A researcher from The University of Queensland has been recognised as a trailblazer in her field after she was awarded a Brisbane Lord Mayor Convention Trailblazer Grant.
UQ School of Public Health Research Fellow Dr Bronwyn Clark was named a recipient due to her research into the health risks of sedentary behaviour.
“My research aims to identify the best way of measuring sedentary behaviour and physical activity to assess changes in these health behaviours,” Dr Clark said.
“This will determine the effectiveness of public health interventions to increase activity and decrease sitting time.
“The findings will help reduce the health burden of chronic diseases caused by inactivity.”
Dr Clark will measure the physical activity levels of participants using both questionnaires and the wearing of physical activity monitors.
“I have a strong interest in the public health benefits of activity, and I also love seeing what the data tells you about what people actually do,” she said.
“With this research, I hope to develop and integrate a standard set of measures into healthcare to further understand the prevalence of inactivity and sitting-time and the effectiveness of interventions to address these health risks.
“More broadly, I aim to be part of the digital health revolution, which is currently occurring locally and globally.”
The Trailblazer Grant will fund Dr Clark to attend an international conference in her field.
In return, she will work with the economic development board Brisbane Marketing and partners to attract the conference to Brisbane.
“It’s an opportunity to encourage collaborations internationally through conference attendance and provide local interactions between other past and present awardees,” she said.
“Working to bring a conference to Brisbane will provide me with broader stewardship around research and will allow me to bring together other Australian researchers within my field of study.”
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said seven talented Brisbane researchers shared in $30,000 funding from the grant.
“The 2019 recipients are considered trailblazers because they are undertaking work in fields that have an important social impact and raise awareness of Brisbane as a home of world-class research,” Mr Quirk said.
“Through the Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant, the recipients will attend an international conference to build valuable networks, create awareness of their work and spearhead a bid to stage a future edition of the conference in Brisbane.”
Media: Faculty of Medicine Communications, med.media@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 5133, +61 436 368 746.
