Bio

Dr Laura Skates is a botanist, artist, and award-winning science communicator from Perth, Western Australia.

In her research, Laura is fascinated by how plants interact with the world, and how people interact with plants. She recently completed her PhD on the nutrition and ecology of carnivorous plants, as well as an Australian Postgraduate Research Internship on science communication at botanic gardens.

Laura now works as an environmental science communicator and researcher, where she enjoys listening, learning, and helping to share the stories of people and plants.

You can find her on Instagram and Twitter @floraskates

Awards

• InterAction Media Mentoring Program Award, Ecological Society of Australia conference, 2018

• Australian Flora Foundation Poster Prize, Ecological Society of Australia conference, 2018

• First Prize, Best Poster Presentation by a Student, IsoEcol conference, 2018

• 3MT Runner Up, UWA Three Minute Thesis competition, 2018

• WA Finalist, International FameLab competition, 2018

• Special Commendation for a Photographic Artwork, UWA’s Biological Art competition, 2017

• People's Choice Award, Postgraduate Student Association's Research in the Tav competition, 2017

• First Prize, ESA Wiley Outstanding Poster Presentation, Ecological Society of Australia conference, 2016

• Runner Up, Best Oral Presentations by a Student, International Conference on Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies, 2016