Above picture: Mouse-Free Marion Project Patron Professor Steven Chown
Professor Steven L. Chown FAA is Director of Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), an Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative. He is also a Patron of the Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project. Steven has recently received career honours in the Australian Academy of Science’s annual Honorific Awards for 2025 which celebrate the achievements of Australia’s leading minds and emerging stars.
The SAEF media statement reads “Professor Steven Chown, who is based at Monash University, has received the Suzanne Cory Medal, which recognises outstanding research in biological sciences. It is named for Professor Suzanne Cory AC FAA FRS, a molecular biologist who has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic causes of cancer.”
The Australian Academy of Science Suzanne Cory Medal
“Steven’s research focuses on biodiversity variation across space and time and the conservation strategies needed to mitigate the impacts of environmental change. He co-developed the field of macrophysiology, which explores large-scale patterns in and the processes underlying physiological variation and their ecological implications.”
“He is one of the most highly cited researchers working on Antarctic environmental science and policy. He has represented the science community in the Antarctic Treaty System in various roles, notably as President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) (2016–2021) and as SCAR’s representative to the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) (2007-2014). In addition, he advises international Antarctic programs through various advisory committees and boards.”
Watch a three-minute video of Steven Chown talking about his work and award
Steven Chown’s research career began with his Ph.D. work on the weevils of Marion Island in the 1980s. His collaborative work there continues, and over recent decades has contributed key information on the effects of climate change on the island’s biota and ecosystem.
The Mouse-Free Marion Project team extends its congratulations to Steven and looks forward to continuing to work with him towards the goal of eradicating the introduced House Mice on Marion Island.
John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project. 27 May 2025
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Northern Giant Petrel on Marion Island by ABUN artist Claire Osborne, after a photograph by Liezl Pretorius
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean. The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate. For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org.
