Beaconsfield scientist a force to be reckoned with

Scott Draper, an engineering researcher at UWA, won the Early Career Scientist category at the recent 2016 Premier’s Science Awards.

Dr Draper is recognised around the world for his work in offshore fluid mechanics, predicting the forces that structures in the ocean will experience from waves, currents and winds.

He said predicting those forces was important for offshore platforms and infrastructure to make sure they were built strong enough to withstand them. It also played a role in renewable energy.

“For renewable energy devices like offshore wind turbines or wave energy devices, the forces move the structures, enabling energy generation,” Dr Draper said.

“Hence, prediction of forces helps to predict renewable energy generation for these structures.

“Research today is rarely done in isolation.

“For me, winning this award is therefore a welcome reflection on the quality and importance of the research that our research group is undertaking in fluid mechanics at UWA.

“This award gives the recipient an opportunity to further communicate their research and to thank, publicly, the many people they have worked with.”