College of Science & Engineering

Sophia Love

Sophia Love

Romain Vaucher

Romain Vaucher

Jenny Fisher

Jenny Fisher

Ambili Narayanan

Ambili Narayanan

Sarfaraz Ali

Sarfaraz Ali

Mikaeylah Davidson

Mikaeylah Davidson

Liuxin Chen

Liuxin Chen

Rafael Cabral Carvalho

Rafael Cabral Carvalho

Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd

Mohamadreza Chalak Qazani

Mohamadreza Chalak Qazani

Assessing recovery in threatened Australian amphibians and reptiles
Conrad Hoskin
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2027
Biodiversity loss is occurring at unprecedented levels. Worldwide, human activities have ushered in the sixth mass extinction event, and driven swathes of species to the brink of extinction. In Australia, the condition of the environment is poor and declining, with the key threats to biodiversity being habitat loss, invasive species, altered fire regimes, and climate change. As a result, Australia is both a biodiversity hotspot, with 8% of the world’s species, and an extinction hotspot with 100 confirmed extinctions, and a further ~2,000 species threatened with extinction. For 60 years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has provided the global standard approach for assessing the extinction risk of species. The IUCN Red List provides an internationally accepted language for assessing the likelihood of a species going extinct, that can be used across all plant and animal groups, and regions of Earth. Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) uses the IUCN Red List methodology to determine its list of threatened species. But whilst the IUCN Red List is an extremely effective way in which to assess a species’ risk of extinction, it was not designed to assess species recovery nor assess the value and effectiveness of conservation actions. Why is measuring species recovery important? Avoiding extinction is only the first stage of successful conservation—ultimate success requires maintaining viable and functional populations, and achieving the recovery of declining and depleted populations. Indeed, the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 is focused on more than simply preventing new extinctions, but also ensuring that threatened species are “on track for improved trajectory” (2027 Target 1). However, recent attempts to measure recovery of the Australian fauna, using de-listing under IUCN Red List criteria as a proxy for recovery, have proved extremely controversial. Crucially, we argue that this is because such studies have been using the wrong approach to measure species recovery. In fact, there is a much more meaningful method for measuring species recovery, recently developed and tested by the international conservation community: the IUCN’s Green Status of Species (GSS). The GSS metrics complement the IUCN Red List, extending its existing conservation language, ecological theory, and criteria to assess how far a species is from being fully recovered (Fig. 1). The GSS also provides a way to determine the benefit of past and future conservation efforts. Critically, although the GSS approach has been adopted under the international Convention on Biological Diversity as a key indicator for measuring species recovery, it is yet to be integrated into the Australian EPBC Act or state-based conservation policy, nor any other country’s legislation.
Climate Vulnerability Index Greater Blue Mountains (Old ID 27457)
Scott Heron
01 Dec 2021 - 31 Mar 2022
Globally, heritage locations are being impacted by local-scale and global-scale stressors. Climate change poses an existential threat to global heritage. With rising sea-levels, more extreme weather events and aridification, the extensive impacts of climate are evident at heritage sites globally and the pace of this change is startling. In most parts of the world the rate of loss is exceeding adaptive capacity and this deficit is only getting worse. Decisions on conservation and preservation begin with a detailed understanding of a place's vulnerability. The choices made will directly impact that ability to effectively integrate the goals of safeguarding heritage, adapting and mitigating climate change, and driving sustainable development. This project will apply aspects of the Climate Vulnerability Index process to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage property.
Conservation genomics and population status of the endangered Mahogany Gliders (Petaurus gracilis) (Old ID 27672)
Eryn Chang
30 Jun 2022 - 30 Jun 2023
Habitat loss and fragmentation have been threatening population connectivity and genetic diversity of Mahogany Gliders, a rare and endangered gliding possum endemic to the Australian Wet Tropics. Substantial habitat loss and fragmentation have brought concerns to the status of remnant populations. I will use distribution models to refine the distribution and guide camera trapping to find unknown populations. Connectivity between populations will be assessed using genomics, which also allows estimations of population structure and effective population size. Knowledge of distribution and genetics will be used to choose populations for long-term monitoring, and to guide conservation actions for Mahogany Gliders recovery.
Biosecurity and genetic improvement for disease resistance in large scale shrimp aquaculture (Old ID 27756)
Phoebe Arbon
01 Jul 2022 - 30 Nov 2022
This project aims to facilitate first-hand experience for students in international agricultural research in the Tropics. Activities will involve travel of the student, Phoebe Arbon, accompanied by Prof. Dean Jerry, to facilities including advanced selective shrimp breeding centres, aquatic viral research laboratories and, industrial-scale aquaculture farms in Thailand and Singapore. Travel to these regions presents unique opportunities to enhance Phoebe’s research experience and technical understanding of aquatic animal health, given the presence of highly pathogenic shrimp diseases and aquaculture conditions which are unparalleled in Australia. Engagement made with industry and research groups during the trip will also foster professional networks.
High shear fluid flow driving carbon foundry for advanced manufacturing (Old ID 28965)
Elsa Antunes
01 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2025
The project aims to develop versatile continuous flow film microfluidic device technology by harnessing the contact electrification generated by sub-micron high shear topological flow, for fabricating novel nano-carbon material for which current methods are ineffective or of limited utility. This technology incorporates optional external electric and magnetic fields, and textured surfaces in the rapidly rotating tube, which will allow exquisite control, with real time monitoring, on reforming of carbon into functional material with tunable properties and fabricating hetero-structures of nano-carbon. Understanding their fundamental properties will be targeted for leveraging them in applications to generate new processes and products.
