UQ School of Physical Sciences PhD student, Jenny Riesz has been selected as the 2007 Queensland Young Achiever.
Ms Riesz was rewarded for her outstanding scientific research and science communication skills on Saturday, September 22 at the Queensland Young Achiever Awards held at the Gold Coast Royal Pines Resort.
She also won the Sigma Energy Solutions Science and Technology Award.
Ms Riesz was one of 22 finalists from seven categories including community service, arts, sports, environment, career achievement, science and technology and regional initiative.
The Queensland Young Achiever Awards is to acknowledge, encourage and promote the positive achievements of young Queenslanders aged between 14 and 26 years of age.
“The spirit of the awards was inspiring; all the finalists were acknowledged on stage for their incredible contributions,” she said.
Ms Riesz, who has recently submitted her thesis at The University of Queensland, has made significant headway towards understanding melanin pigment and the role that it plays in the formation of melanoma skin cancer.
Her work has been published in a range of prestigious journals and she has made significant contributions and collaborations with researchers in the UK and USA.
“Although melanin is designed to protect us from the sun, it is also known to be involved in the formation of melanoma skin cancer,” Ms Riesz said.
She has contributed widely to science through her research and her strong beliefs in communicating science to the community. A founder of the Physics Demo Troupe, regular guest speaker at schools around rural Queensland and Torres Strait as well as the greater Brisbane region, Ms Riesz is a member of the Queensland government Smart Women Taskforce.
The taskforce is a group of 30 highly respected women in science, information technology and engineering in Queensland charged to encourage women in these fields. Ms Riesz represents early career scientists.
After a month of travel, various conferences and a break from study, she will start work with Roam Consulting based at Toowong. This position will give Ms Riesz the opportunity to pursue her interests in climate change and renewable energy.
“This position will allow me to look at the really critical big questions facing our generation, investigating renewable energy and possible solutions to global warming,” she said.
Media: For more information contact Nelle Ross, Communications and Marketing Officer (3346 9935 or n.ross@sps.uq.edu.au).
