Tall Poppy winner praised for research excellence

CQUniversity's Dr Amanda Rebar has been awarded a Queensland Young Tall Poppy award' an initiative of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science.

The awards recognise excellence in research as well as enthusiasm for communicating science beyond the walls of the laboratory.

Widely considered to be an early indicator of Australia's future scientific leaders' the awards identify excellent early career scientists.

Amanda is an expert in behaviour change and habit formation. She regularly partners with shires' community services and industries to develop effective approaches to help people change their behaviour to be happier' healthier (physically and mentally)' and make the world a better place.

She is a well established researcher in measuring and intervening with people's habit and motivation.

CQU Vice-President (Research) Professor Grant Stanley said Dr Rebar's standing as a field leader in behaviour change and motivation science is exemplified by 140 authored publications' including nine invited editorials and reviews and 14 book chapters.

"She has more than 4000 citations' with 26.5 per cent of her publications cited more often than 90 per cent of articles worldwide' an outstanding accomplishment for someone only seven-and-a-half years post PhD'" he explained.

Dr Rebar has demonstrated commitment to mentoring future researchers' especially those who have not considered science as a career because of perceived barriers such as current circumstances' gender or ethnicity.

In 2017 Dr Rebar launched a virtual research lab for undergraduates at CQUniversity wanting to engage and learn about science. Her Motivation of Health Behaviours Lab (with more than 50 student members over three years) has fostered science communication by emerging scientists' culminating in the Online Conference for Undergraduate Research in Australasia in 2020 to platform science communication and research by honours and undergraduate students.

Over the past five years Dr Rebar has hosted assemblies at regional schools to expand student understanding of what it means to be a scientist and has worked with regional Queensland communities on programs for community behaviour change.