Develop an AI based zero-lag flood monitoring and reporting system (Old ID 29019)
Nico Adams
01 Jul 2023 - 30 Jun 2024
The project will marshall appropriate flood relevant data including images and process it accordingly to facilitate model building. We will then move to the development of statistical models that optimise data capture locations, accuracy, low latency through asset location while minimising deployment costs. We will subsequently design an AI means to improve current flood mapping models based on actual Lixia field water level sensor data utilising ensemble optimisatin, leading to the development of online toolsets to transmit flood level prediction information. We will also engage with regional local governments water and emergency agencies as appropriate to test and qualify minimum viable products and processes.
Wuthathi River to reef baselines and monitoring framework
Nathan Waltham
02 May 2025 - 30 Apr 2026
Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation would like to engage TropWATER JCU to assist with the implementation of the Wuthathi IPA Plan of management. This work will include 4 components to investigate connections from the Harmer River to the inshore Islands including Coastal mangroves. helicopter survey of Wuthathi coastline from Olive River to Captain Billys Landing and offshore islands showing impacts to mangroves. Seagrass. Vessel-based inshore sub-tidal camera drop surveys east and west of Harmer Creek and one day at Bird Island reef flat potentially using walking/quadrat survey methods. Dugong. Desktop analysis of existing data. Vessel-based trip to collect dugong skin samples and survey population and Land-based drone surveys of inshore areas near Ma’au. Aquatic ecosystems and oyster bed surveys. Harmer River assessment and assessment of Ma’au oyster bed and habitat and nearby coastal wetland/saltmarsh and riverine assessment and off-bank assessments of Harmer Creek.
Rare earths unearthed: Resolving the mystery of how rare earth elements are mobilised and concentrated in continental crust (Old ID 19918)
Carl Spandler
31 Dec 2012 - 31 Dec 2017
Shifts towards green energy and technology in modern society are dependant on continuing supplies of rare earth elements. Nevertheless, we know little about how these elements concentrate to form economically viable ore bodies, and there remain fundamental holes in our knowledge of how these elements interact with fluids in the Earth's crust. This project combines experiments and novel geochemical studies of natural ores to address these knowledge deficiencies. The results will aid exploration for new rare earth element resources and will contribute to an improved understanding of how continents grow and evolve through time.
ACIAR PCAARRD Shrimp genomics for health
Dave Jones
01 Jan 2026 - 30 Apr 2026
Multi-disciplinary programmatic research approach that focuses on developing the necessary tools and translatable knowledge to address improving shrimp disease resistance and providing health interventions
LabNorth: Stories of Culture, Arts and Wellbeing in Northern Australia
Lisa Law
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
Northern Australia is stereotyped as devoid of arts and culture in the national imaginary: a place of mine sites, military bases, cattle stations, bogans. Yet the small cities of Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and Broome are vibrant cultural landscapes with important forms of storytelling that struggle for visibility in the policy sphere. A recent focus on developing the North— e.g. the Developing Northern Australia Conference, the White Paper on Developing Northern Australia—recognises the importance of the region to Australia’s future, but narrowly in terms of extensions of water, power and transport infrastructure and accompanied workforce expansion. To date this agenda is silent on the role of arts and culture infrastructure in underpinning the region’s cultural wellbeing, and its economic benefits. This silence underscores the need to uncover, promote, and foster the untold stories and hidden value of the arts in Australia's Northern cities, to ensure that arts and culture take a prominent place in the policies that shape the region’s future. Using a combination of policy analysis and townhall focus groups, LabNorth’s research will build networks to collaborate across cities, sectors and artforms. We will explore the value of arts and culture, with a focus on articulating this to the public and policy makers. LabNorth’s focus on small cities shines a light on the vital but under-recognised role of the arts in supporting Northern Australian communities and advocate for their inclusion in broader policy discussions. LabNorth will listen, learn, collaborate and co-create stories with the potential to shift narratives about Northern Australia.
Title: Reclaiming scientific publishing: Our duty to make science freely accessible to all, EGU Blog
Reseracher: Romain Vaucher (Senior Lecturer, Sedimentology)
Start Date: 02 Jun 2026
Title: Deputy Director, ARC Plant Biosecurity Training Centre, James Cook University
Reseracher: Lori Lach (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Director of Work Integrated Learning, James Cook University, College of Science and Engineering
Reseracher: Lori Lach (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2021
End Date: 01 Jan 2023
Title: Associate Dean Research Training, Faculty of Science and Engineering, James Cook University
Reseracher: Mohan Jacob (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2012
End Date: 01 Jan 2012
Title: Visiting Research Fellow, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Reseracher: Mohan Jacob (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011
End Date: 01 Jan 2011
Title: Visiting Research Fellow, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Reseracher: Mohan Jacob (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2009
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Warsaw
Reseracher: Mohan Jacob (Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2008
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Standing Committee for Agricultural Services in the World Meteorological Organisation to review and update standards on drought and agrometeorological services across agricultural value chains including fisheries.
Reseracher: Yvette Everingham (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
Title: Expert Team Leader, World Meteorological Organisation (Weather and Climate Extremes and Agricultural Industry Needs)
Reseracher: Yvette Everingham (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2015
Title: Invited speaker to address the 12th African-Caribbean-Pacific Island Ministerial Conference on Climate Resilience of Sugarcane Production Systems.
Reseracher: Yvette Everingham (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2011