Negin Nazarian receives NSW Young Tall Poppy Award

Dr Negin Nazarian, Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence in 21st Century Weather, has received a 2024 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award in recognition of her research and outreach work in the field of urban climatology.

Negin is a Scientia Senior Lecturer in the School of Built Environment at UNSW, leads the Climate-Resilient Cities (CRC) research lab, and is also a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes.

Negin is an urban climatologist and focuses on understanding the complex interactions between the built environment and climate systems, with a keen interest in how these dynamics impact people. 

“By studying the interactions between urban design and climate change, I help identify those most affected by heat and propose interventions to reduce these impacts,” Negin was quoted as saying by the UNSW website.

“My work with external stakeholders such as local councils across Australia helps map heat exposure (currently and in the future) and guide urban design choices to create cooler, more resilient cities.

“I am most proud of the work I’ve done to bring urban climate research front and centre in discussions of global climate change impact. At both global and regional scales, urban climate is often overlooked or not given the attention it deserves due to the complexity of cities.

“By highlighting the significance of urban climate challenges, such as heat, I have helped ensure that the interaction between cities and climate change is understood and recognized as important in the broader context of climate change discussions. This advocacy has been crucial in promoting more comprehensive and effective climate strategies.

“This recognition motivates me to continue bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding, ensuring my work has a positive and lasting impact on society.”

Negin’s notable accolades include the prestigious 2023 Timothy Oke Award for Original Research in Urban Overheating, highlighting her pioneering contributions to the field. 

Prior to her tenure at UNSW, Dr. Nazarian served as the SMART Scholar at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology following her graduation from the University of California San Diego.

The Tall Poppy Campaign is an initiative of the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS). To read more, go to: https://aips.net.au/tall-poppy-campaign/