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Digital Extension Toolbox (Old ID 26535)
To encourage practice change in agriculture, DAF extension staff must be able to leverage "social" to deliver targeted and timely messages to discreet stakeholder groups at the hyper-local, project or peer level. This proposal is for the creation of a Digital Extension Toolbox, inclusive of a Community of Practice and Best Practice guidelines: a dynamic action-learing and risk management project designed to nimbly support staff in performing their work agilely over social engagement channels. Thisis is a pilot, desinged as an agile sprint, running from Feb-Jun 2019. During this time, we will develop a Best Management Practice (BMP) for each of four social engagement channels. Once a BMP has been deemed ready for trial, we will develop a Community of Practice and intiate a live trial. Online activity will be monitored, engagement metrics collected and oversight propvided by our 'Toolbox Investors': a matrix of committed internal stakeholders. The end goal being to provide DAF extension staff with a Toolbox full of relevant social media tools and instructions for their safe use.
Characterising IOCG and SEDEX deposits in the Mt Isa block with Cu-Zn isotopes (Old ID 26545)
The Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU) at JCU has proposed to establish Cu and Zn isotope lines at JCU, and build a reference database for Cu-Zn isotopes from mineral deposits in the Mt Isa district, starting witht eh well-known Mt Isa deposit. It is proposed to conduct an exploratory, proof-of-concept study of limited initial scope and time, to assess the usefulness of Zn-Cu isotopes for exploration in the Mt Isa area. If initial results are promising, we intend to extend the study.
Elliot Springs – Offset Management Plan compliance for Black-throated Finch Scientific Study (Old ID 27038)
We will be determining the efficacy of using remote acoustic monitoring tools for black-throated finches (southern subspecies), by deploying automated recorders for one week each in a variety of locations around Qld where black-throated finches may occur, and manually surveying these areas once at the beginning of deployment and once at the end. Acoustic recordings will be analysed using human listening and automated artificial intelligence screening for black-throated finch calls. The results from the two methods will be compared to determine if acoustic monitoring is sufficient to monitor the occurrence of these finches in various locations.
Developing culturally appropriate tools to screen for common mental health disorders in older adults aged 45 and over living in the Torres Strait. (Old ID 27232)
The aim of the study is to develop culturally appropriate mental health assessment tools for older adults (e.g. aged 45 and over) living in the Torres Strait. Data from yarning circles with Torres Strait community members and health care staff will be used to identify how mental health disorders are expressed in the Torres Strait. A Delphi process will then be used to identify appropriate tools for assessing these domains of mental ill health for use in older adults in the Torres Strait. These tools will then be piloted to determine acceptability and validated for use in the Torres Strait.
An eDNA molecular diagnostic tool for soil microbial biosecurity (Old ID 27431)
We intend to sample sterilising footbath units on banana farms for the presence of a pathogenic soil-borne fungus that causes Panama disease in bananas. If successful this method would replace visual inspection of farms for biosecurity monitoring of the disease allowing for identification of farm infection long before traditional methods. We aim to adapt existing environmental DNA and quantitative PCR methods for this application.
Building Capacity for Periodontal Disease Management in the Kingdom of Tonga (Old ID 27558)
Periodontitis is an inflammation of the bone supporting teeth. It destroys the jawbone and is prevalent globally. Left untreated, it will lead to tooth loss and internal toxicity. It affects heart disease and diabetes. There is a lack of clinical capacity in Tonga to treat this. Local Dentists will be trained to assess, treat, and monitor this disease. The community will be screened, patients with the disease identified and then treated. Patients will be monitored by their dentists. The study findings will be shared with the local dental health administration and published in relevant journals for the global community.
Deep Learning for Waste Management (Old ID 27687)
To keep our planet safe and healthy, new techniques for managing and recycling waste should be devised. This project aims to use the latest advances in deep learning and computer vision technologies to better manage waste by developing a fast and accurate waste analysis system.
Fishboneviz: Developing a best-practice methodology for fish CT scan segmentation and an associated open access 3D virtual bone database to support ichthyoarchaeological research and teaching efforts globally (Old ID 27831)
Fish remains are ubiquitous in the coastal and inland Australian and Pacific archaeological record. This project aims to (1) develop a best-practice methodology for fish CT scan segmentation to support taxonomic identifications of archaeological bone, (2) publish these outcomes open access to facilitate equitable reuse of the methodology and retention of these expertise into the future, and (3) establish an open access virtual fish bone reference collection, using the MorphoSource platform. The outcomes of this project with directly support ongoing archaeological and paleontological research and teaching efforts through the establishment of an open access virtual fish bone reference collection.
Strengthened surveillance for vector-borne zoonotic and livestock diseases in Papua New Guinea. (Old ID 27871)
This proposed research will consolidate and build on previous research and pilot surveillance conducted on zoonotic arboviruses in PNG (SRA LS/2018/213) and will aim to continue and expand a One Health surveillance approach for Japanese encephalitis and zoonotic arboviruses in PNG. The overall objective of the project will be to combine mosquito, sentinel animal and human surveillance for JE and other zoonotic arboviruses to continue to build and consolidate capacity and expertise in this area, through a holistic, One Health approach.
Research Design Development for FST-2022-123 Sundarban Ecosystem Management. (Old ID 28925)
A contract for Dr Duke to develop a large research project for ACIAR. The tasks include a preliminary analysis of change in mangrove forest and habitat condition in the Sundarban Reserve Forest, meetings with potential project collaborators and stakeholders in Bangladesh, and a report with recommendations for ACIAR forestry research design plus water SRA, FST 2022 123.