The inaugural Luke Pen Scholarship

26/3/04
Environment Minister Judy Edwards has announced the first recipient of a new scholarship fund to help postgraduate students undertake research about our rivers and the problem of salinity.
The inaugural Luke Pen Scholarship Fund recipient is Ms Fiona Gibson, of the University of Western Australia, who will be researching the implications of water-borne pathogens on the management of an oyster farm in Oyster Harbour, Albany.
The fund was established by the Department of Environment to honour the life and work of the late Dr Luke Pen.
Dr Pen was renowned for his dedication to helping community groups understand the way rivers operate and inspired people to have a vision and passion for the daunting task of fixing river problems.
"It was Dr Pen's vision that this fund would enable more research to be conducted in areas we currently know little about, such as Wheatbelt rivers and salt-tolerant plants for use in saline landscapes," Dr Edwards said.
The scholarship will be open to Honours students again next year and may also be extended to Masters and PhD Students.
The Government has set aside $50,000 for the fund over five years.
Eligible projects include research areas in Wheatbelt valleys and their waterways, the hydrology of the South-West, plants that use more water to help manage changes in hydrology and salt tolerant plants for use in saline landscapes.
Minister's office: 9220 5050