McMichael Award empowers climate health research
In a world grappling with escalating climate crises, the McMichael Award at The Australian National University (ANU) continues to drive essential climate health research. The award was established through the generous support of Associate Professor Judith Healy, along with the broader ANU donor community and matched investment from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH).
The McMichael Award serves as a catalyst for collaboration and knowledge exchange by fostering future leaders who are dedicated to confronting the profound health challenges exacerbated by climate change. Two such leaders received the award in 2023.
Associate Professor Amy Dawel, from the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, and Dr Annabel Dulhunty, from the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, each received the 2023 McMichael Award in recognition of their respective groundbreaking research projects on the health impacts of climate change.
“We are now facing a time where extreme weather events are going to become more and more common, whether that’s a bushfire, flood, or extreme temperatures,” says Associate Professor Dawel. “These are placing increased stress on people, which has knock-on effects for their local communities. We need to be using this information to build resilience and resources that help minimise impacts on families’ mental and physical health.”
Meanwhile, Dr Dulhunty’s work spotlights the overlooked needs of marginalised communities in India, particularly women, within the context of climate adaptation.
“There is a clear link between climate change and violence against women; we have less scholarship on the diverse policy responses and the different ways climate adaptation plans and strategies can respond to the needs of women and the most vulnerable in disasters,” says Dr Dulhunty.
The McMichael Award is named in honour of Associate Professor Healy’s husband, the late Professor Tony McMichael AO, a former Director of NCEPH, joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and world authority on the impact of the environment on human health. With the support from the award, both Associate Professor Dawel and Dr Dulhunty are continuing Tony’s legacy of sparking crucial conversations, paving the way for more inclusive climate policy responses and driving tangible impact in communities worldwide.
Our world needs a next generation of researchers to tackle and collaborate on the huge threats that face us, but also promising opportunities to promote better population health.
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JUDITH HEALY
