Young ANU scientists make their mark with Tall Poppy honours

Left to right: Dr Kiara Bruggeman, Dr Joshua Chu-Tan, Dr Bjorn Sturmberg and Dr Amy Dawel Four outstanding early career researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) who are forging new ground in fields spanning tissue engineering to how we experience and communicate emotions have been recognised with ACT Young Tall Poppy Science Awards. Dr Kiara Bruggeman, Dr Joshua Chu-Tan, Dr Bjorn Sturmberg and Dr Amy Dawel have been honoured for pushing scientific boundaries and fostering an appreciation for the sciences by communicating their work to the public. The awards are considered an early indicator of Australia's future scientific leaders. They highlight the excellent work of young scientists who have made significant contributions to their respective fields of science that will benefit Australia and the world. Dr Bruggeman is researching new treatments for people who have suffered a stroke. She uses nanotechnology to engineer biomaterials that support the body and cells' ability to grow. When stem cells are given the specific physical support and biological cues, they can be directed to become new cells to help the body recover from injury or disease.