Research Projects
International collaborative study on the reconstruction of the history of Japanese immigrants in Australia and their influence on contemporary Japanese society
Tianna Killoran
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2028
First, this study aims to elucidate the concrete experiences of Japanese migrants in Northern Queensland (QLD) from the Meiji period through the Pacific War, reconstructing their history from the perspective of those who lived and worked in the “peripheral” regions, away from national and colonial centers, under the White Australia Policy.
Second, it examines how the reconstruction and rediscovery of the once-interrupted history of Japanese migration influences the identity formation and socio-cultural activities of contemporary Nikkei communities in Australia. Third, through research activities conducted in both Japan and Australia, the study will excavate, organize, and digitize valuable historical materials on prewar and postwar Japanese migration, thereby ensuring their preservation and transmission to future generations in both countries.
State of the Wet Tropics Report (Old ID 31177)
Darren Crayn
01 Jun 2023 - 31 May 2024
The Wet Tropics Management Authority produces a thematic annual State of the Wet Tropics report. This year’s report is themed threatened species. ATH staff are assisting in preparing the report.
Marine Eco-Systems Research & Monitoring Program (ERMP) (Old ID 20392)
Norm Duke
01 Jul 2011 - 31 Dec 2022
As a member of the Expert Panel to advise on the research, monitoring and health of marine ecosystems, notably tidal wetlands, in Port Curtis and Port Alma.
Modelling Catchment Hydrology and Nutrient Fluxes to Forecast Cyanobacterial Blooms in In Ross River Reservoir
Mahmood Sadat Noori
20 Apr 2026 - 22 Oct 2029
The project focuses on developing an integrated modelling framework for forecasting cyanobacterial blooms in tropical reservoirs. It combines surface water modelling (SWAT or similar) with groundwater modelling (MODFLOW or similar) to capture the coupled dynamics of catchment hydrology, nutrient transport, and reservoir inflows. These physical models are further integrated with remote sensing datasets and machine learning approaches (e.g., Random Forest, GNN, LSTM) to identify bloom drivers and improve prediction. Additionally, sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) climate forecasts are incorporated to extend predictive lead times, enabling an early warning system for effective reservoir and water quality management.
A validation of coral geochemical records to reconstruct suspended sediment loads to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Old ID 22242)
Stephen Lewis
01 Jul 2015 - 01 Mar 2016
While coral geochemistry records are widely cited as evidence for increased suspended sediment loads delivered to the Great Barrier Reef since the 1850s, there has been little replication or quantification of the records. Indeed, most records are based on cores collected prior to the year 2000 when limited catchment monitoring data existed to 'validate' the interpretations that certain trace element ratios provided proxies of annual sediment loadings. This project will analyse the geochemistry of coral cores collected in 2012 from sites in the central GBR and compare the ratios to measured sediment and particulate nutrient loads from the Burdekin River.
Circular economy and feed management approaches for inclusive and sustainable development of marine aquaculture in Vietnam
Simon Das
01 Jan 2024 - 31 Mar 2027
Research Fellow
Nest to Ocean - Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Rangers
Caitlin Smith
01 Jan 2026 - 30 Jun 2026
The Nest to Ocean funding scheme supports community-based sea turtle nesting monitoring across Queensland. Gunggandji-Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Prescribed Body Corporate has successfully secured funding through the Nest to Ocean program to monitor sea turtle nesting across GMY Sea Country. TropWATER, JCU will support the GMY Rangers by providing expert advice, assisting with drone survey design and implementation, and supplying vessel and skipper support. TropWATER will also assist with data analysis and report preparation.
Advancing the Buchanan Dome Critical Minerals Project through advanced geological and metallurgical studies
Youseph Ibrahim
01 May 2026 - 30 Jun 2028
This project is a Critical Minerals Trailblazer-supported collaboration between James Cook University and Strategic Metals Australia to advance Queensland's first major lithium-bearing pegmatite system, the Buchanan Dome Critical Minerals Project, toward commercial feasibility. The project will deliver the geological, mineralogical, and metallurgical knowledge required to de-risk the resource and define viable lithium extraction pathways, with the aim of integrating the project into a Queensland battery minerals supply chain. Key activities include structural mapping, lithium deportment studies, beneficiation testing, and battery-grade graphite production.
Tuberculosis modelling in the Asia-Pacific region (Old ID 22325)
Emma McBryde
15 Sep 2015 - 14 Sep 2017
This project aims to model disease transmission dynamics by quantifying key epidemiological drivers of TB transmission in the Asia Pacific region. It will take into account geospatial characteristics of the region and population vulnerabilities to tuberculosis. These include factors that lead to reactivation of TB: smoking, diabetes, HIV, malnutrition and factors that lead to transmission; household crowding, population density and late presentation to health services. This project has potential sites of data in the region including through work with JCU researchers in collaboration with PNG IMR in sites across Papua New Guinea and in other Pacific Nations.