The Luke Pen Award ($500) is awarded on an annual basis to an undergraduate university student for the best academic performance in ENV268 Ecology plus either ENV311 Managing Wetland and Water or ENV381 Coastal and Marine Management at Murdoch University.
The Luke Pen Award was established to recognise the work of the late Dr Luke Pen who was fundamental in promoting river restoration throughout the state. Dr Pen was employed with the Water and Rivers Commission from 1991 to 2002. Please read below for additional background information on Dr Luke Pen.
Dr Pen’s education
Dr Luke Pen graduated with 1st class honours in science from Murdoch University in 1981, with a thesis on the peripheral vegetation of the Swan and Canning rivers. His study earned him the 1981 Australian Institute of Petroleum Prize for best honours study in environmental science. He turned his honours thesis into a public report, which is still regarded as one of the best assessments of riparian vegetation. His PhD on the biology of native and introduced fish in the south west was a landmark in the research into Western Australian freshwater fish.
Dr Pen was an enthusiastic and tireless scientist, who was passionate about the fringing vegetation of wetlands, the biology of fish and the conservation of Western Australian rivers. Throughout his studies and working life, Dr Pen made major contributions to increasing our understanding and better management of rivers in Western Australia.
Dr Pen’s community work
Dr Pen was renowned for his dedication to supporting community groups in understanding the way rivers operate and instilling in people a vision and passion for the daunting task of fixing river problems. He spent many hours of work and his own time talking to community groups and demonstrating what could be undertaken to achieve healthier rivers.
Dr Pen’s working life
During the course of his working life, Dr Pen was involved in the evaluation and mapping of wetlands in the south west, prepared foreshore management plans, supported integrated catchment management groups, developed procedures and policies for waterways management, provided on-ground technical advice for river management, led the development of a team of river restoration advisers, called River RATs (River Restoration and Training), and co-ordinated the Natural Heritage Trust’s Rivercare Program in WA from 1998 - 2001.
In addition, Dr Pen’s methodology for assessing the condition of foreshores in rural environments, has since been the basis for hundreds of foreshore condition assessments throughout south west WA. Dr Pen consolidated much of his knowledge of Western Australia’s south west river systems in his 1999 book, Managing Our Rivers , leaving a legacy of knowledge to be treasured.
Dr Pen considered the next big challenge for river management in the south west was to understand more about wheatbelt valley floors and the ecology of wheatbelt rivers, especially in relation to salinity.
Luke Pen's "Managing our rivers : a guide to the nature and management of the streams of south-west Western Australia"(1999) is available as an ebook download at the top right of this page.