Accolades
Fulbright Scholar to widen her expertise By Catherine Rogers
D
r Natasha Wiggins (BSc Hons 2001, PhD 2006) from the UTAS schools of Plant Science and Zoology has been awarded a 2011 Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States. Natasha was the only Tasmanian among the 26 Australians to receive the prestigious scholarship.
Australia Day Honours for members of alumni family Australia Day Honours: (L-R) Lieutenant Colonel Colin Riley, Dr Anthony Brown and Peter Spratt were all recognised for their service and achievements. Photo by Lisa Gipton.
T
hree members of the UTAS alumni family received Australia Day Honours in 2011. Peter Spratt (MEnvSt 1978) was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. He was recognised for his conservation work on more than 600 historic buildings around Australia, as well as the establishment of an online building degree course and contributions to industry associations. Peter remarked that he was “somewhat surprised” to receive the honour, which he said was rare for engineers. Peter completed his masters degree at UTAS and went on to run his own business. He attempted to retire recently – but it didn’t quite work. Meanwhile Dr Anthony Brown (BSc Hons 1972, PhD 1986) received the Public Service Medal. He was recognised for providing outstanding service to the Tasmanian public sector for almost 40 years as a leader in the application of information technology and innovation to the State’s mining industry. Anthony has also served as Chairman of
the Board of Trustees of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Anthony said the medal was a great honour. He plans to retire in the near future, but will continue to work in an honorary capacity in the UTAS School of Geology. When he isn’t working, Anthony has a keen interest in researching colonial art.
Natasha will travel to Boise State University in Idaho and Washington State University next year. She plans to investigate why pygmy rabbits, native to the area, are attracted to the sagebrush plant and rely on it as a major source of food. The population of pygmy rabbits is in decline, while sagebrush (a woody and silver-green foliage shrub that survives harsh winters and hot summers) is in decline due to human habitation. “The research will look at what natural toxins are present in the sagebrush plant and how the difference in temperature and seasons determine why the rabbits select this plant over others,” Natasha said. The Fulbright Scholarship is a major international educational exchange program established in 1946 by Senator J William Fulbright and the US Government.
Also recognised was Lieutenant Colonel Colin Riley CSC, who was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his outstanding achievement as commanding officer of the 12th/40th Battalion, the Royal Tasmanian Regiment. Colin has raised the efficiency, effectiveness and capability of the regiment and of the Army Reserve in Tasmania, and has helped raise his unit’s numbers by 35% in 14 months. Colin graduated with a BSc in 1994 and a Bachelor in Social Science (Police Studies) in 2009. When he isn’t working, Colin enjoys kayaking. “There’s nothing more relaxing than kayaking on the Tasmanian waterways,” he said.
We strongly encourage you, the alumni, to nominate a worthy graduate for the Distinguished Alumni or the Foundation Graduate Award. For criteria and nomination form, please visit the Alumni & Friends website at www.utasalumni.org.au
Fulbright Scholar: Dr Natasha Wiggins will study the interaction between pygmy rabbits and sagebrush in the United States next year.
ALUMNI NEWS | JUNE 2011 • Issue 39 | 23