a visual arts language. This was achieved by participants creating ID-inspired artworks that depicted their chosen future path. I serve as a Future IDs project intern as part of my Master’s in Peace and Justice program at University of San Diego’s Kroc School. Frye was one of hundreds of participants who created a Future ID while he was in Avenal State Prison in California’s central valley. He explains that the process gave him and many others the motivation and ability to visualize life beyond incarceration. Images (from top left): Ange Leech dials into her class from Coolgardie, Western Australia; 'Future ID' by Joe Frye, Ange's class show their progress during a video chat
As I listen to Frye, a realization hits me: This internship is exactly why three years earlier I applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States. Since meeting Gregory Sale and learning about his art practice in 2016, it has been my goal to come to the U.S., collaborate, share skills and learn from U.S. creatives on how best to serve communities impacted by unjust prison systems. Every week I Zoom into a virtual classroom, working in collaboration with six community justice scholars/learners from the Future IDs project, whose current work and expertise sits at the intersection of justice reform and art. Here we work alongside 15 undergraduate students, mentoring them and exploring together how to create art that serves social, cultural, public or political purposes. Each of the co-teachers/justice scholars brings their own unique advocacy work to the group. Those who have been incarcerated shared how, since being released from prison, they have played a role in supporting their communities. Rather than hiding their conviction history, cohort member Kirn Kim states, “This should not be a factor of shame to hide, my past does not define who I am today.” Kim is now a leading educator on criminal justice issues.
My colleagues who were some of the original Future IDs project collaborators and I have been invited into this space both as co-instructors and mutual learners by Gregory Sale. We are all part of a newly formed Future IDs Art and Justice Leadership Cohort. This group will continue to ask questions and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in justice reform through creativity, working across multiple institutions and platforms.
One of the most exciting hands-on experiences was creating a hybrid analogue and digital artistic drawing technique, which I was able to lead and co-teach both in the Art and Justice course and as part of a workshop at the annual Anti-Recidivism Coalition retreat. The Los Angeles-based Anti-Recidivism Coalition is a support, education, and advocacy network for men and women with incarceration histories.
As a Future IDs intern and an Art and Justice Leadership Cohort member, my work involves developing lesson plans and learning tools, facilitating dialogue and artmaking activities. We break into small groups, critique each other's artwork and ideas, and together analyze the political and social potential of the work.
As a group, in the Art and Justice course, we learn different artistic methodologies referred to as socially engaged art, which focuses on community engagement, developing relationships, processing shared lessons and making mutual discoveries between the artists and the communities. To understand the foundation of this practice, Sale assigned Education for Socially Engaged Art: A Materials and Techniques Handbook by Pablo Helguera.
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Images (above): 'Future ID' by Jonte Campbell; 'Future ID' by Kirn Kim; 'Future ID' by LaVell Baylor.
Mixed media artist Hasan Elahi taught us about his work that confronts overreaching government surveillance. Since being placed on the U.S. terrorist list in 2001, he has documented his every move, everything from flight travel to buying soap detergent, to photographing every urinal he uses, all backed up and linked to his bank transactions as a third party to prove he was really there. Humor aside, Elahi took these measures as an artistic and cultural strategy when he feared his life was in danger – the FBI began questioning his whereabouts on September 11 due to a presumptuous report from the owners of a storage unit he rented. The artistic and social methods that Professor Sale engages to address justice reform have also been an inspiration in my own work in Australia. For the past 10 years, I have worked within the prison system, designing accessible educational programs for men and women from diverse cultural backgrounds. The unconventional style of socially engaged art practice I have learned about in the U.S. has helped me realize that art, community engagement and advocacy could be combined to have a deep impact in building relationships between adverse institutional constituencies. This type of art goes beyond the gallery and museums. It can soften institutional boundaries and bring together social groups with opposing ideas. By developing creative neutral spaces, dialogue can develop, generating new ways to work together and to take on challenging cultural problems.
Despite lockdowns, geographical challenges, digital fatigue, and being on the other side of the world, this internship and opportunity to be a cohort member fills me with inspiration and confidence that not only can we maintain human connection, but we can add value to each other's lives by creatively taking on societal challenges with flare, finding impactful and joyful ways to create positive change together. We also research a wide range of art projects and engage with guest artists, activists, and scholars from across the U.S. Jan Cohen Cruz, who until recently was the Director of Field Research for A Blade of Grass, spoke to us about her upcoming publication exploring the tensions of artists who work in collaboration with institutions in civic spaces, in the context of current social movements. By Angela Leech, Fulbright Scholar to the Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of California San Diego Originally published on the Peace Studies Blog
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Faces of Fulbright
Our 2021 cohort of Fulbright Scholars is one of the largest in our 71-year history.
