USQ academic awarded world-class climate change fellowship

Over the last six years Dr Maraseni has produced more than 65 publications, including two books

USQ academic and former student, Dr Tek Maraseni, has been selected to take part in the prestigious US Climate Change Professional Fellows Program.

The international program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and brings together professionals from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, and the United States to explore the issues and actions surrounding climate change.

Dr Maraseni said he was honoured to receive an award of such high calibre.

'I am extremely happy with my achievement. At the time of application, I was not expecting this award, as previous awardees were reputed Senior Advisor to the Queensland Premier and a United Nations Ambassador for the Global Atlas of Human Rights,' he said.

Dr Maraseni said fellows were selected based on outstanding performance and their ability to play leadership roles in the science, impact, adaptation, mitigation and actions related to climate change.

'A fellow should meet a number of criteria, including a demonstrated commitment to community service and strong interest in climate change issues.

'This award helps me to enhance my profile domestically and internationally. I am not only a USQ staff member but also a PhD graduate of USQ. Therefore, I always feel a huge responsibility to promote USQ, from where I achieved enormous value and progress. Now I feel that I am one step closer to fulfil my responsibility.

'This is not only my success, this is the success of my Centre, Faculty of Business and Law, and USQ as a whole.'

Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchment, Dr Shahbaz Mushtaq, said this is not the first success story for Dr Maraseni.

'He has also received many national and international awards, grants and fellowships including a prestigious Queensland-China Climate Change Fellowship 2008 award from Queensland Premier, Ms Anna Bligh MP,' Dr Mushtaq said.

'Dr Maraseni also received a globally competitive and highly prestigious award from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and financial support from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to attend and present papers at a meeting during 2009.

'In 2009 he received the Faculty of Business Researcher of the Year Award and 2010 Research Excellence Award (which includes a medallion, a certificate and cash prize of $5000) from USQ.'

The fellowship will take place throughout several major US cities this month and next.

Contact Details:
Connie-Louise Rego, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977