Indigenous researcher聽聽has been awarded for her work driving community-led seed banks to safeguard biodiversity and strengthen community wellbeing with the Australian Academy of Science鈥檚 2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award.
The award recognises high-impact research by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD students and early and mid-career scientists working across the physical and biological sciences.聽
Seed banks to safeguard Country and culture聽
A Senior Researcher at the 爆料王聽School of Health Sciences聽and the聽, Dr聽Sedran-Price鈥檚 research positions seed banking as a frontline response to聽climate change by creating new opportunities in bush foods, education and environmental healing.聽
Working with Bundjalung Tribal Society at Namabunda聽Farm in Alstonville, New South Wales,聽Dr聽Sedran-Price聽is integrating Indigenous knowledge with contemporary science to safeguard biodiversity and strengthen community wellbeing through developing an聽on-Country聽seed聽bank.聽
The Academy鈥檚 acknowledgement of this community-led, on-Country science reflects the growing importance of Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems and governance in research.
Dr Cassandra Sedran-Price
Faculty of Medicine and Health
This community-led seed bank aims to protect and care for native plants that hold cultural, environmental and healing significance for Bundjalung peoples. By working with Elders, young people and community members to identify local priorities that reflect Indigenous knowledge systems and values, Dr Sedran-Price鈥檚 research is reshaping Australia鈥檚 scientific landscape聽while strengthening climate resilience.聽
鈥淚 share this award with Bundjalung Tribal Society, whose vision and guidance continue to strengthen and inspire this work grounded in Country, culture and climate resilience,鈥 said Dr聽Sedran-Price, a Muruwari woman of the聽Gangugari聽clan and the first person in her family to attend university.聽
She said the recognition signals a broader shift in Australian research.聽
鈥淭he Academy鈥檚 acknowledgement of this community-led, on-Country science reflects the growing importance of Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems and governance in research.鈥澛
Dr Sedran-Price鈥檚 research explores the intersections between Country, culture and health, embedding this understanding across environmental and public health research.聽
Her leadership across high-profile committees, networks and taskforces reflects a strong commitment to embedding Indigenous perspectives within science, data policy and research governance.
Dr Sedran-Price is integrating Indigenous knowledge with contemporary science to safeguard biodiversity and strengthen community wellbeing through developing an on-Country seed bank.
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