All 112 awardees are unique and fascinating in their own right, so we'd like to spend some time getting to know each of them through this new series of feature stories. Hope you enjoy reading.
AMANDA ULLMAN 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation
Home: The University of Queensland/Children's Health Queensland Hospital & Health Service Host: The University of Pennsylvania/Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Field: Paediatric Healthcare 26
PROFESSOR AMANDA ULLMAN is the inaugural Professor and Chair in Paediatric Nursing, conjoint between the University of Queensland and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service. As a paediatric nurse and researcher, Amanda believes that children should be able to receive medical treatment in hospitals, without harm. Her program of research focusses on the most common invasive procedure in healthcare – the insertion of an intravenous (IV) catheter. Amanda spent many years working in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, supporting critically ill children and families at their most vulnerable. Her goal is to prevent IV-associated harm, such as infections and blood clots, for critically ill children, globally. Within her Fulbright program she will work U.S. experts based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania to develop novel technologies, procedures and tools to improve IV practices across all Australian Paediatric Intensive Care Units, and into the wider healthcare community.
Why is your field of research important? Every year over 12,000 Australian children become critically ill - varying from sepsis to a traumatic injury. To treat these children, we insert a simple plastic tube (an IV) into their bloodstream so we can administer complex therapies. But, these plastic tubes can also result in harm, including bloodstream infections, chemical burns and blood clots. These injuries can change a child's health trajectory. What makes you passionate about it? I am a paediatric nurse, and I chose this profession to help children and families when they are at their most vulnerable. I have witnessed children developing IV associated injuries, devastating them and their families. I believe that as a nurse and researcher I can make a difference to the lives of these children, by ensuring a simple procedure is supported by technology and innovation. Who is your hero/role model? My dad, Dr Allan Clarke. He was the second youngest child of 8, and was brought up on a farm in regional South Australia. His mother valued education, and encouraged him to complete his senior certificate. His tenacity and smarts pushed him through Master and PhD programs focussed on sustainable agriculture practices - a very foreign concept in the 1960s. Throughout his career he remained connected to the land, but he embraced technology and environmentalism. He was also a great father (to 8 children!), and balanced his family, work and community life. Dad died prior to me embarking on my research career, but his legacy keeps me grounded and motivated. What helped you make it through 2020? A pretty awesome family, and work that I love. My husband and two kids kept my worklife balance under control, and I enjoyed reconnecting with my local community. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Find a program of work that you believe in, and a team you love working with. Be kind to yourself and others.
HANNAH ORBAN 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation Home: The University of Sydney Host: Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan Field: Public Policy
HANNAH ORBAN is committed to improving the lives of people with disability in Australia and the United States. In particular, she is focussed on shaping public policy to overcome disabling attitudes and achieve the socioeconomic equality that people with disability are promised in modern, liberal democracies.She currently works on initiatives for students with disability at the NSW Department of Education. As a Fulbright scholar, Hannah is studying public policy at the University of Michigan. She is excited to use this opportunity to deepen her understanding of effective policy and legislative options to improve the socioeconomic outcomes of people with disability, and to establish networks with international colleagues. Through policy, Hannah’s goal is to progress towards a more egalitarian society for people with disability in Australia and the United States.
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People with disability continue to endure disabling attitudes, social alienation and stigma that have prevented them from achieving the socioeconomic equality they are owed in our modern, liberal democracies. Why is your field of research important? People with disability are one of the largest marginalised groups in Australian and American societies. Nearly 1 in 5 Australians and 1 in 4 Americans have a disability. Across the world, it is estimated that there are over 1 billion people who have a disability. The policy and legislation that impacts people with disability effects a significant proportion of our populations. Since the passage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Australia and the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States, both of our nations have boasted some of the world’s foremost legislative and policy programs for people with disability. Nevertheless, people with disability continue to endure disabling attitudes, social alienation and stigma that have prevented them from achieving the socioeconomic equality they are owed in our modern, liberal democracies. My study and research will engage with insights from studies of disability in labour economics, education, public opinion and public policy, in conversation with theoretical concepts such as practical idealism, to assess the strengths of diverse legislative and policy approaches to the problem of inequality for people with disability. I am convinced that we can create long-term positive impact in society and the lives of people with disability by reforming educational and employment policy and embracing our egalitarian values. What makes you passionate about it? My family has made me passionate about improving the lives of people with disability. I am one of four children and my three brothers are an unending source of joy to me. My eldest and youngest brothers, Tom and Hamish, were born with intellectual disabilities. Chance could have dictated that I and my other brother were born with intellectual disabilities instead. For a long time, I have known that they may not have the same opportunities as me, but also that they may not have equitable opportunities either. Tom and Hamish deserve to have opportunities open to them like I do. Knowing this, I am committed to labouring for equal socioeconomic outcomes for people with disability and progressing toward a more egalitarian society for us all. Who is your hero/role model?
