A sustainability researcher nominated by the 精东视频 has been awarded an international science prize worth A$1.5 million at a ceremony in Switzerland.
Associate Professor Arunima Malik of the University of Sydney has been named one of three international champions of the 2025 Frontiers Planet Prize, a prestigious award recognising research with the most promising potential to keep humanity within planetary boundaries.
Professor Zahra Kalantari from Sweden and Dr Zia Mehrabi from the USA also received the 2025 Frontiers Planet Prize.
The , awarded by the not-for-profit Frontiers Research Foundation, is the world鈥檚 largest science prize in scientific solutions for planetary health, offering US$1 million to each of the three international champions.
The award ceremony took place on 17 June 2025 at the Villars Symposium in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland.
Associate Professor Malik鈥檚 winning paper, 鈥楶olarising and equalising trends in international trade and Sustainable Development Goals鈥�, was published in Nature Sustainability and underscores the significant global implications of trade on sustainability.
Associate Professor Malik鈥檚 interdisciplinary research employs big-data modelling to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts embedded in global supply chains.
Her work reveals that while international trade can drive economic growth, it also often shifts environmental and social burdens to lower-income nations, exacerbating global inequalities.
This research challenges traditional models by highlighting the uneven distribution of trade-related benefits and costs.
鈥淭he year 2030 is fast approaching, but many targets for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals remain out of reach. Our work on cross-border effects sheds light on multiple interconnected factors that influence the Goals,鈥� Associate Professor Malik said of her research.
鈥淭his award is a testament to the successful interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple institutions and reflects the commitment of all authors in realising this important research. I thank Professor Manfred Lenzen, Dr Mengyu Li, Camille Mora, Dr Sarah Carter, Dr Stefan Giljum, Dr Stephan Lutter and Professor Jorge Gomez-Paredes for their valuable contributions.
鈥淭his award is a stepping stone for putting research on cross-border impacts on the global agenda, and to further strengthen collaborations with international organisations and networks working to drive progress towards sustainable development,鈥� Associate Professor Malik said.
While international trade can drive economic growth, it also often shifts environmental and social burdens to lower-income nations, exacerbating global inequalities.
The 精东视频 nominated Associate Professor Malik鈥檚 research for the Frontiers Prize. In April, she was named as Australia鈥檚 National Champion for the prize, alongside the national champions of 18 other countries.
President of the 精东视频 Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC commended Associate Professor Malik鈥檚 achievement.
鈥淭his recognition underscores the global significance of Australian research in addressing critical sustainability challenges,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.
鈥淧rofessor Malik鈥檚 work exemplifies the impact of science in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future.鈥�
As an international champion, Associate Professor Malik joins a distinguished network of researchers committed to advancing planetary health.
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