Edith Cowan University’s Professor Amanda Devine has been announced as a finalist for the 2023 WA Scientist of the Year for her extensive work in health and nutrition.
It is the most prestigious honour bestowed at the annual Premier’s Science Awards, which are administered by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation and aim to recognise and celebrate the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in Western Australia.
Professor Devine is one of five finalists, with the winner to be announced in September.
Currently Associate Dean of Public Health and OHS, and Professor of Public Health Nutrition at ECU’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, Professor Devine has spent more than 30 years aiming to improve people’s health and wellbeing across their entire lifespan through her teaching and varied research.
This has included overseeing projects aiming to influence policy and practice to ensure children at early learning centres are receiving the food they need to thrive and co-creating video games to engage school-aged children to make healthy food choices.
Professor Devine is working with dieticians to test plant-based diets in treating gestational diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease and is working to rescue imperfect fruit and veg to transform it into nutrient-dense, 3D printed meals to support older people who require texture-modified diets.
She is also involved in a large-scale project aiming to improve food security for Western Australians in regional and remote areas.
“I work towards being a knowledge broker for nutrition science, so research findings can be implemented to have real world impact on people’s health,” Professor Devine said.
“I am also committed to mentoring and training the next generation of public health leaders, bringing likeminded people together to innovate collaboratively and change broader systems in order to benefit community.”
“It’s an honour to be named as a finalist in such as prestigious award.”
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