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My mother, Professor Susan Thorp, is my hero and confidante. Her strength of character and intellect taught me to not only have a sense of responsibility for the gifts I’ve received, but to work hard to make the most of them. While raising four children, two with disability, my mother earned a PhD and later became a Professor of Finance, a traditionally male-dominated field. Her diligent and resilient attitude taught me that hard work is an expression of resilience overcoming difficulty and shows appreciation for opportunity. I strive to reflect this attitude in my own life through my approach to academic and professional pursuits. What helped you make it through 2020? I’m very happy to say that Fulbright helped me through 2020! Writing my application, preparing for interviews, studying for the GRE and writing applications to schools made the time pass quickly and helped to turn a ‘lost’ year into a very momentous and productive one. Having little pleasures to look forward helped me a lot in 2020 as well. Friday movie nights with my husband, visiting family on the weekends and walks with friends were like breaths of air. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Time and chance happen to us all, so take the opportunities you have to do good in the world and make the most of them.
KAILIN GRAHAM 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation
Home: The University of Queensland Host: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Field: Energy/Environment KAILIN GRAHAM is passionate about combatting climate change through sustainable solutions in the energy sector. Graduating with 1st Class Honours from a Bachelor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering at the University of Queensland, Kailin aims to use his technical background to inform meaningful public policy, and currently works as a Policy Officer at the Association for Decentralised Energy in London, UK. As a Fulbright Future Scholar, Kailin aims to develop the knowledge, network and leadership skills to drive change in Australia’s energy system and support ambitious Australian action on climate change. Kailin will study in MIT’s Technology and Policy Program, where his research will focus on using technical methods to address policy challenges in the energy and environment space. Why is your field of study important? We are all aware of the threat of climate change and the challenges we face in reaching net zero, and yet our current trajectory still sees us reaching over 3 degrees C of warming by 2100. We need bold policy decisions and a step change in ambition to get back on track, but crucially, this policy will need to be informed by the science and built around a solid understanding of the technologies that will help us decarbonise. To do this, we need leaders experienced in both sides of this challenge and trained to incorporate technical expertise into impactful policy. This is what my studies and research at MIT aim to achieve, and I strive to fill this important position between technology and policy. What makes you passionate about it? I am part of a generation of young people for whom climate change has become virtually a fact of life, and who will ultimately bear the brunt of its worst impacts in the decades to come. However, despite climate change being a well-known threat for my entire life, the progress made to mitigate it in this time has not be sufficient. This is what motivates me – I want to have the greatest impact I can on this challenge, and I see informing meaningful policy as how I can do this. As an engineer by training, it is often tempting to view a topic like net zero from solely a technical perspective. But the technology required to reach net zero is ready, or soon will be. Currently holding us back are the complex policy decisions needed to reform our current systems and incorporate these technologies and solutions in an equitable and just way. That’s what I aim to help contribute to through my research, and my studies will prepare me to expand the impact I can have in guiding these policy decisions that are so critical for our future.
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I am part of a generation of young people for whom climate change has become virtually a fact of life, and who will ultimately bear the brunt of its worst impacts in the decades to come.
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Who is your hero/role model? I’m continuously inspired by the young people I meet around the world in the sustainability and climate space. I’m currently in London, and since being here I’ve met climate activists, energy policy leaders, UN Youth Advisors and non-profit cofounders from all across the globe. It can sometimes be a little scary looking ahead at the challenges we face in addressing climate change, but it’s these young people taking control of their future that push me to do the same, and I can’t wait to meet more inspiring individuals like this as a Fulbright Scholar! What helped you make it through 2020? Routine and keeping myself busy! I had taken six months off Uni in the first half of 2020 to travel, so I filled that time with volunteering, online courses and a research project through UQ’s Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation. Luckily lockdown didn’t hit Queensland as hard as it did in other states, so we were able to get outside again relatively quickly, but it certainly got me valuing my routine and getting outside wherever I could! What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten track in pursuit of doing something you’re passionate about. Reflect on the impact you want your career to have, and think bigger than the typical career pathways of your university degree or of those around you! I think, particularly in engineering, we can feel that the technical nature of our studies restricts us to certain types of jobs, but the engineering skillset is so much more versatile than you think. Challenge yourself to make a positive impact, and take opportunities to do so when they arise!
