Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland

Clean, green future for scholarship winner

26th March 2003

For most students, winning a Chevening scholarship would be cause for celebration, but for Bradley Ladewig it's just another step towards achieving his goal. The PhD student at the University of Queensland has his eye on one day becoming Australia's chief scientist.

"I'm very keen on cleaner energy production and sustainable development, and I want to have an impact on Australia's science and technology base and help lead Australia to a cleaner, greener future," the 22-year-old engineering graduate said. "I want to be in a position of leadership in that field, and the ultimate position would be chief scientist." Mr Ladewig was one of eight young Australians selected for the Chevening scholarship program, which provides tuition and other fees for up to 12 months of postgraduate study at a university of similar institution in Britain. He will spend nine months at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London to continue research into nano-materials.

Mr Ladewig's PhD research is based on replacing the lithium used in mobile phone and computer batteries with a direct methanol fuel cell, a process that could help batteries last longer and use much less energy. "It will help me network with leaders in my field, particularly the people in Europe who are working on my type of research," he said. Britain provides about 2300 Chevening scholarships each year to candidates from more than 150 countries. Other Australian winners were Queensland's Darren White, Ben Batros and Andrew Bastow from Western Australia, Kate Beattie and Danny Rosen from Victoira, Jane Worner from NSW and Canberra's Hannah Parris.

The Australian, Wednesday March 26 2003.