Monash University: Professor Jeff Walker gets $3.4M ARC Laureate Fellowship

Study Abroad: A total of $58.3M has been awarded to 17 Laureate Fellowships across Australia. The idea is to support senior researchers with their ground-breaking research to strengthen knowledge and facilitate leadership, mentoring and collaboration.

Professor Jeff Walker of Monash University has received a prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Fellowship to transform responses to natural disasters and climate change. The Fellowship is worth more than $3.4M.

“This fellowship funding provides me a unique opportunity to develop the next generation of space researchers, deliver impactful research for the benefit of society, and further position Australia as a leader in space research,” Professor Walker said.

“I am honoured and humbled for the recognition of Monash University and my team of collaborators for our contributions to earth observation research, a critical capability for Australia. It is also a privilege to be listed among other highly esteemed colleagues,” he added.

Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Ryan, congratulated Professor Walker on the Fellowship and said, "The ARC Laureate is one of the most prestigious Australian research awards. It’s great recognition of Professor Walker’s incredible research, and his work to use near-space surveillance with the goal to transform our response to natural disasters and climate change. His research embodies Monash’s commitment to research excellence and impact."

More Details

As per the university statement, the work of Professor Jeff Walker aims to transform the way we predict and manage natural disaster events as a consequence of climate change, using near-space surveillance to produce real-time fire front and flood maps. This technology could provide early alerts to first responders and has the potential to save thousands of lives, among other applications.

It brings together research in aerospace engineering and data science, using high-resolution passive microwave measurements from near-space to monitor landscapes for fire, flood and landslides, added the statement.

About ARC Laureate Fellowship

The following are the main aims of the Fellowship:

• Produce new or advanced knowledge resulting from the outcomes of the research with economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia, and to enhance research in Australian Government priority areas;
• attract and retain outstanding researchers and research leaders of international reputation, with exceptional ability to lead, collaborate, mentor and supervise, and enhance their capacity to create an enduring legacy;
• provide an excellent research training environment and exemplary opportunity to nurture early or mid-career researchers;
• build focus and scale in research by forging new links among researchers, the international research community and/or industry and other research end-users;
• create a cohesive research program and implementation plan that represents value for money; and
• support a program of innovative and ground-breaking research that addresses a significant problem or gap in knowledge;

Read more:

• Canada immigration fraud: Indian agent sentenced to 3 years in jail
• University of Strathclyde Glasgow: Admissions open for MSc Digital Health Systems