Murdoch University Honourary Research Fellow and Distinguished Alumni Dr Kuruvilla Matthew has been honoured by the Australian Water Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr Matthew was presented with the award, the highest that can be bestowed upon AWA members, at the recent Ozwater Conference in Sydney.

The Association recognised his dedication to the Australian water industry since arriving in Australia from India in 1977, including his “ongoing service to tertiary education, research, Aboriginal communities, developing countries and the water industry generally,” the citation read.

Dr Mathew began his research career in 1978 under the tutelage of one of the pioneers of Murdoch’s environmental science program, Emeritus Professor Goen Ho, and later followed in his mentor’s footsteps to be instrumental in establishing the University’s current environmental engineering programs.

Dr Matthew established the Remote Area Developments Group in 1987 and was a awarded a series of National Health and Medical Research Council grants to work with Aboriginal communities across Australia which he continues to this day through Murdoch’s Aboriginal water roundtable.

In 2000 Dr Matthew established the United Nations Environment Programme International Environmental Technology Centre at Murdoch with Professor Ho and was awarded a series of Western Australian Government Centre of Excellence grants to continue its operations.

He was named a Murdoch University Distinguished Alumni in 2016.

Long-time Murdoch colleague, Associate Professor Martin Anda, said Dr Matthew had taught and mentored Murdoch students throughout his career whilst consistently making significant contributions to water science and technology.

“Even beyond retirement he continues to organise conferences, support staff in their careers and supervise students,” he said.

“I am amazed at his continued energy, commitment and determination.”

By studying environmental engineering at Murdoch, you'll gain the knowledge and problem-solving skills needed to design water, energy, shelter and primary production systems with a global perspective and ethical approach.