Research Projects
Youth Research Grants Program (Old ID 27716)
Natalia Veles
24 Jun 2022 - 15 Mar 2023
The Youth Research Grants Program aims to stimulate interest in research which reflects the needs and views of young people through enabling them to be involved in setting priorities for and selection of research projects. The Program supports the vision set out in the Queensland Youth Strategy (QYS) that promotes young people’s active contribution to Queensland's economic, civic and cultural life. This project aims to engage with young people (17–24-year-olds) in north and far north Queensland currently studying at James Cook University (JCU), to provide an opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns, dreams and desires, and to provide inspiration for a JCU-led research project with and for youth with a focus on wellbeing, future aspirations, concerns and potential solutions to urgent issues. The project would focus on JCU discipline areas of Social Work, Sociology, Education and Creative Arts, with an intention for young people to develop and present art works- and in particular visual and wearable art- expressing their concerns and aspirations. Please refer to the Project Proposal for full details of the Project’s timing and objectives.
Water resource development assessment in northern Australia. (Old ID 27758)
Nathan Waltham
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Aug 2024
This project investigates the potential for water resource development in several catchment areas in northern Australia. Specifically, we will provide technical expertise in estuarine habitat ecology analysis, modelling and provide regional context to analysis outcomes and scenario analysis. Working in a large multidisciplinary team, we will also attend workshops and assist the project team more broadly to deliver the final reports to the Australian Government.
2023 Southern GBR Coastal Wetland Feasibility Assessment (Old ID 28939)
Norm Duke
07 Nov 2022 - 01 Nov 2023
To identify locations and activities between Cairns and Gladstone where coastal protection and restoration could occur to increase carbon sequestration and storage. Climate change is threatening the health of all ecosystems globally, including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The restoration of coastal ecosystems presents a substantial opportunity to not only sequester carbon, necessary for reducing climate change, with mangrove forests estimated to store approximately five times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests. In addition, carbon sequestration, coastal ecosystems can protect from storm surges and erosion, provide habitat for fisheries, improve water quality from runoff, and support immense biodiversity. This project aims to survey the health of the coastal ecosystems between Cairns and Gladstone and identify opportunities for the restoration of mangroves and salt marsh.
Safeguarding New Caledonia from insect-borne diseases: sustainable production of insect repellent from native plants (Old ID 22661)
Michael Oelgemoeller
01 May 2016 - 31 Dec 2018
The public debate about climate change and pollution has seen some major shifts in community thinking in regards to sustainability and environmental resilience. These changes in public attitude have placed significant pressure on the chemical industry to move to using renewable energy sources and sustainable starting materials. The tropical region is rich in natural resources, especially biomass from tropical plants and sunlight. At the same time, insect-bone diseases such as dengue and malaria hamper the tropics, causing significant health, economic and social stresses. Following the 'prevention is better than cure' approach, this project will develop economically viable green manufacturing processes for potent insect repellents from local New Caledonian plants.
Bridging Tropical Business Communities: Reaching out to the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Polynesia) and Enhancing Research Collaborative Venture and Student's Mobility (Old ID 22956)
Stephane Le Queux
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017
This project is threefold. The first objective is to bridge the North Queensland business community with French Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia). The second objective is to follow up the MOU signed between JCU and Tahiti Business School in relation to students' exchanges in view of a forthcoming Erasmus application. The third is flag JCU research expertise and identify avenues for research development, in particular in the field of tourism, in association with the Observatoire International de l'Emploi et du Development Economique de Polynesia Francoise (OIEDE-PF).
The geochemistry of rare earth elements in carbonate melts. (Old ID 24862)
Carl Spandler
28 Jun 2019 - 27 Jun 2022
This project aims to determine why deposits of rare earth elements, which are critical for modern devices and technologies, such as phones, tablet and plasma screens, are associated with carbonate magmas. The global supply of these critical metals is geopolitically unstable and although Australia has significant reserves there is very limited production. By improving our understanding of the geochemical behaviour of the rare earths we aim to develop new reverse-engineering methods for their extraction, which will improve the security of supply of these elements and enhance Australia's role in high-tech industries.
Reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping in the Coral Sea Marine Park (Old ID 27466)
Samantha Tol
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Nov 2024
This project will undertake reef lagoon benthic habitat mapping within the Coral Sea Marine Park. Sites to be surveyed are the western lagoon of Holmes Reef, all of Herald Cays, the lagoon between the Diamond Islets in Tregrosse Reef, and the eastern corner of the lagoon in Lihou Reef. This project will produce the first extensive reef lagoon benthic maps of the selected regions in the Coral Sea Marine Park and will be the first seagrass survey in the Coral Sea.
HPCT Berth 1 Upgrade – Marine Benthic Habitat Assessment. (Old ID 27895)
Skye McKenna
19 Jan 2023 - 28 Feb 2023
Advisian have engaged TropWATER to undertake a survey to determine the presence/absence of marine plants within and adjacent to the extension proposed at HPCT Berth 1, located at the Port of Hay Point. Specifically, the survey requires assessment of marine plant distribution in the area proposed for expanded dredging.
Generation of novel peptide-MHC antibody therapies to combat seasonal and pandemic potential influenza virus (Old ID 28968)
Hillary Vanderven
27 Mar 2023 - 31 Dec 2027
Influenza pandemics have caused significant morbidity and mortality throughout history. The 1918 influenza pandemic resulted in 25-50 million deaths globally. Myrio Therapeutics is a Melbourne-based company leading the development of antibodies directed to peptide-MHC (pMHC) targets. Myrio’s competitive edge is provided by a patented Retained Display (ReD) discovery platform allowing rapid isolation of high affinity human single chain antibodies, which are readily converted into different therapeutic formats. Myrio has identified several first-in-class antibodies against highly conserved influenza virus peptides presented on common human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) for further testing in vitro and in vivo in mice.
Investigating fine-scale habitat use of rays in high-value intertidal nurseries. (Old ID 28989)
Jaelen Myers
01 May 2023 - 01 Mar 2024
Project aims to understand fine-scale habitat use of stingrays on intertidal sandflats. Data on abundances, species composition, and habitat use are being collected via drone assessments, and hands-on capture is being conducted to study diet and assess how foraging shapes habitat use.