TORI BERQUIST 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation Home: Monash University Host: Harvard University Field: Health Policy and Financing
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DR VICTORIA (TORI) BERQUIST is a doctor and consultant passionate about reducing healthcare inequality in Australia. She has spent her early career exploring Australia’s health system from a range of perspectives, including as a clinician, director of a community health service, advisor to government and as a consultant to public and private hospital systems in Australia. As a Fulbright Scholar, Tori will study a Master in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School with a specific focus on health policy and funding models. She aims to find and eventually implement ways to incentivise the healthcare system in Australia at a systems level to move towards more equitable, innovative, and connected models of care. Through doing so, Tori aims to help influence and improve health outcomes for all Australians, including our most vulnerable
It was the patients I met as a doctor that make me p healthcare – and this was only reinforced by my ow
Why is your field of study important? Australia’s health system supports us from before birth until death, and while its quality and accessibility are something to be proud of, it is currently far from perfect. Health outcomes for our communities suffer due to factors such as out-of-pocket payments creating barriers to primary care, a lack of emphasis on preventative care, and healthcare structures that are siloed both between areas of the health sector (e.g., hospitals and general practice) and between sectors (e.g., health and social services). Anyone who has had to use our health system for more than a quick visit will have faced at least one of these issues, and for our most vulnerable these are amplified – for example, one in ten Australians struggle to access healthcare due to cost. A significant driver of the deficits in our healthcare system is how our system is funded. Health services will do what they are paid to do, and currently that is to deliver more acute care at higher volumes within their own four walls, not to prevent illness from happening in the first place. We can do better by our communities by designing new healthcare funding models that incentivise our health system to focus on avoiding illness rather than addressing it at its worst. My study interests are focused on understanding what healthcare funding models could work in Australia that incentivize connected systems, primary and preventative care, and long-term health outcomes. What makes you passionate about it? As a doctor, I had the privilege of getting to know patients at their most personal and vulnerable moments and felt a responsibility to do my best by them. I was often frustrated by the limitations of what we could achieve for them as a medical team, limitations caused by the system that surrounded us. Healthcare was delivered in instances, admissions, timed clinic visits – it often felt like the objective was to see everyone in time, and not to deliver sustainable long-term outcomes. From the other side as a consultant to the health system and community health director, I know how challenging it is to balance meeting the demand and complex needs of our communities with the need to run a sustainable service that manages enough volume to meet budget. It was the patients I met as a doctor that make me passionate about transforming the way we deliver healthcare – and this was only reinforced by my own experiences as a patient after a serious accident. For my patients, my family and myself, I know that we can incentivise a system that does better by all of us. Who is your hero/role model? Sir Michael Marmot was one of the pioneers of the ‘social determinants of health’ – the idea that your social circumstances and economic position are a primary determinant of long-term health and that our health choices are hugely dependent on these factors. We haven’t quite gotten there in designing our health systems around this knowledge – something I hope to change. What helped you make it through 2020? Living anywhere in 2020 was no fun, but Melbourne was particularly challenging! What got me through was my local cafe, the parks of Prahran, long runs, enjoying the extra time I had with my partner, and optimism that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. After many months of working from home at my regular job, I also ended up doing some clinical locum work during our longest lockdown, and it was a complete salve to have colleagues and patients to chat to in person during work. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Be persistent in finding opportunities and determining your own future – nothing good comes easy! Many of the best experiences I’ve had in my personal and professional life have come from scouring the internet for ways to get involved in organizations, from doors opening when others I've tried have closed, and from trying to still find the time to dedicate to my interests when it felt like there was none.
passionate about transforming the way we deliver wn experiences as a patient after a serious accident.
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JOHN KUOT 2021 Fulbright Anne Wexler Scholar Funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE)
Home: Host: Field:
Department of Family Fairness and Housing (Homes Victoria) Columbia School of International & Public Affairs Economic Policy Management
JOHN KUOT is the Principal Project Engagement Advisor for Homes Victoria and is responsible for leading the Engagement Strategy across the Homes Victoria $5.3 Billion Public and Social Housing development. He also recently finished the Williamson Community Leadership Program (WCLP), a 9-month long program run by Leadership Victoria. John is a former refugee to Australia, co-founder of the youth-led charity organisation South Sudanese Australia Youth United (SSAYU). As a Fulbright Scholar, John will study MPA in Economic Policy Management at Columbia School of International Affairs (SIPA). The program provides leading policymakers and professionals with the skills to effectively design and implement economic policy in market economies, emphasising the economic problems of developing countries. John hopes to apply this learning to understand the intersectionality of social and economic policy, which will help shape the future of Australian humanitarian policy. John hopes to improve humanitarian migration policy and the economic empowerment of multicultural communities through policy upon his return to Australia. Why is your field of study/research important?
