Professor Andrew Swan.
A NEW fund to foster young scientific talent working on animal breeding research has been launched by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit in honour of renowned mentor the late Professor Andrew Swan.
Professor Swan was AGBU’s former chief scientist and the philanthropic fund Project Cygnet, was established in 2026 by his family, colleagues and friends.
The University of New England said Project Cygnet provides funding for exchange opportunities that build intellectual growth, industry engagement and collaborative skills – capabilities that Dr Swan fostered in others throughout his career, and which AGBU regards as essential for its scientists.
AGBU deputy director and Dr Swan’s widow, Dr Kim Bunter, said that across a career of supporting others, Dr Swan was particularly adept at mentoring young talent.
“He consistently demonstrated his values by prioritising industry-wide impact over personal academic acclaim,” she said.
“Project Cygnet is our way of creating a meaningful, living legacy—one that continues to empower young researchers to become both technically proficient and deeply connected to the industries they serve.”
Project Cygnet is open to Masters and PhD students, and to practising scientists within five years of completing their most recent higher degree, supporting placements both for international candidates hosted in Australia and for Australians undertaking placements abroad. Host organisations range from research institutions to industry placements where science is applied directly.
UNE said the word ‘cygnet’, meaning a young swan, reflects Andrew Swan’s own record of mentoring early-career scientists throughout a career that included developing the MERINOSELECT and LAMBPLAN evaluation systems and expanding genomic evaluation into BREEDPLAN.
Donations to support the aims of Project Cygnet are warmly welcomed.
AGBU’s 50th birthday to be celebrated
AGBU’s 50th celebrations at the UNE Armidale campus from 12-14 October include a special auction on 13 October to raise funds for Project Cygnet.
Items to go under the hammer include a Rennylea heifer, private conversation time with AGBU scientists, wine, holidays and more. Bidding can be conducted remotely via AuctionsPlus. More details here.
UNE said AGBU has contributed to productivity gains in Australian beef cattle and sheep estimated to have returned more than $17 billion to the industries.
Genetic gain in the wool and lamb sectors is now 1.7 times more than it was from 2000-2010, and each cow mated is now worth around $170 due to cumulative improvements in fertility, growth and carcase traits, the university said.
UNE said these achievements are being celebrated at UNE from 12-14 October with a birthday party, symposium and workshop with the theme: Heritage to horizon – engineering the future of animal breeding.
Source – UNE.
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