Research Projects
Tilapia Biocontrol Project. (Old ID 27262)
Ellen Ariel
02 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2021
Determine the susceptibility of two tilapias species present in Australian waterways (O. mossambicus and T. mariae) to TiLV and demonstrate the efficacy of TiLV as a potential biocontrol agent for tilapia in Australia.
Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership Seagrass Report Card Proposal: Project ISP011 (Old ID 29016)
Tim Smith
13 Jun 2023 - 30 Sep 2026
This project will produce annual scores and report on the condition of seagrass in the Gladstone Harbour as part of the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. The project is a collaboration between Gladstone Ports Corporation, TropWater and GHHP.
Women's Action for Mums and Bubs (WOMB): A pragmatic trial of participatory women's groups to improve Indigenous maternal and child health (Old ID 23276)
Sarah Larkins
01 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2023
There is strong evidence elsewhere that involving community women in decision-making about strategies to improve the health of mothers and babies is a cheap and effective way of improving health. The WOMB study tests whether community women's groups improve the quality of maternal and child health care and outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the cost-effectiveness and mechanism of action.
Sequestering carbon and improving sugarcane productivity by enhanced weathering of basalt (Old ID 23432)
Paul Nelson
01 Jun 2017 - 31 May 2026
Arresting the build-up of atmospheric CO2 is one of humanity's biggest challenges. In geological time, the weathering of rocks consumes CO2, which is then sequestered as limestone in the ocean, but the natural rate of this process is very slow. In this project we will determine the feasibility of accelerating weathering by introducing crushed basalt (a common and easily weathered rock) into the place on earth with highest CO2 production and potential weathering rates - topsoil in the humid tropics. We will also examine the effects on soil condition and crop growth, which are likely to be beneficial.
Kimberley - Wet Tropics Wildlife on Virtual Reality (Old ID 23592)
Ickjai Lee
20 Jul 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
This project will further develop 'Kimberley' the 3D virtual reality tree-kangaroo to the stage where the 'experience' can go live to the public at the Malanda Falls Visitor Centre. This project further extends 3D tree-Kangaroo with Virtual Reality and artificial intelligence.
Sources, transformations and fate of particulate and dissolved organic carbon-implications for the GBR (Old ID 25001)
Stephen Lewis
01 Jan 2018 - 30 Sep 2018
Organic carbon has traditionally been poorly studied in marine systems, but recent studies suggest that GBR microalgae can utilise organic matter, and that eroded soil carbon parameters can ameliorate marine algal responses to catchment nutrients. This suggests that organic carbon may play an important role in marine ecosystems than previously thought. Additionally, GBR organic carbon concentrations are increasing, but the mechanisms are unclear. The proposed study would review the literature, develop a conceptual model, and undertake data analysis on organic carbon in the GBR and catchments, and examine links to ecosystem effects. This will improve monitoring and management of water quality in the GBR.
Developing an innovative low-power and high-speed architecture for smart machines (Old ID 25065)
Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi
01 Jul 2018 - 31 Dec 2018
This project aims to significantly improve the processing speed and power consumption of intelligent, mobile computing devices. Using a novel computing architecture inspired by the low-energy, parallel processing of the brain, the project will overcome a major impediment to progress, that placing ever more transistors on electronic chips is reaching its physical limits. The intended outcomes include important theoretical advances in electronic engineering, a new architecture enabling intelligent devices to operate independently of remote supercomputers, and a software trial in a robot. Applicable to devices ranging from smartphones to medical diagnostic equipment to autonomous vehicles, the new architecture promises significant benefits.
e-beef Evaluation Project. (Old ID 27641)
Rachel Hay
11 May 2022 - 30 Sep 2022
The project will evaluate the outcomes of the e-beef Project. The e-beef project worked with selected grazing businesses (Smart Farms) and groups of grazing businesses (Innovation Hubs) in regional Qld to demonstrate and trial innovative technologies that aimed to improve the accuracy and timeliness of livestock perfrmance and pasture data. It was expected that the e-beef project would assist grazing businesses to make informed management decisions based on recorded data. The e-beef evaluation project outsomes will inform future research and activity in Innovation and Commercialisation Projects.
Targeting Inflammasome Activation To Combat Infections With Intracellular Pathogens (Old ID 20303)
Andreas Kupz
01 Jun 2013 - 31 Dec 2017
The project will investigate the potential to specifically target intracellular sensors, so called inflammasomes, to enhance immunity against the intracellular pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Toxoplasma gondii. Particular emphasis will be placed on the regulation of inflammasome-mediated secretion of iterleukin-18 and subsequent initiation of protective interferon-gamma production. The project aims to identify novel host-pathogen interactions that can enhance effective control and clearance of these pathogens and to test the associated molecules in murine infection models as well as primary human samples. Results obtained from this research project may aid in the development of novel vaccine candidates and immunomodulatory strategies against intracellular pathogens.
Spatial predictions of changes in forest biomass carbon (TLJV Postdoctoral project) (Old ID 22356)
Michael Liddell
01 Jul 2015 - 31 Dec 2017
This project will enable the appointment of a Postdoctoral Fellow who will work with JCU and CSIRO researchers to better link ground-based measures of biomass with remote sensing tools. This will provide spatial predictions of changes in biomass carbon with known certainty. Specific tasks for the first year of the project will include three stages of work, each focusing on TERN Supersites. The Supersites involved are FNQ Rainforest Robson Creek (Qld), Warra Tall Eucalypt (TAS and Calperum Malee (SA).