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I am currently studying MPA in Economic Policy Management at Columbia University. Ever since I was little, everyone has often told me that I should be a lawyer; however, I have had an endless curiosity about the world of finance and how it supports us to move forward. As a result, I see my program as an opportunity to strengthen many of my practical learnt finance and economic skills from the world’s leading institutions. Upon completion, I hope to be able to use my acquired skills in the corporate industry and the public sector to create meaningful policy ideas that enable many other aspiring migrant youths to join such a unique industry that often appears impenetrable. In Australia, the Reserve Bank of Australia is the only institution entrusted with managing monetary policies, which impacts our only life largest investment —mortgage. I want to hoen and build my skills that one day I can get an opportunity to contribute to improving my fellow citizens' economic outcomes. I see the program as an important next step in my discipline in understanding the underlining movement of the financial markets, which have an insurmountable impact on us all when things go wrong.
Growing up in a war-torn country is not an easy feat... In every militia attack, I remember how my grandmother never lost hope and optimism, which is a key factor in how far I have been able to come today.
What makes you passionate about it? After spending over ten years volunteering in the community and working professionally, one of the biggest gaps I recognised is the disconnect between communities and traditional corporate. Our country is more diverse than ever but faces a multitude of socially complex issues, which I believe needs all hands on deck. Over the years, I have observed the government as the defacto owner of addressing community problems with very little corporate engagement. Obviously, this approach has not led to many positive results; instead, it has often led to friction between government and communities. As a result, I see a role for people like myself who have fingers across communities, government and corporate institutions to create a neutral environment where we can partner together and address them in partnership. I strongly believe in future where all three groups can operate in unity and take on some of the biggest challenges that lie years ahead! Who is your hero/role model? My biggest role model is my grandmother. Growing up in a war-torn country is not an easy feat. However, my grandmother made it look like child's play. I lost count of how many times our village was raided and burned, yet this she would come back and rebuild like nothing really ever happened after fleeing for safety. I got to witness this for the first ten years of my life. Thus, whenever life gives me lemons, I try to make a lemonade soda because my grandma did that for her entire life. She taught me the definition of "you only live once", and that is you should not dwell on setbacks but rather approach life with an overdose of optimism. In every militia attack, I remember how my grandmother never lost hope and optimism, which is a key factor in how far I have been able to come today. Over the years, I have come across countless adversely, which would change any person forever. However, I have never felt the need to change my attitude towards life because of those adversities, and that is because of my grandmother. What helped you make it through 2020? What helped me make it through 2020? Let me think, Zoom, Teams......... —no, I am joking. Fortunately, the biggest benefit of being accustomed to uncertainty and hard times is that you seem to escape the worst of it whenever hard times hit everyone. Like some of you, 2020 might have been another year of character building and maintaining focus on important things. However, for some of you, it might have been a year that you got closer with your families or discovering things about your friend, family, or community. Eighteen months ago, the idea of being confined to your home was blasphemous, but 18 months later, many of us are ok doing it with pleasure to protect our loved ones and our community. But at the same time, it is a moment of reflecting on personal relationships with people who take issues with current public health directions. For me, having an optimistic, hopeful perspective got me through 2020. The fact that I knew that we were all doing it tough collectively meant that I sometimes selfishly gain hope that I was not in this alone. Also, constantly remembering how my grandmother handles herself in such situations gave me great courage to find hope whenever things got harder. Looking back into the year 2020, I can confidently say that I became more appreciative of the things that I had. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Unfortunately, I don't have much advice on what success looks like. I have had my fair share of failures across businesses and relationships that I believe disqualify me for this question. However, it is worth sharing with you that success is subjective and that nobody should define it for you. Hence, whatever you have set your mind on something that brings you significant emotional value, I would encourage you to see it through no matter what. I believe grit and adversity build characters that are time tested. So, in short, set your eye on whatever your heart desires and pursue it no matter what!! People will tell you why you should not pursue it, and I say, just find one reason to continue pursuing it. You owe it to yourself.
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TOBIN SOUTH 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation Home: The University of Adelaide Host: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Field: Data Science
TOBIN SOUTH is a data scientist developing computational tools to understand complex systems using big data. Tobin has spent the last several years researching the flow of misinformation in social media news as part of a Master of Philosophy following his graduation as Valediction of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Adelaide. His techniques combine tools from machine learning and applied mathematics to robustly extract information about dynamics from large open data sources for use in realworld decision making. As a Fulbright Future Scholar, Tobin will be undertaking a PhD at MIT where he will develop the next generation of tools to analyse complex systems, applying these techniques to applications as diverse as information warfare, economic analysis and human mobility. Tobin will be championing an ongoing collaboration between the MIT Media Lab and the South Australian Government to add value to the state using local data. Why is your field of study important? We are surrounded in everyday life by complex systems where information is flying around us at dizzying speeds. The internet age has increased the velocity at which collective action can happen, whether in the form of massive scale protest organisation, 'meme stocks' or the life-changing impact on a creator going viral. The speed is exciting but creates vulnerabilities for society. Even large interconnected systems can be manipulated by bad actors, and we already know state run disinformation campaigns are active across the globe. Underpinning this problem is the incredible difficulty in finding the needle in the giant interconnected haystack of these complex systems.By creating tools to understand how parts of this system interact, we can study how influence propagates and how we can design robust systems around this.
