Stars shine at soirée

Lovers of science celebrated SVI’s Rising Stars at a cocktail party, in the lead up to next year’s For the Love of Science Dinner.  

The Rising Star program provides critical support to early-mid career researchers, giving them the resources they need to excel in their research and make a lasting impact, said SVI Foundation Board Chair and Rising Star founder, Karen Inge. 

“These young people are at a stage in their career where they are required to demonstrate the originality, creativity and productivity that will be primary contributors to their future success in research. 

“Dr Astrid Glaser, the first recipient of a Rising Star Fellowship,  is now funded by a Fellowship from Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision. She came to SVI to set up gene editing technique as a new research area at the Institute, which has since attracted important competitive funding.  

“Her work has the potential to make a real difference to people affected by inherited disease,”said Karen.  

The program, which has raised over $6 million since inception, has funded: 

• 14 Rising Star Fellowships – these fellowships provide a salary and research support package valued between $100,000 to $125,000 per year, typically over a 3-year period. 

• 32 Rising Star Awards – these awards provide up to $40,000 to support specific research projects. 

The event was sponsored by Robert and Mem Kirby, Providence Wealth Advisory Group and Yabby Lake Vineyard.

Since 2019, the For the Love of Science Dinner has been a key fundraising event at SVI, involving Committee members Karen Inge, Kallie Blauhorn, Michael Strownix and Caroline Daniell, and now Mem Kirby, Caroline Cornish and Jenny Lempriere. 

Tickets are selling fast for the ‘à la française’ For the Love of Science Dinner at the Fitzroy Town Hall on February 13, 2025.