News Archive

A collaborative UWA and Stanford University research project has been named the top Environmental Science paper by Environmental Science & Technology for 2016.

The paper, Halogen Radicals Promote the Photodegradation of Microcystins in Estuarine Systems , co-authored by UWA Professor Anas Ghadouani and Research Fellow Dr Elke Reichwaldt and Stanford researchers Dr Kimberly Parker and Professor Bill Mitch, was commended for its ground-breaking discovery and its collaborative nature of bringing together an international multidisciplinary team of experts.

Professor Ghadouani says this recognition really highlights the value of collaborative research efforts.

“It’s wonderful for our paper to be recognised in this way but even more than that, it showcases how research partnerships such as what we have with Stanford can yield high-impact results.

“Through the project a complex framework for the management of water pollution was developed that sets a completely new pathway of discovery in the area. The potential for wider application in water treatment is currently being assessed as part of an ARC Discovery Grant awarded to the UWA-Stanford team.

“It’s exciting to be able to carry on this research of our iconic Swan River and do it with this team,” he says.

The fact that Environmental Science & Technology published approximately 1600 papers last year is a testament to the work of the UWA-Stanford team. The journal Editorial Advisory Board ranks approximately 100 exceptional papers, as identified by editors.

Professor David Sedlak, Editor-in-Chief, commented that the top papers focussed on the pursuit of an environmental problem that matters to the community. He also emphasised that the top papers, those which report relevant, high-impact environment research are often from international teams that include members with diverse skills.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Robyn Owens says driving excellence in valued research is a priority for the University.

“At UWA we understand how international partnerships lead to impactful, ground breaking research, and this is another wonderful example. It’s about bringing the best from around the world together and making our mark on the communities we serve,” Professor Owens says.