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Whether it's real-time detection of disinformation campaigns, identifying critical failure points in complex infrastructure or better understanding the complex interconnections of our local economies, we desperately need new tools to examine these complex systems using the data they produce. What makes you passionate about it? Phrases like 'big data' and 'AI' have a lot of hype and speculation around them, but at their core are new fundamental capabilities that are incredibly exciting to work with. Creating tools that have never existed before and using them to solve real-world problems is work that will never get old. Places like MIT are at the forefront of creating these tools and the opportunity to contribute to these tools and bring them home to Australia is amazing. To stay at the global frontier of these technologies, collaborations between universities and countries is essential and I'm glad to be part of those collaborations.
Even large, interconnected systems can be manipulated by bad actors, and we already know state-run disinformation campaigns are active across the globe.
Who is your hero/role model? I can't point to a single person that I aspire to be, because truthfully who I want to be evolves a little bit every day. It's the mentors in my life that help me figure out what those goals are, and how to achieve them, that are the true heroes in my life. Whether it's my mum sharing lessons of moving from the outback to the big city or my supervisors helping inspire me to try to make a real difference in the world, it's the consistent advice and little snippets of wisdom that make all the difference. What helped you make it through 2020? Brisk walks around the block. Sometimes you don't appreciate something until you miss it, and it can be hard to notice how important something like walking to work is until it's gone. A few laps of the block or a meander around the neighbourhood can honestly be the best part of my day. The chance to escape the computer and breathe in some fresh air is a daily treat I practised religiously. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Find good people who will push you to achieve your goals. You don't need anyone to push you to achieve remarkable things, but it sure is a lot easier if someone's there giving you a nudge. Having people in your life who want you to succeed helps insulate you in those times when you're feeling down or things go wrong and gives you the chance to draw on the wisdom of others to solve your own challenges.
HAYLEY CHANNER 2021 Fulbright Professional Coral Sea Scholar (Business/Industry)
Home: Perth USAsia Centre Host: Hudson Institute Field: International Relations
HAYLEY CHANNER works for an independent, strategic affairs think tank, the Perth USAsia Centre. She produces analysis on foreign and defence policy in the Indo- Pacific, with a particular focus on U.S. allies and partners. Her career goal is to support the Australian and U.S. governments to develop international policy that furthers our shared aspirations for the region. Hayley has led a diverse career across government, think tanks, and the not-for-profit sector. Previously, she served as a Ministerial adviser and has also worked for the Department of Defence, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and World Vision Australia. Hayley’s Fulbright Scholarship will allow her to evaluate Australia-U.S. efforts to partner with the private sector to build critical infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. Her research will lead to actionable recommendations for the Australian and U.S. governments to better engage industry, forge public-private infrastructure partnerships, and support regional development and economic growth.
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Why is your field of research important? International relations and security studies is always important but even more so now given accelerating global trends as a result of COVID-19 and the deteriorating strategic circumstances in our Indo-Pacific region. The relations that Australia and the United States have with countries in our region, and China in particular, will have far reaching political, economic, defence and social implications for years to come. A better understanding of how Australia and the United States can work together as well as with close partners such as Japan, will be invaluable to shaping our foreign and security policies to best promote and protect our national interests. One of the primary ways Australia and the United States can make a positive contribution to regional prosperity and order shaping is through the provision of critical infrastructure under terms that support the national sovereignty of recipient nations. What makes you passionate about it? The Chinese Communist Party is attempting to change the regional status quo, in part, through leveraging its economic weight over smaller countries. For example, China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative can trap developing countries into unsustainable debt or construct facilities that further Beijing’s interests over those of recipient nations. Countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific are in desperate need of critical hard and soft infrastructure and should have the option of fairer and more sustainable alternatives. Australia and the United States have the right idea in attempting to provide alternative offerings to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, as market-based economies, they need private sector buy-in to give scale to their infrastructure ambitions. At present, industry is unwilling to partner with government as it judges the commercial risks of projects in developing nations as too great. My research seeks to change this. Who is your hero/role model? Perhaps surprisingly, this question used to be difficult to answer. To be frank, there weren’t many prominent Australian political or community leaders who I looked up to. I remember for a long time not identifying any role models or heroes beyond my parents, who I admire greatly. However, in the last couple of years, role models have strongly emerged in current or former senior men and women who have acted as mentors to me. By virtue of being senior, they have very little spare time, so any time they spend providing me with personal and professional advice is extremely valuable. These people have provided mentorship through discussing challenging times in their careers and explaining how they overcame them. Through discussing sensitive matters, they put their trust in me, and I feel I can do the same. Having senior mentors with a shared bond of trust has helped me navigate my way through Canberra bureaucracy and politics! What helped you make it through 2020?
