Women at the front of our 2020 vision

A PLASTICS pollution researcher, a marine research scientist, an osteoarthritis researcher and an anti-slavery advocate are the nominees for the 2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year Award.

Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the awards and 16 Tasmanians have been nominated to be named the state’s Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian or Local Hero.

Tasmanian Australian of the Year nominee Britta Denise Hardesty, a principal research scientist and team leader at the CSIRO, is a pioneer in the field of plastics pollution research.

Dr Hardesty’s works involves understanding the origins of the plastic, its movement through the environment and how the pollution can be curtailed.

She is also part of a women’s science leadership group and leads a portfolio of marine debris projects.

“In 2016, Denise led the world’s first national survey of plastics pollution, focusing on Australia’s coastline,” the National Australia Day Council said in a statement.

“This work won her team the Eureka Prize for Environmental Research.”

Rhodes Scholar Jess Melbourne-Thomas’s love of the environment led her into a career as a research scientist first with the Australian Antarctic Division and now with the CSIRO.

“Jess uses interdisciplinary research approaches to understand how marine socioecological systems respond to climate change and other human activities, and to inform decision-making for sustainable development,” the council said.

Dr Melbourne-Thomas is also a passionate advocate for women in science.

Fellow nominee Dawn Aitken is dedicated to helping people with osteoarthritis. Associate Professor Aitken is a researcher at the Menzies Medical Research Institute and uses MRI to show how osteoarthritis develops and progresses.

“Osteoarthritis is a complex disease with different treatment approaches, depending on the individual patient,” the council said.

“Dawn’s research has shifted how osteoarthritis is understood — leading to new ways of treating and managing the disease.”

Nominee Melody Towns founded Be Hers, an awarenessraising social enterprise that educates people in developed countries about those trapped in slavery.

“Melody leads a team of volunteers, who use awareness, education, employment and partnership to connect the vulnerable and exploited with those who have freedom,” the council said.

Be Hers has so far raised more than $500,000, which has funded housing, medical procedures, hotlines and rescue, restoration and prevention programs.

“The 2020 Tasmanian nominees are great examples of the many different ways in which people are helping shape our communities and create a better nation,” National Australia Day Council chief executive Karlie Brand said.

The recipients of each of the categories will be announced next Friday at Government House in Hobart.

They will then join the other state and territory recipients for the national awards ceremony in Canberra on January 25.