Research Projects
Veterinary Science Curriculum & Student Experience Survey
Abdul-Aziz Seidu
01 Sep 2024 - 31 Oct 2024
Veterinary Science Curriculum & Student Experience Survey, 2024
Community-led Health Promotion in the Torres Strait
Karla Canuto
01 Jan 2026 - 31 Dec 2030
Throughout the isolated communities of the Torres Strait (Zenadh) the rates of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and
chronic renal failure are skyrocketing. During invited community visits in 2023, we confirmed that health restoration is an
urgent priority for Maluilgal (the tribal people of the Maluilgau region – Badu, Mabuiag and Moa Islands). Tribal leads have
initiated a movement called Kikirriu dan Walmai (KDW), which means “our health is resurrected”. KDW will be led by a team
chosen by the Tribal leads and who will honour and respect the cultural governance and protection required to meet the
KDW objectives. As a Torres Strait Islander researcher and recognised national leader in Indigenous health promotion and
building Indigenous research capacity, I have been endorsed by Tribal leads of KDW to work with stakeholders and Maluilgal
to lead a program of work to restore wellness. My Investigator research program will reduce chronic disease risk factors
through community-led evidence-based health restoration initiatives in the extremely remote and under resourced
communities. This will be achieved by identifying health promoting priorities for each community, building the capacity of
local community-based researchers, collaborative co-design health promoting initiatives, implement and evaluate the
initiatives and the translation of knowledge.
The evaluation of restorative health initiatives will include anthropometric and metabolic risk markers, such as weight, blood
pressure and cholesterol and measures of social, cultural and emotional wellbeing. These initiatives will provide evidence to
support the upscaling and transfer of the processes to other communities of Zenadh and beyond. Anticipated outcomes will
be the research activity training and upskilling of local Maluilgal community members and the implementation and evaluation
of sustainable effective health initiatives that will restore well-being to their communities.
Scoping options for low-flying marginal cane land to reduce DIN in priority wet tropics catchments (Old ID 22528)
Nathan Waltham
01 Jan 2016 - 28 Feb 2017
The project will explore alternative land use options to reduce nitrogen losses from marginal sugarcane land in priority wet tropics catchments. The Wet Tropics Water Quality Improvement Plan identified that complete adoption of sugarcane best management practices would be insufficient to achieve the nitrogen load reductions needed to meet the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality guidelines. This project will map low-lying, marginal cane land with community and industry partners, identify possible alternative uses, quantify economic costs and benefits of land transition, identify constraints and opportunities for alternative land uses proposed.
Beneath your feet (Farmacist)
Zoe Bainbridge
01 Apr 2025 - 26 Feb 2027
A focus on local water quality issues and behaviour insights through tailored engagement and cooperative regional partnerships will aim to maximise community engagement with water quality data, increase trust in Reef and water quality science, increase a willingness to undertake actions that will improve water quality in local waterways and the GBR lagoon, and encourage stakeholders to work collectively to improve waterway outcomes.
Airbag deployment test (Old ID 30048)
Mehdi Khatamifar
12 Jun 2023 - 31 Aug 2023
AEP Advance Engineering is planning to study airbag deployment in a car after modifications done on the car. This test will study an airbag deployment along the ceiling using high-speed camera at high frame per second rate of 5000. This study aims to investigate the deployment stages of the airbag and visually capture this process, so modifications applied on the car does not interfere with safety.
Do green sea turtle faeces increase seagrass seed germination and seedling success through fertilisation (Old ID 31172)
Samantha Tol
01 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
This project will measure if seagrass seed germination and seedling growth is enhanced by the addition of nutrients from sea turtle faeces. Seagrass meadows are experiencing a global decline, and therefore an increase in restoration efforts. Restoration by seeds has not yielded a high rate of success in Australia, primarily due to low germination rates. Recent research has found that seed coat scarification or passage through a dugong and green sea turtle enhances seed germination. Manual scarification of seeds is time consuming but adding sea turtle faeces to the seeds before dispersal would be a simple and cost-effective alternative.
Parkrun Practices Australia Evaluation
Moira Smith
22 Jul 2025 - 25 Oct 2026
The study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived impact of the parkrun practice initiative in Australia, identifying motivations, challenges, and delivery methods. Objectives include conducting quantitative surveys of Australian primary care staff and parkrun event organisers affiliated with the initiative
Revealing the hidden knowledge in pathology big data: Machine learning to support clinical decision making for unknown infectious diseases and recognise biosecurity incursions in tropical Australia (Old ID 26978)
Jeffrey Warner
20 Aug 2020 - 30 Sep 2023
Pathology departments generate massive data from the results of routine and targeted tests conducted to serve community health needs. With the availability of large pathology data collections, the application of sophisticated machine learning (ML) algorithms allows the detection of novel data patterns to characterise disease processes and monitor population health. We will apply recursive partitioning (trees and forests) and support vector machines (SVM) to large pathology data sets to: (a) investigate the biosecurity potential of linked community data, and; (b) assist early decision support for patients presenting with a tropical pyrexia of unknown origin (PUOs).
Predicting genetic exchange between species under climate change (Old ID 27104)
Megan Higgie
01 Apr 2021 - 30 Apr 2024
This project aims to resolve the factors that lead to the mixing of species’ gene pools, with a focus on whether climate change will increase such mixing, possibly leading to extinction by genetic swamping. The significance is that the project would improve our understanding of speciation and species’ vulnerability to rapid climate change through genetic mixing; a largely overlooked process. Key outcomes would be to generate new knowledge of a fundamental evolutionary process and extend the toolbox of biodiversity managers facing rapid environmental change. The project would benefit Australia by highlighting our unique biodiversity and scientific capability, and by training early career researchers in advanced evolutionary biology.
Read all about it: Digital participation in Australian newspaper fiction (Old ID 27186)
Roger Osborne
01 Oct 2020 - 30 Sep 2023
The Project aims to transform understandings of Australian literary history by using innovative digital methods to discover, curate and investigate tens of thousands of unrecorded novels, novellas and short stories in 20thcentury Australian newspapers. It intends to advance national research capacity by facilitating collaboration, providing research training and making a substantial contribution to open-access, sustainable digital infrastructure for Australian literary studies. Expected outcomes include a new history of Australian literature and new model for participatory literary history. The Project's benefits should include expanding the National Library of Australia's records and promoting public engagement with Australian literature.