Northrop Grumman Foundation Announces 2015 American Australian Association Fellowship Award

The Northrop Grumman Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2015 Northrop Grumman Foundation-American Australian Association (AAA) Fellowship for advanced research and study in science and technology.

The Foundation will provide sponsorship to Ben Morrell, a doctoral candidate in aeronautical engineering at Sydney University, to undertake advanced studies in the United States as part of a five-year commitment to the AAA’s Fellowship program aimed at fostering intellectual exchange between the United States and Australia.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation-American Australian Association Fellowship provides an annual scholarship to a highly talented Australian student undertaking research in areas of study focusing on unmanned, cyber, C4ISR and logistics. This fellowship is offered as part of the AAA’s range of scholarships which provide up to $40,000 for Australia’s brightest researchers to undertake advanced graduate or postgraduate research in the United States.

“The AAA Fellowship program is highly competitive and we congratulate Ben on this significant achievement,” said Ian Irving, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia. “It is critical that we invest in Australia’s best and brightest researchers and continue to provide opportunities for the nation’s innovators, engineers, scientists and technicians. Supporting the growth of this important talent pool is essential for Australia’s future.”

Morrell will use the fellowship to undertake research on the development of advanced control systems for robotic spacecraft at Texas A&M University, NASA’s Ames Research Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, beginning in October 2015. Morrell’s focus will be on the use of cameras to provide vision for robots enabling them to navigate and avoid dynamic obstacles. Such systems are being designed for, and tested on, free-flying spacecraft that would dock with the International Space Station.

“Support from the Northrop Grumman Foundation is incredibly valuable in allowing these AAA Fellowships to be awarded to Australian researchers,” said Diane Sinclair, AAA Vice President. “The financial support from the Northrop Grumman Foundation will help ensure that we continue to develop home-grown Australian talent that will contribute to Australia’s future innovation workforce, and forge closer links with our American research partners.”

“This AAA Fellowship award builds on our approach to nurture STEM talent both in Australia and globally,” said Irving. “Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are not only investing in education from kindergarten right through to postgraduate studies, but are also helping Australia’s teachers and research bodies to support and develop our scientists and engineers of the future.”

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are significant financial contributors to programs aimed at encouraging young people in engineering and science-related fields. In addition to awarding a range of academic scholarships, Northrop Grumman is a Platinum Sponsor of the high school UAV Outback Challenge and recently announced the sponsorship of the first Australia/New Zealand VEX Robotics Exhibition and Workshop for secondary school students. The company has also recently entered into strategic partnership agreements with the University of Sydney and the Australian Defence Force Academy to work jointly on education, training programs and research initiatives.

About the American Australian Association

Established in 1948, the American Australian Association is the largest public not-for-profit organisation devoted to building strategic alliances between the United States and Australia. The Association’s Education Fund provides postgraduate educational opportunities in Australia and the U.S. Since 2002, the Association has awarded fellowships to Australians and Americans for advanced research and study in the U.S. and Australia. To date, $4 million in fellowships has been awarded to more than 190 scholars. 

The Northrop Grumman Foundation supports diverse and sustainable programs for students and teachers. These programs create innovative education experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.