29 Oct 2020
Professor Sharon Lewin named COVID-19 Communications Leader
Doherty Institute Director Professor Sharon Lewin has been named a COVID-19 Communications Leader in the AusBiotech and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Industry Excellence Awards announced today.
The awards were established to celebrate life science leaders who are championing the sector and the Australian community through the worst pandemic and greatest collaboration seen in the sector.
Professor Lewin has worked tirelessly at the helm of the Institute, which has been at the forefront of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She has given a huge number of Australian and international media interviews during the pandemic, offering measured, clear, concise explanations of complex virological, immunological and epidemiology concepts.
In accepting the award, Professor Lewin acknowledged how the pandemic has not only shown us how important science is, but how important science communication is.
“An event like COVID-19 generates immense fear, anxiety and sometimes suspicion, reassuring people that science will bring science solutions and as a community each and everyone of us can contribute to the solution is super important and something I feel very passionate about,” Professor Lewin said.
“My dream is that this intense interest from the public that we’ve had in science, may extend beyond COVID and touch on climate change, other infectious diseases and blue sky science, all of it is fascinating and important to our lives.”