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Alluvial Gully Remediation in the Upper Burdekin Catchment (Old ID 27857)
In catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, northeast Queensland, Australia, excess sediment derived from gully erosion is contributing to poor coastal water quality. Remediating and preventing further degradation of these landscapes is a major focus of investment toward improving coastal water quality. This project will monitor and evaluate the effect of several alluvial gully remediation measures on improving water quality in the Upper Burdekin catchment. The project will provide valuable new data, knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of these remediation approaches for landholders interested in protecting and enhancing forage productivity, and for the organisations investing in activities to reduce sediment and nutrient loads delivered to the Great Barrier Reef.
The identification and development of regional female rugby league players within an elite talent pathway. (Old ID 27917)
With the successful emergence of the National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) elite competition comes a necessity to better understand and prepare young women for the physical requirements needed to achieve this highest level of competition. This project will provide support to a PhD Candidate to undertake research focussing on the pathways available for young girls to progress through the elite rugby league pathway: from local and state-based competitions through to the NRLW. With a focus on the talent development environment and practices, the Candidate will conduct research whilst embedded alongside professional coaches within an elite sporting pathway.
High shear fluid flow driving carbon foundry for advanced manufacturing (Old ID 28965)
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)
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
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.
Wuthathi River to reef baselines and monitoring framework
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.
Wuthathi River to reef baselines and monitoring framework
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)
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.
Becoming a soldier: A Qualitative Study into Construction of the Army Identity and its Impact on Mental Health
Student-led project (PhD) - agreement sought between JCU and DoD to allow access to current serving members (Army personnel) for the purpose of qualitative interviews and focus groups. Access to DoD policy documents including personnel manuals, Defence health policy/manuals, standard operating procedures
Consumer and Community Research Partnerships: Enabling capacity and strength in rural, regional, and remote northern Queensland health and medical research
Consumer and community involvement in health and medical research can meaningfully improve research and associated health outcomes by incorporating lived experience into a research project. Anecdotally, there is limited consumer and community involvement occurring in investigator-led research within hospitals and health services in northern Queensland. This research will explore the unique capabilities, opportunities, and motivations for consumer and community involvement in research among three northern Queensland rural, regional, and remote hospital and health services. Strategies will be identified to enable consumer and community involvement in research within these health services, prioritised by consumers, community members and health researchers. It is anticipated that strategies and learnings from this project can be adapted more broadly to northern Australia, particularly other rural, regional, and remote contexts.