Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, with more than 95 per cent of skin cancers in NSW caused by the sun's UV radiation.

To help tackle this issue, Associate Professor Noushin Nasiri was granted a Cancer Institute NSW Early Career Fellowship worth $597,999 to develop a pioneering UV sensing device to prevent skin cancer.

We caught up with Associate Professor Nasiri ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science to hear about the remarkable work she is doing in this space.

Associate Professor Nasiri grew up on a farm north of Iran and from a very early age developed an interest in discovering new things.

“My father, who is very passionate about life, taught me to look for a scientific reason behind everything. He planted seeds of curiosity in me, and now, I cannot help but be curious about everything,” Associate Professor Nasiri said.

Developed by Associate Professor Nasiri as part of our grant scheme, the SunWatch is a highly intelligent device that alerts users of overexposure to harmful UV radiation.

“The device will be extremely beneficial, not only for the public to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer, but also for skin cancer survivors who are at a much higher risk of its recurrence.”  

The most rewarding part of working in the field of science, according to Associate Professor Nasiri, is knowing that her work has a tangible impact on society. 

“Regardless of the field – science, technology, engineering, or mathematics – working in STEM has the ability to help our community to lead healthier and happier lives.” 

International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place on Sunday, 11 February 2024 and promotes equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.

The Cancer Institute NSW is proud to support women, such as Associate Professor Nasiri, to undertake ground-breaking work in this field and reduce cancer’s impact in NSW.