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Honestly, applying for a Fulbright Scholarship and hoping and praying that I would be successful! The reason it got me through is because it gave me a goal to focus on. During the initial months of the pandemic when I was stuck at home, I would work on my application and daydream about a time beyond 2020 and beyond COVID-19. It allowed me to imagine an overseas adventure, living and working in Washington DC. I was also excited about the idea of joining the Fulbright community and other enthusiastic, passionate people interested in investing in the Australia-US relationship and solving some of the world’s toughest problems. Having something to look forward to has been important throughout my whole life and it definitely helped me get through 2020.
A better understanding of how Australia and the United States can work together as well as with close partners such as Japan, will be invaluable to shaping our foreign and security policies to best promote and protect our national interests.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? I never thought I would be worthy of a Fulbright Scholarship. I am not a PhD candidate and have not had a typical academic or career progression for this kind of award. During the past few years, in particular, I have also experienced a lot of failure. During 2018 alone, I applied for five new professional roles and was invited to eight different job interviews (so, some follow up interviews) and was rejected from each one. There were many low moments and I continually felt out of place in my workplace. The best advice I can offer, while extremely cliched, is not to let rejection stifle your ambition. Not only should you keep trying, make sure you reach out to people who have been successful in the fields you are targeting. You can learn so much from other people and they can be extremely kind and generous with their time. Many people are ready and willing to help others follow in their footsteps – or just get a leg up – and they can have extremely valuable insights for young players.
ALI GILL 2021 Fulbright South Australia Scholar & Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation
Home: The University of Adelaide Host: University of California, Berkeley Field: Plant Science
ALISON GILL is passionate about sustainable agriculture and climate change. Alison’s PhD research focuses on the drought tolerance and water-use efficiency of industrial hemp. Research is desperately needed to establish whether hemp has a place in low wateruse cropping systems, such as those in southern Australia and California. While the Australian hemp industry is only just developing, the U.S. industry is far more established. Through her Fulbright Scholarship, Alison hopes to gain valuable knowledge on hemp agronomy that can be used to guide the industry in Australia, as well as establish lasting collaborations between the University of Adelaide and the University of California, Berkeley. The research will assist in understanding implications of water availability on hemp production and will investigate how agroecology approaches can address future challenges. As hemp is notoriously under-researched, this research has the potential to be a game-changer for the Australian agricultural industry. Why is your field of study/research important? Drought is projected to increase significantly in the future, putting pressure on crops to produce quality food and fibre. It will be vital to find innovative and sustainable solutions to this major problem. Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) has been labelled as a “miracle crop” due to its low water use, low fertiliser and pesticide inputs and ability to produce over 50,000 different products from the one plant. My research is important because it is investigating whether hemp has a place in low water use cropping systems, such as those found in South Australia and California, where hot, dry climates are the norm. Hemp shows great promise to be grown sustainably and could even replace high-water use crops like cotton. Unfortunately, due to the stigma surrounding THC, hemp has been notoriously under researched.
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Hemp is positioned to be a crop of the future, supplying food and fibre in a droughtstricken climate, but research is desperately needed for it to reach its potential. My research is important because it will fill gaps in our scientific knowledge about hemp and hopefully contribute to hemp fulfilling its potential. What makes you passionate about it? I’ve always been interested in science and sustainability, but what makes me especially passionate about plant science is its real-world applicability. The aims of my research directly benefit primary producers, which in turn leads to impacts for consumers. My research is so exciting because there is still so much to learn about hemp. I can see the results of my research having tangible outcomes which could lead to big shifts in the agriculture industry. Many changes will be required to combat drought and other impacts resulting from climate change. Drought-resistant or low-water use plants like hemp will be one of the important ways we can combat drought in the future. I have big aspirations to change the world in some way and hope that my research will have significant, tangible outcomes. Who is your hero/role model? Honestly, I don’t have just one role model. I am always inspired by strong, brave and passionate women. Writing this while watching the Olympics, I am motivated by the athletes who have faced adversity but who put their all into their sports. Names like Ash Barty and Simone Biles come to mind. More personally, many of my friends are my role models. These include a mentor and now PhD graduate in my research group, James Cowley, for his incredible scientific knowledge and guidance; my friend and first ever co-author, Stephanie Watts-Fawkes, for her successful footsteps in which I wish to follow; and my friend, Ali Sonnefeld, who has seen the worst of the COVID 19 pandemic as an ICU nurse in London. I find that every day people are the greatest role models, and they inspire me daily. What helped you make it through 2020? I made it through 2020 by focusing on what I could control and trying to let the rest go. COVID 19 introduced new challenges, most of which was beyond the control of the individual. I found that attempting to control the inevitable changes led to far more stress and anxiety. Instead, I focused on things I could control within my research and day-to-day life. I tried to be gentle on myself in terms of productivity. It is a weird world that we live in now and there is no benefit to putting unreasonable pressure on productivity when life is constantly changing. Sometimes, we need to put our wellbeing first. I also relied on the networks I had around me to get me through. Friends, family and colleagues were all crucial supports. 2020 really was a rollercoaster, and it seems as though this is the way of life now! 38
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? Take advantage of every opportunity! In particular, apply for any and all scholarships possible. You never know where they will take you. Work hard to seek out amazing experiences, because they will not always just be handed to you. Fight the feelings of doubt at every stage and believe you are deserving of great things.
