Australian science prize awarded to researcher studying memory accuracy of domestic violence survivors
Summary
Helen Paterson, an Australian forensic psychology researcher, won a Eureka prize for her work on how survivors of repeated domestic violence recall memories differently from single-event witnesses. Her research shows survivors often mix details between episodes, which affects how credible they appear in court. The Eureka prizes also honored other Australian scientists for achievements in genetics, melanoma research, climate forecasting, and more.Key Facts
- Helen Paterson studies how survivors of repeated domestic violence remember events differently than those who witness a single incident.
- Survivors of repeated abuse tend to give general descriptions and may confuse details of separate episodes.
- Courts often view repeated-event witnesses as less credible, which concerns Paterson.
- Paterson received the Eureka prize for excellence in forensic science at a ceremony in Sydney.
- Another winner, Assoc Prof Jane Tiller, helped pass a law banning insurance discrimination based on genetic test results.
- The insurance law change encourages use of genetics to prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease.
- Prof Georgina Long won a prize for pioneering melanoma research.
- Other awards went to projects on marine heatwave forecasting and discovering that bacterial vaginosis can be sexually transmitted.
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