A marine scientist who flies drones to collect whale snot is being rewarded for her conservation efforts by studying the majestic creatures without invasively disturbing their habitat.
Macquarie University academic Dr Vanessa Pirotta, 38, was announced as the NSW Australian of the Year late Wednesday in Sydney.
The renowned whale researcher has been honoured for communicating complex scientific research to the wider public to engage them in ocean conservation through her massive social media footprint.
One post about a humpback whale birth garnered more than one million views alone.
She is also the founder of Wild Sydney Harbour, a citizen science project that seeks to document the diversity of marine life found in the iconic patch and works alongside the traditional custodians in Botany Bay in south Sydney to monitor marine populations.
Her research remains cutting-edge, with one of her recent academic papers exploring how artificial intelligence tools can be used to detect the illegal smuggling of marine wildlife at airports.
Dr Pirotta said she was humbled being nominated alongside other difference makers including a domestic violence campaigner, a disability rights advocate and a robotics engineer on a mission to find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
"This very honour is completely unexpected. I am so very grateful to be able to share with all Australians just how fabulous our blue backyard is from a science perspective," she posted on Instagram before her win.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Carrie Leeson congratulated the recipients, including young and senior Australians of the year, for taking the "time to make a difference".
The most populous state's winners will join those from all other states and territories for the national awards to be announced in Canberra on the eve of Australia Day in 2027.
