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

Climate Vulnerability Index – Yuku Baja Muliku phase 2
Jon Day
28 Jun 2024 - 31 Dec 2027
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. This includes the land and sea country of Indigenous peoples in Australia, for which climate change is becoming more and more of an issue, requiring more knowledge and skills to help address the management options. 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 activities. This project will apply the Climate Vulnerability Index process to assess the vulnerability of the Yuku Baja Muliku country and people.
An evaluation of the chemical composition and invitro methane production of novel legumes and a plant bi-product
John Cavalieri
01 Jul 2024 - 31 Dec 2025
Our proposed research aims to explore novel tropical plants, with a particular focus on legumes, and their in vitro fermentability, methane production, and chemical composition. Through the evaluation of various leguminous pasture plants and plant products, our goal is to pinpoint those with the potential to mitigate methane production in northern livestock. This preliminary investigation will position us favourably to pursue larger, more comprehensive grant opportunities through Australian Government and industry funding bodies. The project will produce impactful publications and scientific insights into in vitro research, and the nutritional profiles of investigated legumes and plant products. With global warming and greenhouse gas emissions at the forefront for both government and industry priorities, ongoing interest in research within these fields guarantees continued opportunities for larger project calls and the expansion of related research capacity at JCU.
Green turtle satellite tracking data analysis and reporting (Old ID 26766)
Stephanie Duce
21 Feb 2020 - 01 Oct 2021
The project aims to understand (2) the patterns of habitat use and home range of foraging green turtles in Port Curtis? (2) How green turtles use habitats located within and immediately adjacent to port infrastructure in the western and southern sections of the Port, such as jetties and navigation channels? And (3) What are the patterns of movement and foraging behaviour of green turtles that shift between inside and outside the Inner Port habitats (i.e. from Pelican Banks to offshore of Curtis Is)?
Novel governance for marine ecosystems in transition (Old ID 27169)
Terry Hughes
01 Jan 2022 - 30 Jun 2025
Human pressures are tipping marine ecosystems into new equilibrium states. Australia has the third largest marine estate in the world, and its marine ecosystems support critical industries and social and cultural values. The transition in our marine ecosystems requires similar transitions in governance. This project aims to pioneer knowledge about the new governance arrangements required to manage changing marine ecosystems. It does this though a comparative study of novel interventions now underway in Australia, from which practical guidance on responsible marine governance will be elicited, with significant benefits to the sustainability of Australian and international marine ecosystems.
Mapping Coastal wetland extent, heterogeneity and use by aquatic fauna using UAV technology to inform applied environmental management of tropical wetlands. (Old ID 27174)
Nathan Waltham
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in research has surged, however this has not been matched by a parallel increase in their use for conservation works. This projects aims to assess barriers to the use of UAV's in environmental management by surveying conservation professionals. Solutions to these barriers will then be incorporated into UAV surveys assessing complexity and connectivity in tropical estuaries. Overall this project will build connection between the management and research community and showcase ways in which this inexpensive, customisable technology can be used in local level conservation.
Pearls of wisdom - Breeding for increase tolerance to juvenile pearl oyster mortality syndrome (Old ID 23472)
Dave Jones
01 Feb 2018 - 30 Jun 2021
A decade ago pearl farming was one of the major employers and contributors to the social-economic fabric of northern Australia, contributing $189.7 million farm-gate to the national economy. However, in recent years Australian pearl production has been severely impacted by episodic and large-scale mortality events by an as yet unidentified causative factor. These mortality events, termed juvenile pearl oyster mortality syndrome (or JPOMS), have resulted in massive write-downs in production and economic value of the industry. This project will develop the genetic knowledge and lay the foundation for a selective breeding program in pearl oysters that are resistance to JPOMS.
Study of wind loads on US and AU roofing tile systems (Old ID 23540)
John Ginger
15 Jul 2017 - 30 Nov 2018
Due to the porous nature of roofing tile systems, pressure equalization effects must be considered in estimating wind-induced loads. However, these effects (and therefore net wind loading) are not well understood for various roof zones and the range of tile configurations in the global housing market. To better characterize these effects, IBHS will conduct full-scale wind tunnel testing on North American and Australian roofing tile systems. The CTS will assist with testing design, data analysis and reporting.
International Travel Support - INQUA 2019 (Old ID 26424)
Michael Bird
04 Apr 2019 - 01 Sep 2019
Funding to support international travel to attend and present at the 20th International Quaternary Association Congress in Dublin, Ireland. Oral presentation of PhD results in palaeoenvironmental science.
Magmatic History, Fertility and Metallogenesis of the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier (Old ID 24882)
Ioan Sanislav
28 Feb 2018 - 30 Jun 2021
This project aims to highlight the exploration potential in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier by providing key mineralisation insights that can assist mining companies to plan their exploration strategy for better targeting and enhance the potential for new discoveries. To achieve this, the project has three main objectives: (1) Establish the extent, character and timing of the dominant magmatic epochs in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier (2) Develop an understanding of the tectono-magmatic history of the Mary Kathleen Domain and its links to metallogenesis; (3) Explore the applicability of magma fertility concepts as a tool for exploration for a variety of deposit types.
Securing the future of Australia’s threatened tropical mountain flora for science and society (Old ID 25045)
Alex Cheesman
01 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2023
This project will enable us to secure the future of Australia’s climate-threatened tropical mountaintop plants. We will do this by building a multi-strategy ex-situ conservation reserve to ‘backup’ at-risk wild populations and support research, display and education. Our novel research on seed banking strategies, genetic diversity and plant tolerance of extreme climates will ensure that the reserve collections, distributed across multiple Botanic Gardens and Seed Banks along Australia’s east coast, incorporate high redundancy, are genetically and physiologically diverse, and climatically matched to wild habitat.
Title: Senior Research Fellow, University of Exeter
Reseracher: Alex Cheesman (Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2018
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University
Reseracher: Alex Cheesman (Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2013
End Date: 01 Jan 2024
Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Smithsonian Tropical research Institute
Reseracher: Alex Cheesman (Research Fellow)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
End Date: 01 Jan 2013
Title: Senior Lecturer, RMIT University
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2007
End Date: 01 Jan 2008
Title: Head of Department of Immunology, University of Cape Town
Reseracher: Ludwig Lopata (Professor, Personal Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
End Date: 01 Jan 2006
Title: Senior Lecturer - Professor, James Cook University
Reseracher: Paul Nelson (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Title: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (50%), James Cook University
Reseracher: Paul Nelson (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Senior Scientist (50%), Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Reseracher: Paul Nelson (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2004
End Date: 01 Jan 2009
Title: Senior Agronomist, PNG Oil Palm Research Association
Reseracher: Paul Nelson (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2001
End Date: 01 Jan 2003
Title: Research Scientist, CSIRO
Reseracher: Paul Nelson (Professor, Promotional Chair)
Start Date: 01 Jan 1999
End Date: 01 Jan 2001