The ‘Beverley and Jock McIlwain Award for Excellence in Science’ is awarded to students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and enthusiasm in Science throughout the year. Students receive a $100 gift voucher and a Griffith University Award certificate. We would like to congratulate 2021 QAHS graduates Gihansa Kottasha Vidhanelage and Cici Zhou who were awarded this prize for their outstanding efforts in the Scientific research area.
Gihansa investigated the research question, “What are the antimicrobial properties of native Australian Myrtaceae species such as Xanthostemon chrysanthus, Syzygium australe, Melaleuca leucadendra, Angophora bakeri, Corymbia ficifolia and Callistemon viminalis against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa measured by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for further development of antibiotics for multi-drug resistant strains of the same bacteria?”
Cici investigated the research question, “What is the effectiveness of the cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of probiotic Lactobacillus spp. single (L. casei Shirota) and multispecies (L. plantarum & L. paracasei) strains in inhibiting the growth of E. coli biofilms, measured as fixed wavelength ultraviolet absorbance, as a novel method for waterborne bacterial pathogenesis control?”
Both students worked closely with our University research partners through the CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools program. We would like to thank our Griffith University STEM mentors who support our students in the investigation of research questions beyond the scope available to most high school students.
Anir LalTeaching Faculty - Biology
HOD Science and Enrichment (Acting)