ANU Spaces – Ceridwen Fraser

Meet Dr Ceridwen (Crid) Fraser, the current ACT Scientist of the Year, as well as Senior Lecturer with the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.

Can you tell us a little about the work you do at Fenner?

I'm a molecular ecologist, which means I use genetic data to try to understand ecological and evolutionary processes. For example, I'm interested in how past environmental change (such as past climate change, and big changes in sea levels and ocean currents) has affected plant and animal distributions, and driven the evolution of new species. A lot of my research is on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic systems - partly because I think they're awesome and beautiful, but also because they present really nice opportunities (thanks to their isolation an environmental extremes) for testing questions about long-distance dispersal and responses to climate change. I spend a few weeks each year in the field, quite a lot of time in the lab, and even more in the office, analysing data and writing up my findings. I do some lecturing, too, but the last few years have been more research-intensive while I was on a DECRA fellowship.

What excites you about your research?

Everything! Mainly because I only do research on things that excite me. At the moment I have major projects underway looking at how volcanoes helped life to survive past ice ages in Antarctica, and looking at how huge earthquakes create opportunities for evolution and ecological change. One of my PhD students is studying penguin ticks, another is studying deep-sea Antarctic sponges. Antarctica, volcanoes, earthquakes, penguins, deep-sea organisms ... how can those topics fail to be exciting?!

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?

Oh, do I only get to change one thing? I hope I can do more than that! But the main thing I would like to see change at the moment is the tendency of many people (and politicians, but its normal people that vote politicians in) to make decisions based on their beliefs (what they want to think is true) rather than on evidence (what is demonstrated to be likely to be true). It is shocking that the words of the year in 2016 were 'post-truth' (Oxford) and 'fake news' (Macquarie) - sad reflections on the recent global shift toward decision-making founded on falsehoods rather than fact.

What is your favourite space on campus and why?

The waterfall stepping-stone crossing on Sullivan's Creek - I can leave my office and within minutes be in a tranquil space with dappled sunlight and the sound of running water. A great way to clear the head!

What was your reaction to finding out you had been awarded the current 2016 ACT Scientist of the Year?

I was absolutely thrilled! It came at a time when I was starting to lose confidence in myself, so was a great boost to my motivation.

How has the experience changed you?

I have become more confident, more energetic, and - through the many opportunities this award has given me to speak to diverse groups of people - more able to communicate my research to broad audiences.

Why would you encourage other scientists to nominate for this award?

There is no down-side to nominating for the award. The time needed to apply is minimal, but if you win you gain a great deal. Also, this award is not necessarily based on the standard metrics that researchers are often judged on, but rather recognises an accomplished up-and-coming researcher with lots to contribute - someone is making an impact in his/her field but also wants to reach out to the community to promote awareness of the value of science. I probably wouldn't have nominated for the award if my boss hadn't encouraged me to, because I didn't think I had a chance, so my message to other scientists thinking of applying but not sure of their chances is: give it a go!

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More information on the ACT Scientist of the Year, including how to nominate, can be found at http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/scientistofyear. Nominations for the 2017 ACT Scientist of the Year close 5pm, Thursday 15 June 2017.