ABC announces the TOP 5 recipients for 2025
The ABC has revealed this year's inspiring researchers to take part in the ABC TOP 5 media residencies.
The five successful applicants from each of the three fields – Science, Humanities & the Arts, will be in residence at the ABC offices for two-weeks of media training and practical experience. They will be working alongside some of Australia's best journalists and broadcasters, to get a better understanding of how best to communicate their vital research with the world.
'Academia and news reporting are facing extraordinary challenges around the world', says ABC Chair Kim Williams. 'So, the ABC is proud to be partnering with four leading educational and cultural institutions, ensuring that important ideas and new research is discussed and disseminated to broader audiences - ensuring that the ABC delivers information that Australians can rely upon and trust'.
Dina Rosendorff is the Manager of ABC Radio National. 'The TOP 5 is a unique Radio National program that teams up early career researchers with some of the ABC's best storytellers. It's a chance for audiences to hear bold new ideas from rising stars in Australian research - and for those researchers to sharpen their skills in bringing their work to life for the public.'
THE 2025 ABC TOP 5 ARE:
SCIENCE
Dr Chantelle Blachut : Postdoctoral Fellow – UNSW, ADFA ACT. Uses mathematics to investigate unexpected behaviour in natural structures like bushfires on mountain-tops or blobs of cold air over Antarctica.
: Postdoctoral Fellow – UNSW, ADFA ACT. Uses mathematics to investigate unexpected behaviour in natural structures like bushfires on mountain-tops or blobs of cold air over Antarctica. Dr Amal Osman : Postdoctoral Research Fellow, FHMRI Sleep Health - Flinders University. Specialised physiology techniques to develop new, tailored treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea.
: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, FHMRI Sleep Health - Flinders University. Specialised physiology techniques to develop new, tailored treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea. Dr Howe Zhu : Lecturer in Interaction Design – USYD. Explores the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Neuroscience, leveraging insights from cognitive computing and extended reality to design human-centred technologies that support perception, attention, and immersive interaction.
: Lecturer in Interaction Design – USYD. Explores the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Neuroscience, leveraging insights from cognitive computing and extended reality to design human-centred technologies that support perception, attention, and immersive interaction. Dr Chantelle Doyle : Research Associate – UNSW. Pairing new methods, like genomics, with classic techniques to assess plant sterility, survival and reproduction.
: Research Associate – UNSW. Pairing new methods, like genomics, with classic techniques to assess plant sterility, survival and reproduction. Dr Patrick Finnerty: Postdoctoral Research Fellow – USYD. Conservation ecologist helping to bring wildlife back to improve ecosystems through rewilding and species reintroductions.
HUMANITIES
Dr Shauna Bostock: Indigenous Research Editor, Australian Dictionary of Biography – ANU. Multi-generational narrative history of the lived experience of Aboriginal people from colonisation to the present.
Indigenous Research Editor, Australian Dictionary of Biography – ANU. Multi-generational narrative history of the lived experience of Aboriginal people from colonisation to the present. Dr Intifar Chowdhury: Lecturer in Government – Flinders University. A researcher passionate about better the political representation of all young Australians in our democracy.
Lecturer in Government – Flinders University. A researcher passionate about better the political representation of all young Australians in our democracy. Dr Declan Humphreys: Lecturer, Cyber Security & Ethics – University of the Sunshine Coast. A philosopher exploring the ethics of emerging technologies such as AI.
Lecturer, Cyber Security & Ethics – University of the Sunshine Coast. A philosopher exploring the ethics of emerging technologies such as AI. Dr Tatiana Bur: Lecturer & Cultural Historian – ANU. Focus is Ancient Greece with particular interests in Greek and Roman technology, especially mechanics.
Lecturer & Cultural Historian – ANU. Focus is Ancient Greece with particular interests in Greek and Roman technology, especially mechanics. Dr Jac den Houling: Senior Research Fellow Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre - La Trobe University. Creating real-world change that benefits autistic people, in the areas that matter most to the autistic community.
ARTS
Lolita Emmanuel: Pianist/Doctor of Musical Arts candidate, Conservatorium of Music, USYD. Practice-based research with musicians in global Assyrian community, exploring how we use creative strategies to continue culture amid displacement.
Pianist/Doctor of Musical Arts candidate, Conservatorium of Music, USYD. Practice-based research with musicians in global Assyrian community, exploring how we use creative strategies to continue culture amid displacement. Dr Sarah Rhodes: Sessional lecturer, School of Creative Arts - University of Tasmania. Uses photography and video to explore how the natural environment can guide an understanding of one's inner world.
Sessional lecturer, School of Creative Arts - University of Tasmania. Uses photography and video to explore how the natural environment can guide an understanding of one's inner world. Shirin Barghnavard : Documentary Filmmaker & PhD Candidate - Edith Cowan University. Investigates the politics of representation in the documentary films of Iranian women, both within Iran and across the diaspora.
: Documentary Filmmaker & PhD Candidate - Edith Cowan University. Investigates the politics of representation in the documentary films of Iranian women, both within Iran and across the diaspora. Sabrina Mackenzie: PhD candidate in Music Psychology - University of Melbourne. How music can be tool for cultivating self-compassion and improving emotional well-being.
PhD candidate in Music Psychology - University of Melbourne. How music can be tool for cultivating self-compassion and improving emotional well-being. Jordan Alice Fyfe: PhD Candidate, School of Media, Creative Arts & Social Inquiry - Curtin University Working alongside disabled artists in WA to understand current barriers and co-create recommendations for transforming the disability arts sector.
The ABC TOP 5 is presented with the crucial support our project partners: Creative Australia, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney and Australian National University.
Leisa Bacon is the Executive Director Development & Strategic Partnerships at Creative Australia, which supports Australian Arts and Culture, and the ABC TOP 5 Arts. 'We're thrilled to partner with the ABC to empower research and creative practitioners to increase their impact through media training and skills development. This residency program enables the participants to better communicate their ideas to broad and diverse audiences, setting them up for the future.'
Also essential for the ABC TOP 5 Arts is the support of the University of Melbourne. Professor Marie Sierra is the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. 'It's great to see this year's TOP 5 cohort – congratulations to all who have been selected from amongst the most diverse and talented artist-researchers in Australia. Time and again, the Residency has proven to be a focussing lens on the communication skills needed to advance the value and impact of creative arts research. We all look forward to seeing what new audiences, discoveries and innovations your time in the program will bring.'
Professor Julie Cairney is the Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research at the University of Sydney, which proudly supports the ABC TOP 5 Humanities. 'In an era of rapid change and increasing complexity, it's essential that research and public dialogue go hand in hand. The ABC TOP 5 program empowers early career researchers to step into the media space with confidence, clarity, and purpose. By equipping them to share their insights with broad audiences, we're not only strengthening public understanding, but also ensuring that evidence-based perspectives remain central to national conversations.'
The ANU supports the ABC TOP 5 Science, and Professor Kiaran Kirk, is the Dean of the ANU College of Science. 'This program is a fantastic way to celebrate some of our country's best early-career scientists, giving them a unique opportunity to hone their skills in explaining the importance of scientific research in addressing some of our biggest global challenges. Congratulations to this year's cohort.'
For more information about the ABC TOP 5 head to: abc.net.au/top5
For media inquiries:
Jonathan Webb: ABC TOP 5 Science Manager & Editor Science webb.jonathan@abc.net.au
Simon Nicholas: Project Coordinator Nicholas.simon@abc.net.au
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