Pam picks up top science accolade
Premier's Science award winner Pam Laird with Amy Ruddock from the CSIRO and Science Minister Stephen Dawson.
Perth Children’s Hospital Physiotherapist and researcher Dr Pamela Laird has been named Early Career Scientist of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards.
At a special presentation last night, Pam was named joint winner of the coveted accolade, sharing the prize with University of Western Australia energy scientist Dr Neil Robinson.
The pair was chosen from a shortlisted field of 6 finalists.
Pam’s clinical and research work is focused on preventing chronic lung disease in Western Australian Aboriginal children.
Among her many achievements, Pam is credited with having produced world-first data on the prevalence of the chronic lung disease, bronchiectasis, and addressing significant health-service and health-outcome gaps for Aboriginal children in regional and remote Western Australia.
The Premier’s Award is the latest in a string of recent accomplishments for Pam.
It follows her acceptance of an invitation to co-chair a taskforce for the European Respiratory Society, one of the world’s leading respiratory organisations.
The taskforce will develop best-practice clinical guidelines for children with long-term suppurative (mucus-producing) lung diseases and pneumonia, an initiative that will advance care for children with these debilitating respiratory conditions.
Pamela has also taken on the role of physiotherapy lead for Child-BEAR-net, the Children’s Bronchiectasis Education Advocacy and Research Network, a clinical research collaboration launched by the Society in 2021.
The Premier’s Science Awards have been presented annually since 2002 and recognise outstanding scientific research and engagement in Western Australia.