Earth & Environmental Sciences


Romain Vaucher

Romain Vaucher

Natalie Robson

Natalie Robson

Alica Hoess

Alica Hoess

Bethany Smith

Bethany Smith

Brandon Mahan

Brandon Mahan

Jurassic Arc? Reconstructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia (Old ID 23299)
This project aims to resolve a long-standing enigma about the geological formation of the Great Artesian Basin – Australia’s most important onshore reservoir for groundwater and hydrocarbon resources. Specifically, the project will integrate sedimentological and geochemical studies to investigate the geodynamic configuration of Eastern Australia during the Jurassic Period of basin formation. The intended outcomes are an improved understanding of the evolution of the Australian continent and better knowledge of the formation of intercontinental sedimentary basins, which includes better assessment of their potential to contain hydrocarbon resources.
Building Capacity of Civil Society Organisation in Southeast Asia to Collaborate with Governments to Equitably and Sustainably Secure Fisheries and Support Maritime Security (Old ID 27586)
Amy Diedrich - Earth & Environmental Sciences
01 Jul 2022 - 30 Jun 2024
The purpose of the project is to partner with selected Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Philippines and Indonesia in order to build capacity to implement Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in coastal communities. More broadly this project will contribute to building the capacity for CSOs to engage with policy processes and partner with governments to strengthen maritime policies and local level implementation. This grant will cover phase one of the program for activities to be delivered over the first two years.
Activity 2.6 (Banana soil physico-chemical properties) of 'Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 Research program (BA14014)' (Old ID 22760)
Paul Nelson - Earth & Environmental Sciences
30 May 2016 - 01 Jun 2020
The project will determine the influence of soil physiocochemical conditions on growth and infectivity of the banana disease-causing fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc. Foc is one of the world's most destructive banana diseases and Tropical Race 4, which attacks the Cavendish variety, was recently detected in the Tully valley in the heart of the North Queensland banana production region. This project is part of a larger program aimed at providing new information and practices to address key areas of need with a medium to long-term view of developing management practices for banana growers affected by Tropical Race 4.
Waters of Jericho: Characterizing the Cu isotope compostition of water overlying IOCG-style deposaits in the Mt Isa block (Jericho and Eloise deposits). (Old ID 27017)
This project is a pilot study that aims to characterize the Cu isotope compositions of borehole waters in 10 km radius around the Jericho and Eloise IOCG type ore deposits. Cu isotopes can act as an ore vectoiring. However, few studies have focused exclusively on natural water samples as a ameans to vector under cover. Novel, efficient techniques are needed as the demand for Cu increases with population and our transition to green energies. A second aim of the project is to stream line the purification of Cu (needed for analysis) to make this more time and cost efficient, and thus more accessible to industry partners.
Sequestering carbon and improving sugarcane productivity by enhanced weathering of basalt (Old ID 23432)
Paul Nelson - Earth & Environmental Sciences
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.
Assessment of Community Livelihood needs to support Australia’s Marine Resources Initiative in the Asia-Pacific Region (Old ID 27267)
Amy Diedrich - Earth & Environmental Sciences
09 Jun 2021 - 30 Sep 2022
The global community has committed to increasing the economic benefit that Small Island Developing States and less developed countries derive from marine resources by 2030 (UN 2015). This commitment was reflected in the Prime Minister’s statement at the November 2020 ASEAN-Australia Summit where he announced the Marine Resources Initiative (MRI), and pledged to support maritime states in Southeast Asian countries to “develop their marine resources sustainably and address challenges through enhanced training, technical advice and cooperation” (https://www.pm.gov.au/media/investing-our-southeast-asian-partnerships). This project will conduct an assessment of coastal community livelihood needs to inform DFAT’s policy on maritime resource development and support the MRI in selected southeast Asian countries. The project will focus onWestern Philippines and Northern Indonesia and will culminate in recommendations on interventions to support coastal communities to develop their maritime resources sustainably. More broadly, this will contribute to supporting regional maritime states to achieve more equitable and sustainable maritime resource development.
Cu isotope characterization of waters in the Mt Windsor Sub-Province, NE QLD (Old ID 27379)
Minotaur Operations has received funding through the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) for copper isotope characterisation of groundwater sampled from active bores in the immediate vicinity of its Windsor Project in NE Queensland. The Mount Windsor Subprovince terrane covers significant Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits and prospects, and VMS deposits in the district all contain New Economy Minerals including Cd, Cu, Au, In, Ag, and Zn. Building on existing JCU research findings, this collaborative project will characterize up to 50 water bores for major/trace elements and Cu isotopes, towards determining elemental/isotopic anomalies which may indicate mineralization and therefore aide Minotaur’s exploration program.
Characterising IOCG and SEDEX deposits in the Mt Isa block with Cu-Zn isotopes (Old ID 26545)
Paul Dirks - Earth & Environmental Sciences
15 Jun 2019 - 15 Dec 2020
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.
An eDNA molecular diagnostic tool for soil microbial biosecurity (Old ID 27431)
Ryan Orr - Earth & Environmental Sciences
25 Nov 2021 - 30 Jan 2023
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.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (Old ID 22972)
Michael Bird - Earth & Environmental Sciences
30 Jun 2017 - 30 Apr 2025
This Centre will create a world-class interdisciplinary research programme to understand Australia's unique biodiversity and heritage. The Centre will track the changes to Australia's environment to examine the processes responsible for the changes and the lessons that can be used to continue to adapt to Australia's changing environment. The Centre will support connections between the sciences and humanities and train future generations of researchers to deal with future global challenges and inform policy in an interdisciplinary context.
Reseracher: Alana Grech (Professor)
End Date: 01 Jan 2010
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Reseracher: Michael Bird (Distinguished Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
Title: Malayalam
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)
Title: English
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)
Title: Tamil
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)
Title: Hindi
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)