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Am I Talking to a Real Person? Experimental Investigations into Human Perceptions of Therapeutic Chatbots
Therapeutic chatbots could enhance accessibility to psychological treatments, reducing wait times and costs; yet questions remain about user acceptance. Millet et al. (2023) highlight biases against AI-generated art, suggesting a similar bias may exist for perceptions of therapeutic chatbots. This program of experimental research will investigate whether therapeutic communications are perceived as less empathetic when attributed to therapeutic chatbots, as opposed to humans.
Experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) on dating apps
Dating app preferences among men who have sex with men (MSM) privileges partner profiles that depict norms of masculinity and particular ethnicities. Concerningly, preoccupation to appear masculine and internalisation of race-based sexual stereotypes are linked with health disparities. This study will attempt to elucidate the role of bias in partner preferences among MSM within the Australian context.
Marine sediment geochemical survey: Coastal waters of southeastern Brazil
This project involves comprehensive geochemical fingerprinting of sediments from a marine environment to trace the potential distribution of exogenous components from a tailings dam failure. JCU is leading the systematic multi-instrument (XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS) geochemical and isotopic characterization of approximately 200 samples. This includes quantifying the mineralogy, major, trace and volatile element concentration analysis, coupled with high-precision O-Sr-Nd-Fe isotope composition analyses.
TERN FNQ OzFlux
TERN FNQ OzFlux sites are funded by the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network.
TERN EP Robson Creek site - Rainforest in the Lamb Range on the Atherton Tablelands.
TERN EP Cow Bay site - Daintree Rainforest.
Redefining E-waste Management: Circular Economy Business Models in Action
The Queensland Government has implemented the 'E-Products Action Plan 2023–2033' with the vision of transforming Queensland into a zero-waste society by 2050. This comprehensive plan aims to minimise waste generation by emphasizing avoidance, reuse, and recycling practices. Queensland-based volunteer organizations can play a vital role in this initiative. However, the traditional approaches they use often fall short of addressing the environmental and social impact. The proposed research will introduce innovation by embedding circular economy principles into the existing model of volunteering organizations to address the challenges associated with responsible recycling. The objectives of this project is to develop a ‘blueprint’ that will be flexible and can be used by national and local volunteers, local and state government, civil society, the private sector, and local communities.
AIMS@JCU Pilot Research Funding
Research Masters student Karl Jensen on feeding selectivity in herbivorous juvenile CoTS
David Yellowlees Excellence in Research Award 2022
Project: Molecular-based method for the quantification of in situ crown-of-thorns starfish settlement rates
Effective sampling of Acanthaster cf. solaris to provide early-warning of new and renewed outbreaks (Old ID 26779)
This project aims to develop a holistic monitoring program that will not only help to deliver an early-warning syste, but will increase the viability of culling CoTS populations even during non-outbreak periods with the ultimate goal of reducing the frequency and severity of future outbreaks. Perhaps even more importantly, this project will deliver (for the first time) spatially and temporally explicit information about the structure and dynamics of crown-of-thorns starfish within the “initiation zone” and in the lead-up to a new population irruption, which is a critical knowledge gap that limits understanding of the initiation and causes of population outbreaks.