Dr Xuan Li from the University of Technology Sydney has been awarded the WH Gladstones Population and Environment Fund to fund her research into the effect of Australia’s population on the environment.
Dr Li was one of the earliest scientific contributors to population-wide surveillance of COVID-19 through wastewater-based epidemiology, providing better solutions to cope with pandemics. Her research aims to assist the planning and policymaking for local communities, especially for vulnerable population groups.
This project proposes that the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalisation and ICU needs can be predicted accurately through artificial intelligence and wastewater-based epidemiology.
The WH Gladstones Population and Environment Fund offers support for empirical research into how the size, distribution, material aspirations and other characteristics of Australia’s population are likely to affect our environment—not only our land and landscape, but also social cohesion, health, the economy and defence. The fund was established in 2010 through generous donations from the late Dr William H Gladstones.
Applications for the 2025 round will open in early 2024.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