Many changes will be required to combat drought and other impacts resulting from climate change. Drought-resistant or low-water use plants like hemp will be one of the important ways we can combat drought in the future.
JOEL STEELE 2021 Fulbright Future Scholar Funded by the Kinghorn Foundation
Home: The University of Technology Sydney/Monash University Host: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Field: Proteomics JOEL STEELE is an expert in the field of proteomics; this field aims to study the proteins of cells to understand functional biology. His PhD focused on how environmental factors could be leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He has performed research collaborations across many institutions such as NSW Department of Primary Industries, the University of Sydney, and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). Joel’s Fulbright Future Scholarship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Caltech) will be aimed at investigating microbes that can survive on cleanroom surfaces and survive interplanetary atmospheric entry. These extreme condition tolerant microbes have unique biology that needs to be understood. This project will bring together several research groups from Australia and the United States, building enduring relationships that will have an impact on the future of space exploration. Why is your field of study important? My field of study is proteomics, this is the study of all proteins associated with an organism. Proteins are the machinery that make up cells, and are responsible for the functions of life and I aim to identify and quantify them. My field is broadly responsible for how we study and understand biology namely applied to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, but in other instances studying the basic biology of an organism. My PostDoctoral Future Fulbright position will be at NASAs Jet Propulsion laboratory where I will apply my skillset to understanding the microbes that can survive interplanetary travel and contaminate the clean rooms used for producing space craft. If we are to fully understand what life is out there we must understand the life that we are potentially taking with us and understand what enables it to survive such extreme conditions. What makes you passionate about it? The application of my field to assist in in space exploration has led me down this path whereby I can see a place for my research to help understand biology pertinent to; human health, extraplanetary bio-protection and the possibility of identifying unique traits of life that can increase durability and survivability off planet. Who is your hero/role model? My hero and role model is a current Future Fulbright scholar Tui Nolan who is at Cornell University who is leading the way forward for students like myself into research. What helped you make it through 2020? Netflix, Coffee, and the support of my friends and family. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to succeed in the way you have? The best advice I can give is to find a topic or an interest that makes life exciting and follow where it takes you, there is niche for everything in life and there is a place out there for you.
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Tym Yee
is an emerging artist living and working in Sydney, Australia. Through painterly brushstrokes and an unconventional materials palette he offers a distinct interpretation and representation of the Australian landscape, flora and fauna, and people. He shows regularly with Michael Reid Northern Beaches Gallery, which is directed by celebrated Australian curator and best-selling author Amber Creswell-Bell. Since 2020 Tym has exhibited in numerous Australian galleries in group shows including Michael Reid, aMBUSH Gallery in Sydney and the Blackroom Gallery at the Cook Street Collective on the Mornington Peninsula. He will have his first solo show in March 2022.
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Time Set, 2020, 102x76cm oil on canvas
Landscapes
In addition to his fine art practice, Tym is deeply engaged in academic research and is currently completing a PhD in media studies at Macquarie University. In 2020 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue developing a scholarly research methodology alongside supervisors and mentors at metaLAB (at) Harvard, a multidisciplinary creative practice research cluster housed within the Berkman Klein Center at the Harvard Law School. His doctoral research draws on critical new media theory, ethnography and speculative art making to explore organisational culture and the future of white-collar work in the age of constant technological innovation.
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Out of Scope, 2020. 102x76 oil on canvas
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Sunset Cenotaph, 2020, 102x76cm oil on canvas
Tym Yee, 2020 Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar Home
Macquarie University
Host
metaLAB @ Harvard, Harvard University
Discipline
Media Studies
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Visit Fulbright.org.au to apply for a scholarship Annual Deadlines: Australian candidates (all)........................6 January – 6 July U.S. Postdoctoral/Scholar/Distinguished Chair candidates........6 January – 15 September U.S. Postgraduate candidates....................31 March – 6 October Fulbright Specialist Program.................1 July – 30 September
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