The Society for Prevention Research is dedicated to advancing scientific investigation into the promotion of health and wellbeing and awards its prestigious 2026 Fellowships to those members whose work has made a substantial and lasting contribution to prevention science.

This year, the society has recognised Dr Bosco Rowland, a leading Statistician and Senior Research Fellow in our Clinical and Social Research Team, for his distinguished record of contributions in the field, including his leadership in establishing the Asia‑Pacific Society for Prevention Research.

A founding member of the Asia-Pacific Society for Prevention Research

In 2024, Dr Rowland played a pivotal role in establishing the Asia‑Pacific Society for Prevention Research, helping to initiate the society and serving as a leader within its inaugural executive committee. He also secured the funding required to launch the organisation, laying the groundwork for the strong and connected regional prevention research community that exists today.

Dr Rowland is also a significant international contributor to the Society for Prevention Research, presenting at annual meetings and making contributions to the ECPN Invited Symposium on Prevention Research across International Contexts, the International Committee symposia, and the International Networking Forum, where he served as a link member between the Asia-Pacific Society for Prevention Research and the main society and annual meeting.

Advancing evidence‑based prevention

Dr Rowland is also recognised as a senior prevention researcher who has led national and international projects focused on adolescent behaviour, preventive interventions for drug and alcohol use, smoking, mental health and healthy eating. 

This includes the delivery and evaluation of the public health and prevention framework, Communities that Care, in Australia. Communities that Care is an international preventive movement, designed to build community prevention capacity and improve social and emotional outcomes for children and adolescents.

He has published 120 articles, including 93 peer-reviewed papers, and recently won a $1.97 million Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant as lead PI, investigating how to counter increasingly sophisticated alcohol marketing tactics with the goal of disrupting early access to alcohol use, and protecting young people from substance use and risk of mental illness.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition of Dr Rowland, whose leadership, collaborative approach and commitment to evidence‑based prevention continue to make a meaningful contribution to communities across Australia and the world.

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