The Council of the Royal Society of NSW extends its warmest congratulations to Emeritus Professor Bill Sherwin FRSN of UNSW Sydney on being awarded the 2021 Australian Museum Research Institute Lifetime Achievement Award.

Professor William (Bill) Sherwin is a molecular ecologist who has dedicated almost 40 years to scientific research, applying mathematics to genetics and ecology to measure and predict how environmental changes – such as lost habitat, changing climate or the impact of invasive species – affect certain species. His research has encompassed findings such as pinpointing the likely source of an invasive weed as well as important fieldwork on species such as koalas, wombats, prawns, and penguins. 

In accepting the award, Professor Sherwin thanked his research group and colleagues in the Evolution and Ecology Research Centre at UNSW and explained that “with all this support, I do molecular ecology, something that’s a really good conversation-stopper, so I’ll explain. Wild animals and plants have always adapted to environmental change, which is now accelerating. Molecular ecologists study and conserve the genetic variation that enables adaptation to change.”

For further details, please see the news release on the UNSW Sydney website.