Research Projects
Genomic tools for monitoring yellow crazy ants. (Old ID 29026)
Matt Field
22 Jun 2023 - 01 Jan 2025
This project will establish protocols and baseline data for ddRAD-seq based sequencing of yellow crazy ants. In this phase of the project, we will sequence 200 individuals from historical infestations and develop tools to assess genetic relatedness among infestations. Baseline data established in this project will be used to help trace the origin of future infestations as well as improve our understanding of genetic diversity and gene flow in yellow crazy ants in Queensland.
JCU and Greening Australia alliance: leaders in tropical wetland restoration (Old ID 22951)
Nathan Waltham
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017
Greening Australia (GA) is a national not-for-profit organisation that strives towards the vision of healthy and productive landscapes where people and nature thrive. This vision is underpinned by science to guide what’s best for landscapes and people in Australia. Because of this business model, GA has a strong, long term, collaborative, approach to projects and therefore has achieved many sound, high profile outcomes. Projects delivered by GA attract significant financial investment from government, but maybe more so from philanthropic investors. By way of example, GA this year joined forces with Virgin Australia to launch a powerful new initiative (Reef Aid) to restore water quality in the GBR catchment area. As a start, GA has launched a public appeal to raise $10M as a first step towards an estimated $100M restoration campaign over the next 10 years. The Australian Government Reef Trust has already matched contributions up to $2M, and today, GA has $4M ready to start the Reef Aid journey via the instigation of on-ground wetland repair projects. Being focused on on-ground works, these projects lack significant research components. To this end, we propose through this partnership grant to demonstrate the value of research to improving on-ground outcomes and in doing so further our relationship with GA to include our services, via an R&D alliance, as part of further projects they develop through their Reef Aid program in coming years.
Weipa quarterly seagrass monitoring and PAR deployment (Old ID 23485)
Skye McKenna
03 May 2017 - 01 Sep 2017
The aim of this research is to intensely monitor seagrass habitats in the immediate areas around the port infrastructure in the Port of Weipa pre- and post- maintenance dredging. The objectives include comparing results of previous monitoring and baseline surveys and assessing any changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in relation to natural events or human induced activities. In addition, light and temperature shall be recorded and monitored within the seagrass canopy.
Radio relationships and well-being in older age (Old ID 26687)
Amanda Krause
01 Jan 2020 - 30 Dec 2022
This project addresses a need for non-invasive, cost-effective solutions to assist older Australians in managing their well-being. It aims to examine the role of radio relationships, including those developed between presenters and listeners and amongst presenters, in improving older Australians’ psychosocial well-being. It seeks to explore how the radio can promote individual and community well-being using participatory methods and a multi-phase, mixed methods design. Expected outcomes include evidence relating to the characteristics of listening and production practices that enhance experiences of social connection and social well-being; and substantiating the mechanisms underpinning these benefits. An evidence-based resource will be produced.
Principal Research Fellowship (Old ID 19984)
Alex Loukas
01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2016
My expertise is in the area of host-parasite interactions with a particular focus on the molecular basis of the interactions between helminth parasites of humans and host tissues. I use genomic and proteomic approaches to characterise the parasite secretome and the impact of these proteins on host tissues and immune responses. A major focus is in the development of antigen discovery approaches to aid the discovery and development of anthelmintic vaccines.
Population Health Planning for Rural Medicare Locals: evaluating a community participation method for delivering outcomes (Old ID 21197)
Sarah Larkins
01 Jan 2013 - 31 Aug 2018
The study, in six communities, will evaluate whether an evidenced based method of rural community participation from the UK translates to assist healthcare planning by Medicare Locals. Medicare Locals must involve local people in designing services to improve health, but lack methods to do this. The focus of the study is oral health, a major issue in rural areas. The study evaluates whether new services are designed and implemented and whether there is a change to health knowledge and behaviours.
Strengthening economic resilience in Monsoon Asia (Old ID 21899)
Lisa Law
01 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2017
Sharing, reciprocity and resource pooling are at the frontline of recovery and relief when economic crisis or disaster hits Monsoon Asia. This research sheds light on cases where these economic practices have been innovatively harnessed to diversify livelihoods and build economic resilience. Working with contemporary Asian scholars, practitioners in the disaster field and a data set gleaned from multiple sources, including mid-20th century tropical geography texts, the project brings to the fore a regional landscape of diverse economic practices across Monsoon Asia. A cross-regional on-line knowledge community is formed to explore how this asset base might be mobilised towards more effective local development and disaster response.
Fieldwork or remote sensing? The blurred line of unmanned airborne systems (Old ID 22374)
Karen Joyce
21 Oct 2015 - 20 Oct 2016
The aim of the project is to develop a state-of-the-art Unmanned Airborne System (UAS) capability in support of field data acquisition in Northern Australia. The system will provide highly detailed calibrated imagery of difficult or inaccessible survey sites and bridge the scale gap between in situ observations and imagery acquired by higher altitude airborne or satellite sensors. The Unmanned Airborne System will have a diverse range of applications, including environmental monitoring, disaster management and recording sites of indigenous cultural significance. In addition, the System will be more flexible and cost effective than any other field or remote sensing tool.
UCS, Indirect Tensile Strength and 3-Point Beam Tests on MIM Paste (Old ID 22399)
Siva Sivakugan
12 Oct 2015 - 30 Oct 2016
JCU is requested to carry out an extensive series of different tests on 50 mm dia. X 100 mm cylindrical specimens prepared and cured in the geomechanics laboratory. The tests will be in three stages, covering the three different solid contents 74.5%, 76.5% and 77.5%. The tests include uniaxial compression tests, indirect tensile strength and three-point bending. For each mix, slump tests have to be carried out at the beginning, to develop the slump height versus solid content variation.
Fostering the repair of Australia's lost shellfish reefs (Old ID 22934)
Ian McLeod
01 Sep 2016 - 31 Dec 2017
Shellfish reefs were once prominent features of Australia’s nearshore environments, providing important services such as water filtration, providing food and habitat for fish and protecting shorelines. Less than 1% remain today and restoration projects are starting in most states. This funding will empower me to work with the best shellfish restoration scientists in the USA to develop experimental and assessment methodologies to measure the potential water quality benefits of shellfish restoration in Australia. This project will provide the springboard for myself to become a national leader in the field of coastal restoration. Outputs will include two high-impact publications and a $600,000 Category 1 funding proposal.