Rhodes Scholar Sam Watson on his move to England’s prestigious Oxford University

Tasmania’s latest Rhodes Scholar Sam Watson has already packed a lot in his short life. Now, he has set his sights on what he call’s humanity’s greatest challenge, climate change.

Ulverstone's LGBTQIA+ campaigner Sam Watson has won a Rhodes scholarship where he will pursue postgraduate studies in sustainability, enterprise and the environment, and public policy at the University of Oxford from 2025. Pictured with Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker Picture: Supplied

Sam Watson has already packed a lot in his short life.

He has a double degree in economics and finance, was an advocate championing for equality in the campaign for same-sex marriage, and in 2019, was the lead in Belonging, a Network 10 and Screen Australia documentary that followed Tasmania’s road to decriminalising homosexuality.

He is now also a Rhodes scholar.

“I was very surprised but even more excited when I got the news I got the scholarship,” he said.

“There were some very impressive candidates from people I knew. So I guess it was just a big surprise, and it was really lovely.

“My family managed to make it down from the coast to Government House on the day, so they got to celebrate with me, too.”

The North-West LGBTQIA+ campaigner said a passion for equality had fuelled his academic and advocacy endeavours in life.

“At age 15, I spent 10 days sailing with recent Tasmanian refugees on a Rotary Youth Leadership Challenge. Growing up at Ulverstone, meeting teenagers who had fled war and persecution was formative,” he said.

“Desiring greater impact, I turned to politics, passing motions to influence major party policies on support for LGBTQIA+ students.

“Overcoming challenges has taught me there is always another way to achieve a desired outcome; you just have to find it.”

Now, Mr Watson has set his sights on what he call’s humanity’s greatest challenge, climate change, hoping to use the prestigious scholarship to study sustainability, enterprise and the environment, and public policy at University of Oxford.

“We are on track to overshoot Paris targets, even if all developed countries stop emitting tomorrow,” Mr Watson said.

“My experiences have made me understand there is a gap between business and policy, here in Australia and globally, that means some people in business who want to take action on climate change and invest in decarbonising are actively disincentivised from doing so.

“At Oxford, I am hoping to gain a better understanding of how major emitters contribute to climate change and how they are part of the solution, especially through driving technological advancement, such as we’ve seen with solar. Further, I want to understand the policy settings required to incentivise and facilitate this investment.

“I then want to return to work in Australia and our region, using what I learn at Oxford, along with my experience in politics, advocacy, and business to ensure that policy settings encourage and facilitate the fastest transition to net-zero possible.”

Originally published as Rhodes Scholar Sam Watson on his move to England’s prestigious Oxford University