College of Science & Engineering
Khandakar Faisal Ibn Murad
- Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering and Related Technologies)
- khandakarfaisal.ibnmurad@my.jcu.edu.au
Gabriel Figueiredo Cellier Vieira
- Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
- gabriel.figueiredocelliervieira@jcu.edu.au
Luna Oliveira de Mello Vieira
- Master of Philosophy (Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies)
- luna.vieira@my.jcu.edu.au
Edel Sheerin
- Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
- edel.sheerin@my.jcu.edu.au
Swastik Shinde
- Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
- swastik.shinde@my.jcu.edu.au
Imaygi Maalu (Unchartered waters): The governance and management of the Torres Strait fisheries into the future (Old ID 26723)
Helene Marsh
01 Jan 2020 - 30 Mar 2026
The key objective of this project is to investigate existing national and international research knowledge on the management of fisheries that have recognised Indigenous interests, how this knowledge interfaces with commercial enterprises, and sustains the health of the fisheries and the cultural traditions of the Indigenous people. Accommodating such components into existing legal frameworks remain a challenge for various governments and is a challenging matter in many of the world's fisheries. The Torres Strait fisheries is no different and exists in a complex legislative framework.
Develop the ResPax (digital) Passbook (Old ID 27496)
Thomas Napier
09 Feb 2022 - 08 Feb 2023
To develop digital tools for collecting tourism data in the region to enable better decision-making through various data mining approaches.
Development of in situ Sr isotope analyses in shark vertebrae (Old ID 27633)
Alex McCoy-West
01 Jan 2022 - 31 Mar 2023
Accurately ageing sharks underpins sustainable harvest and population recovery. The conventional ageing technique consists of counting growth bands in vertebrae, however, this approach suffers errors associated with over- and under-counting due to misidentifying periodic features and in-complete. More recently, element-to-element ratios have been explored as complementary tools for determining age and migratory, and in this context Mn:Ca shows promise as an age-specific fingerprint, and Sr:Ca has shown promise as one of the most prominent indicators of fresh/estuarial vs. marine environment (along with Ba:Ca), because marine environments typically have significantly higher Sr (and lower Ba) concentrations. This means that Sr:Ca—alongside Mn:Ca and Ba:Ca—can potentially be used as an annual marker, in particular for female sharks that annually return to freshwater environments to pup. It is well-known from fish otoliths (a calcified part of the inner ear) that marine and freshwater environments display distinct Sr isotope signatures (87Sr/86Sr ratios), and that fresh vs marine signatures can be readily distinguished at requisite length-scales (e.g. 50 microns) using in situ (“in place”, i.e. non-destructively) laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (or LA-MC-ICP-MS). Moreover, it is well-established that 87Sr/86Sr ratios can be determined in situ in bio-apatite (calcium phosphate or bone, such as that in fish vertebrae), and 87Sr/86Sr ratios in bio-apatite can be used to determine sub-annual mobility. And yet to date, Sr isotopes have never been investigated in shark vertebrae towards these ends. This study will combine in situ elemental compositions and 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the vertebrae of sharks to determine their ultimate viability as complementary ageing, environmental and migratory reconstruction tools.
Investigating the behavioural ecology of diving and feeding in a cryptic marine mammal: the Dugong (Old ID 27881)
Helene Marsh
01 Sep 2022 - 30 Jun 2026
As air-breathing, bottom-feeding marine mammals, dugongs must dive to survive and thrive. Quantifying the diving and feeding behaviours of dugongs in three dimensions is a missing link in the science basis for the conservation of this Vulnerable species. This project will use advanced sensing technology to understand how seagrass biomass and dugong activity and energetics influence their diving and feeding behaviors. The resultant improved fine-scale understanding of these behaviors will provide important new information about their risk from vessel strike and the potential energetic consequences of habitat loss associated with extreme weather events and human disturbance.
ResPax Digital Passbook (Phase II) (Old ID 29015)
Thomas Napier
15 Jun 2023 - 14 Jun 2024
To continue the Phase I of project to further develop digital tools for collecting tourism data in the region to enable better decisionmaking.
