Royal Society of Tasmania - 2021 Doctoral Awards

The Royal Society of Tasmania Southern Lecture Series 7th August 2022
Doctoral Award Presentations

Dr Pratiksha Srivastava: "Electron exchange between living and non-living things for developing sustainability in the environment"

The energy for all life forms comes from the flow of electrons in energetically favourable pairings of oxidation and reduction reactions. Although most living organisms use soluble oxidants and reductants, some microbes can access solid-phase materials as electron-acceptors or donors via extracellular microbial electron transfer. A better understanding of extracellular microbial electron transfer can lead us to further technological applications such as an efficient wastewater treatment, electricity generation, bioelectronics, biochemical production, detoxification of harmful compounds, and biofuels generation for achieving sustainability in the environment.

Dr Rhondda Waterworth: "The therapeutic potential of magistrates and court systems"

The complex interface between health and legal systems is constantly on display in courtrooms. Magistrate behaviour and courtroom interactions have the potential to significantly affect outcomes for offenders and the wider community. This influence is especially strong for offenders experiencing mental illness, social disadvantage, drug addiction, or other endemic social problems. Insightful courtcraft can transform magistrate roles so they become drivers for therapeutic change. This approach requires identifying desirable magistrate behaviours and incorporating those behaviours in training.