ECU researchers are awarded for their high level of media engagement
ECU's annual Media Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to research media campaigns and The Conversation, highlighting the power of research to shape public dialogue and understanding.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Caroline Finch AO, congratulated the recipients and commended their dedication to impactful contributions to mainstream media throughout 2024.
"Once again, we've seen an extraordinary level of talent and commitment from ECU researchers at all career stages," Professor Finch said.
"In 2024, ECU researchers were mentioned in the media more than 14,000 times, reaching a global audience of over 23 billion.
"What this tells us is that our experts are not only producing high-quality global research but also sharing their knowledge in ways that are accessible, relevant, and far-reaching."
The Conversation Awards
In 2024, 53 ECU academics wrote 82 articles for The Conversation.
Most Prolific Author
Winner: Giselle Woodley, Research Fellow, School of Arts and Humanities
Giselle Woodley published six articles in The Conversation, alongside opinion pieces in The West Australian and Scarleteen. Her research investigating teens' perspectives on sexually explicit materials and sexuality education sparked national discussion and broad media coverage.
Highly Commended:
Dr Shane Rogers from the School of Arts and Humanities published four articles on The Conversation in 2024. His insightful and accessible pieces on psychology, included viral topics like outrage culture and animal friendships, with widespread media pick-up.
ECU researchers Dr Yvonne Middlewick, Giselle Woodley and Dr Shane Rogers Awarded for their media engagement
Most Widely Read Article
Winner: Professor Ken Nosaka, School of Medical and Health Sciences – "Only walking for exercise? Here's how to get the most out of it" (188,198 reads)
Highly Commended:
Dr Yvonne Middlewick, School of Nursing and Midwifery – "Is there anything good about menopause?" (153,442 reads)
Giselle Woodley & Professor Lelia Green, School of Arts and Humanities – "Calls to ban ‘harmful pornography' are rife. Here's what teens actually think about porn" (79,975 reads)
Research Media Campaign Awards
In partnership with researchers, ECU's Corporate Relations team supported 71 research campaigns in 2024, with 17 achieving a global reach of over 100 million people.
Best Research Media Campaign
Winner: Travel and Ageing
PhD Candidate Fangli Hu from the School of Medical and Health Sciences, supported by Dr Jun Wen (School of Business and Law) and Dr Wei Wang (School of Medical and Health Sciences), led a campaign exploring how travel experiences influence the ageing process. The story reached 2.69 billion people worldwide and featured on CNN, CBS, Forbes, MSN and more, also earning Fangli a spot in Skyscanner's 2025 Travel Trends Report.
Highly Commended:
Cruciferous vegetables to lower blood pressure – Dr Lauren Blekkenhorst & PhD Candidate Emma Connolly, School of Medical and Health Sciences
Honourable mentions:
Alzheimer's and heart disease – Dr Simon Laws & Dr Emmanuel Adewuyi, School of Medical and Health Sciences
Drink driver detection tech – Dr Ensiyeh Keshtkaran, supported by Dr Syed Z. Gilani, School of Science
Media engaged ECU PhD Candidates Emma Connolly and Fangli Hu, both from the School of Medical and Health Sciences
Best Expert Commentary
Winner: Giselle Woodley, Research Fellow, School of Arts and Humanities
In addition to writing for The Conversation Giselle contributed expert commentary to major media outlets including ABC News 24, WA Today, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 6PR, reaching an estimated 40 million people with her insights.
Best in Broadcast
Winner: Professor Panizza Allmark, School of Arts and Humanities
Professor Allmark was featured in 260 media mentions across 2024, reaching an audience of 146 million people. A regular guest on ABC Radio Perth Breakfast, she brought cultural expertise to engaging discussions on popular music history. Her research and commentary also appeared in The Guardian, ABC Online, and The Conversation.
ECU media engaged researchers Professor Panizza Allmark and Giselle Woodley
"This recognition highlights the outstanding calibre of ECU's research and the commitment of our researchers to making their work accessible and impactful beyond academia," Professor Finch said.
"I'm incredibly proud of how our researchers are engaging with the media to translate complex ideas into knowledge that informs, inspires and benefits the broader community."
The ECU Media Awards 2025 event will be held between March – April 2026 at the new city campus. Details will be revealed closer to the date.
