ACU Fellowships support research collaboration across the Commonwealth by providing funding for university staff to travel from one ACU member institution to another.

Thanks to the support of Coventry University, UK, a new fellowship was introduced in 2019. The first ACU Coventry Fellow is Dr Sharon Stephen from the University of Sydney, Australia, who will be travelling to Coventry in April 2020, for collaborative work focused on nanofluids.

Dr Paul Griffiths, Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics at the School of Computing, Electronics and Mathematics at Coventry University – and Dr Stephen's collaborator – said:

'This ACU Fellowship will help to support the growing research collaboration between Coventry University and The University of Sydney. The Fellowship will fund Dr Stephen's extended visit to Coventry's Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems. During the course of her visit we will conduct research into the flow of fluids containing nano-sized particles – nanofluid flows. These types of flows are used in numerous industrial applications, often in processes involving cooling. We will aim to address important questions regarding drag reduction techniques via nanoparticle additives.'

The ACU is delighted to reveal the full list of 2019 fellows:

Professor Esther Akinlabi, University of Johannesburg, South Africa will be travelling to the University of Birmingham, UK, in March 2020 to research how Laser Assisted Cold Sprayed Bio-ceramic Coatings can be used in human implants to help heal broken bones that are unable to heal naturally.

Dr Sudipta Bose from the University of Newcastle, Australia, will travel to Northumbria University, UK, in January 2020. His work considers the costs and benefits to companies who are early adopters of the Task Force on Climate Change-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Dr Richard Carter-White, from Macquarie University, Australia will be hosted by Swansea University, Wales, UK, in September 2019. His fellowship will focus on the impact of the nuclear, earthquake and tsunami disasters of March 2011 on communities in Tohoku, Japan.

Dr Mohd Golam Quader Khan, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh has been awarded a fellowship to visit the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, in October 2019. Dr Khan's work focuses on the development of a high-density genetic map for Nile tilapia.

Dr Fiona Chun Man Ling, Northumbria University, UK will travel to University of British Columbia, Canada, in April 2020 for her fellowship. Dr Ling is a Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology, whose work focuses on the physiological and psychological consequences of physical inactivity in children, and the potential psychophysiological factors that may drive this habitual behaviour.

The University of Auckland, New Zealand, will host Dr Christof Lutteroth from the University of Bath, UK, in October 2019. Dr Lutteroth's work focuses on eye gaze interaction technology which aims to make e-learning resources more accessible for people with disabilities.

Dr George Mutalemwa, St Augustine University of Tanzania, will travel to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya, in February 2020, for collaborative work focused on mainstreaming peace and reconciliation studies among African higher education institutions.

In March 2020, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Linacre College at University of Oxford will host Dr Daniel Parker's fellowship. Dr Parker is an Associate Professor from the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences at University of Mpumalanga, South Africa, and his work focuses on carnivore biology and human-wildlife conflict.

Professor Pammla Petrucka, University of Saskatchewan, Canada, will be hosted by the University of Malawi for her fellowship, which will focus on improving access to appropriate and affordable sustainable menstrual hygiene products for women and girls.

In May 2020 Dr Bayden Russell, University of Hong Kong, will travel to the University of Sydney, Australia, for his fellowship. Dr Russell is the Associate Director of The Swire Institute of Marine Science at University of Hong Kong, where his work focuses on the susceptibility of marine organisms to ocean warming.

Professor Rachel Tribe, University of East London, has been awarded a fellowship to travel to the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in January 2020. Her work focuses on promoting good mental health and wellbeing among people in post-conflict situations.

Dr Kejun Wu, University of Leeds, UK will travel to the University of Hong Kong (UHK) in August 2019, where he will be collaborating in the development of a pioneering platform for the precise, cost-effective creation of new efficient higher energy-dense batteries with applications for use including powering electric vehicles.

More information

ACU Fellowships support academic mobility in the Commonwealth by providing opportunities for staff at ACU member institutions to travel to another country to undertake research, collaborate and exchange ideas.

Find out more about ACU Fellowships here