$5 million for industry-linked research
Friday, 30 May 2003
The University of 亚洲色吧 has further strengthened its links with industry, winning more than $2.2 million in the latest round of funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and a further $2.8 million in industry support.
The money and in-kind support is for 14 industry-linked research projects at the University of 亚洲色吧 over the next five years.
ARC funding for these projects will assist 亚洲色吧 researchers to develop strategic alliances with industry. Each research project is co-funded by one or more companies or partner organisations. The combined funding and in-kind support brings the total to more than $5.1 million.
"Research with industry is one of the areas in which the University of 亚洲色吧 can make a huge impact, and this result is a fantastic one for us and our partners," says the Vice-Chancellor, Professor James McWha.
"While 亚洲色吧 already has a reputation as one of the strongest research universities in Australia - if not the strongest - this latest result shows that our research with industry is a growing and important area for us," he says.
The 14 successful projects at 亚洲色吧 are across the Sciences, Engineering and Humanities & Social Sciences. They include projects that have the potential to make a significant impact on industry and the community, such as:
$78,000 to investigate improvements to sunscreen, offering stronger protection against ultraviolet-A radiation (Chemistry, in partnership with H.A. Milton Holdings Pty Ltd Group)
$193,000 to assess the impact of climate change on the wheat industry and identify strategies to help overcome it (Environmental Studies and Agronomy & Farming Systems, in partnership with Primary Industries and Resources SA)
$80,700 to study the implication of electronic voting for South Australia (Politics, in partnership with the State Electoral Office of South Australia)
$350,000 for studies into native fish stocking of Australia's rivers (Environmental Biology, in partnership with Natural Resources & Environment Victoria and NSW Fisheries)
University of 亚洲色吧 ARC Linkage Projects 2003
Total funding from ARC: $2.26m
Total funding from industry: $1.15m in cash and $1.73m in kind (note: figures for individual projects below are for ARC funding only)
Number of projects awarded: 14
$69,000 - Genetic variation in the Cotesia flavipes complex of parasitic wasps: towards the effective biological control of stem-borer pests
Professor Andy Austin (Environmental Biology, University of 亚洲色吧) and Dr Stephen Donnellan (SA Museum)
Partner Organisations:
Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations
South Australian Museum
Summary:
This project will determine the genetic variation among world populations of the parasitic wasp Cotesia flavipes, as a prelude to the preemptive biological control of stemborer pests of sugarcane in Australia. These pests currently do not occur in Australia, but are found in crops across New Guinea and Indonesia, so that their incursion into Australia is highly likely in the future. The results of this project will clarify the taxonomic status of C. flavipes-like species in Australia and provide the means, using molecular markers, to select host strains of this wasp suitable for the control of specific stemborer species
$228,000 - Assessment of the diversity, distribution and uniqueness of subterranean animals from calcrete aquifers in central western Australia
Professor Andy Austin (Environmental Biology, University of 亚洲色吧), Dr Steve Cooper (SA Museum), Dr Bill Humphreys (WA Museum)
Partner Organisations:
Newmont Australia
Placer Dome Asia Pacific
South Australian Museum
Western Australian Museum
Summary:
Recently a rich and diverse subterranean invertebrate fauna (stygofauna) was unexpectedly discovered from numerous isolated calcrete aquifers associated with palaeodrainage channels in central Western Australia. Our recent taxonomic and molecular studies have suggested that stygofaunas within each aquifer may be highly endemic. We aim to test this hypothesis by investigating the diversity, distribution and uniqueness of stygofauna from three major calcrete regions. We further aim to document the environmental conditions and variability within the aquifers and to develop rigorous sampling protocols. Such data are essential for the development of appropriate strategies for sustainable management of subterranean water and their ecosystems.
$130,000 - Integrated, interactive and systematic Marine Protected Area design for sustainability of South Australian marine environments: A GIS- based, spatial optimisation approach
Dr Brett Bryan (Key Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GISCA), University of 亚洲色吧)
Partner Organisation:
Department for Environment and Heritage
Summary:
This project aims to enhance MPA design in SA by integrating systematic conservation planning (SCP), spatial optimisation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). New, integrated Integer Programming (IP) models will be built based on established SCP principles and nationally agreed marine conservation criteria. The IP models will be tightly coupled with the GIS to create an interactive Spatial Decision Support Tool (SDSS) for systematic MPA design - the first of its kind. The SDSS will enable real- time, systematic MPA design and will provide flexible design options for a comprehensive, adequate, representative and efficient MPA system for SA.
$350,000 - Native fish stocking of rivers: discriminating between hatchery- reared and wild fish
Dr Bronwyn Gillanders (Environmental Biology, University of 亚洲色吧), Dr Dave Crook (Department of Natural Resources & Environment), Dr Andrew Sanger (NSW Fisheries)
Partner Organisations:
Department of Natural Resources & Environment
NSW Fisheries
Summary:
Stocking of fish is widely used in attempts to restore native fish populations. Little is known of the fate of stocked fish or the effects of stocking on resident populations. We will develop and evaluate protocols for chemical marking of otoliths of hatchery-reared fish so that their source can be determined. Experimental stocking of hatchery-reared fish will be undertaken and population structure and source of stocked versus wild fish determined in stocked and unstocked rivers. Natural chemical signatures will also help determine important recruitment areas. The outcomes will allow fisheries managers to make informed decisions regarding stocking strategies.
$270,000 - Development of an active noise control system for sleeper seats on large commercial aircraft
Professor Colin Hansen (Mechanical Engineering, University of 亚洲色吧) and Dr Damien Leclercq (Mechanical Engineering, University of 亚洲色吧)
Partner Organisation:
Qantas Airways Limited
Summary:
Possible avenues will be investigated to actively reduce aircraft cabin noise experienced by passengers in sleeper seats, using localised active noise control (ANC). Previous work has focused on headsets and upright seat headrests that represent a different problem to the partially enclosed sleeper seats considered here. Efficiency and robustness problems that affect existing ANC systems will be addressed. A prototype system will be produced for a business class sleeper seat in a wide body aircraft. A second outcome is the establishment of a robust integrated system design procedure that can be used to quickly develop ANC systems for future designs.
$80,748 - Electronic Voting and Electoral Inclusion: Implications for South Australia
Dr Lisa Hill (Politics, University of 亚洲色吧), Associate Professor Peter Mayer (Politics, University of 亚洲色吧), Dr Greg McCarthy (Politics, University of 亚洲色吧)
Partner Organisation:
State Electoral Office of South Australia
Summary:
South Australia is unique in having a highly concentrated urban population, a large Aboriginal population living in remote regions, and non-compulsory voting enrolment. The voting inclusion of all South Australians therefore presents a number of challenges. The project explores the potential of electronic voting to improve voting access among residents of isolated and remote regions of South Australia. Levels and causes of non-voting will be established using qualitative and quantitative research methods. Results will be assessed against a comprehensive literature analysis of the use of eVoting world-wide. Finally, recommendations for future directions will be made.
$78,099 - Molecular UV-A Sunscreen Filters: A Systematic Chemical Study
Professor Stephen Lincoln (Chemistry, University of 亚洲色吧)
Partner Organisation:
H.A. Milton Holdings Pty. Ltd. Group
Summary:
Australia has the world's highest melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer rate, with the latter representing the highest healthcare cost of any cancer. Current suns