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Three staff members at The University of Western Australia are among 11 academics to be awarded Professional Development Scholarships aimed at attracting international experts to Perth.

Consumer research expert Associate Professor Eileen Webb, tectonics expert Associate Professor Klaus Gessner and leading forensic scientist Associate Professor Judith Fordham were today presented with their scholarships at a function held at the Art Gallery of WA.

Ten $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually to two representatives from each of Perth's metropolitan universities to assist in their personal and professional development, either through attendance at a relevant international conference, or undertaking further study in their chosen field of endeavour.

Professor Webb runs the Law Faculty's Centre for Consumer Research and will use her scholarship to attend the International Association of Consumer Law biennial conference in London next January, where she will present a paper and submit Perth's bid to host the event in 2013.

Professor Gessner works as a researcher at the Centre for Exploration Targeting, in the School of Earth and Environment and will use his scholarship to attend the Geological Society of America's Global Specialist Meeting in Turkey in October, where he will lobby for a similar meeting to be held in WA.

Professor Fordham, a barrister who works at UWA's Centre for Forensic Science with the Jury Research Group, was awarded a separate $10,000 scholarship, sponsored by the City of Perth.  She plans to use her scholarship to attend several international forensic science conferences to canvass support for Perth to host these in future years.

Funded by the Perth Convention Bureau, the scholarship program aims to raise the profile of individuals, showcase the expertise in WA's universities and provide an economic benefit to the State by attracting conferences.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson congratulated the recipients and acknowledged their role in furthering the University's aim of achieving international excellence.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716