• An Australian Army soldier from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, demonstrates the Land 125 soldier combat ensemble at the Defence Materiel Organisation Land Engineering Agency proving ground test facilities in Monegeetta, Victoria, on 4 June 2015. Credit: Defence
    An Australian Army soldier from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, demonstrates the Land 125 soldier combat ensemble at the Defence Materiel Organisation Land Engineering Agency proving ground test facilities in Monegeetta, Victoria, on 4 June 2015. Credit: Defence
  • (L-R) Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky, Minister's Award winner Dr Mark Patterson, and the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough. Credit: DST Group
    (L-R) Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky, Minister's Award winner Dr Mark Patterson, and the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough. Credit: DST Group
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Dr Mark Patterson has won the 2015 Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science for his significant contributions to meeting the increasing demands for the continued protection and wellbeing of Australian soldiers.
 
At a ceremony in Canberra on 25 November Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough presented the award to Patterson from the Defence Science and Technology Group for his research in the soldier combat system, physical employment standards and reduction of heat injuries.
 
Patterson’s expertise in human physical performance has been critical in developing improved protective combat gear for soldiers, reducing heat injuries suffered by deployed troops and establishing a set of standards that match individuals to tasks, irrespective of gender.
 
An expert in physiology, Patterson has made a major contribution to the integration of the soldier combat system under the Diggerworks initiative.
 

(L-R) Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky, Minister's Award winner Dr Mark Patterson, and the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough. Credit: DST Group

(L-R) Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky, Minister's Award winner Dr Mark Patterson, and the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Mal Brough. Credit: DST Group

Diggerworks was established to ensure that soldiers had the best possible combat ensemble by reducing deficiencies that had been identified in the soldier categorisation and procurement processes.
 
This ensemble reduces the soldiers’ weight burden significantly without compromising protection through the development of the Tiered Body Armour System.
 
Australian soldiers have also benefited from Patterson’s research into preventing and treating heat injuries. His team developed an inexpensive hand-held device for ADF personnel to monitor environmental conditions in remote locations and reduce exposure to heat stress.
 
Patterson also led the ground-breaking research program that introduced objective physical performance criteria for the selection and training of Defence personnel, opening opportunities for women to undertake tasks from which they were previously excluded.
 
The physical employment standards enable ADF personnel to perform their roles safely and effectively while significantly reducing the incidence of work health, safety and compensation claims.
 
The Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science, presented annually since 1988, recognises original and outstanding contributions capable of enhancing Australia’s defence effectiveness and efficiency. The award consists of a crystal trophy and a cash prize of $15,000.
 
 
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