Understanding the ecological significance of fisheries-dolphin interactions along the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra, India. (Old ID 26602)
Helene Marsh
01 Sep 2020 - 22 Jan 2023
I aim to study the ecological significance of interactions between coastal fisheries and Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa plumbea) along the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India. I will use a multi-methods approach to record dolphin foraging behaviour and fisher perceptions towards their operational interactions with dolphins. This study will provide key insights on dolphin foraging strategies, space-use and the impact of dolphin interactions on the socio-economics of coastal fisheries to inform a holistic and inclusive conservation management strategy for S. plumbea. This project will be the first in India, to understand how dolphins survive and adapt to a fishery-dominated landscape.
Monitoring the distribution and abundance of dugongs (and in-water, large marine turtles) within the GBRWHA using a combined aerial observer and imagery approach (Old ID 27811)
Helene Marsh
20 Sep 2022 - 30 May 2026
This project aims to: (1) to monitor the trends in the abundance and distribution of dugongs within the GBRWHA and (2) contribute to the transition to the use of novel imagery survey technologies to enhance survey methods and accuracy in abundance estimates. The project will be conducted in five main stages which will include: the development of a Traditional Owners engagement strategy and the drafting and submitting regulatory permit applications (stage 1), the development of the survey design and data collection protocols and undertake observer training (stage 2), conduct the dugong observer surveys and imagery experimental work within the GBRWHA (stage 3) and the production of a final report including summary of all survey report findings and advice about the implications of the findings for the conservation and management of dugongs and large marine turtles within the GBRWHA (stage 4).
Exploratory study of effects of sample storage/stabilisation on Cu isotope compositions of groundwater, and linkage between groundwater and proximal soil profiles. (Old ID 29017)
Alex McCoy-West
16 Jun 2023 - 30 Sep 2023
The aims of this collaborative project between JCU and Geoscience Australia are simple. Geoscience Australia have legacy groundwater samples from active bores through their previous hydrogeochemical surveys (e.g. Northern Australia Hydrogeochemical Survey), where both acidified and unacidified samples have been kept in storage, some for up to several years. Copper concentrations measured at/near the time of sampling are variable, with some being in the sub-ppb range and others significantly higher. For some bores, proximal soil and rock samples are also available. This project will leverage all the above towards the following objectives: 1. Analyse Cu concentrations and isotope compositions for a small cohort of legacy groundwater samples (~10). 2. Analyse Cu isotope compositions in proximity-matched soil/rock samples. Where spatially matched soil and/or core rock samples are available, an additional subset of these solid samples will be processed and analysed to characterize their Cu isotope compositions and compare to that of matched groundwater samples. 3. Collate all results and jointly interpret with Geoscience Australia
Sustainable REE extraction from Australian ores using environmentally friendly reagents, advanced characterisation techniques and geological knowledge
Alex McCoy-West
03 Feb 2025 - 01 Jun 2029
This project aims to improve the sustainable extraction of rare earths from Australian ores using environmentally friendly reagents.
Optimising the geophysical ore body model to aid in the discovery of new critical mineral deposits
Alex McCoy-West
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2027
This project aims to develop advanced geophysical tools that can help exploration companies identify critical mineral resources. Current geophysical exploration methods—such as magnetic, electric, gravimetric, magnetotelluric, radiometric, and seismic surveys—are commonly used in the industry to detect geophysical anomalies. However, many detected anomalies do not contain mineralization due to a lack of tools to identify the specific geophysical signatures of ore bodies.
Our goal is to create tools that enable explorers to distinguish between barren and mineralized anomalies, enhancing the accuracy of mineral discovery. Currently, there is limited knowledge on the specific geophysical responses of mineralized ore bodies. Some preliminary research by CSIRO on IOCG deposits in Cloncurry suggests that combining geological and petrophysical data can model an ore body's geophysical response.
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01 Jan 2022
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01 Jan 2019
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01 Jan 2016
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01 Jan 2016
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01 Jan 2024
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01 Jan 2023
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01 Jan 2023
Title:
Mitchell Prize
Start Date:
01 Jan 2023
Start Date:
01 Jan 2014
Start Date:
01 Jan 2009