Changing Heat: Direct Impacts Of Temperature On Health And Productivity - Current Risks And Climate Change Projections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$277,915.00
Summary
We know that heatwaves kill people - some 50,000 died in the 2003 European heatwave - but little is known of the details. This project will discover those details, in three important dimensions: WHO is at risk, and where do they live; HOW are people at risk, e.g. from kidney failure; and just WHAT is it about heat that is most dangerous? We will then build mathematical models of the future risks, and explore what public health measures will best protect Australians in a warming climate.
Exploring The Role Of Respiratory Virus Infections In Childhood Asthma Exacerbations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$596,649.00
Summary
The PEAK study will explore the reasons children get worse asthma symptoms when they get colds. These reasons examined include the asthma medications taken (or not taken), allergies and exposure to allergens and the type of virus involved. The study follows the children over the whole school term and uses a new way to sample virus by collecting it in the breath, this is more comfortable than old methods and can be done at home.
CHARACTERISATION OF NOVEL PICORNAVIRUS-LIKE VIRUSES IDENTIFIED FROM PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$366,998.00
Summary
The common cold and serious chest colds are usually due to viral infections, and mostly occur in children. Unfortunately we can only be certain of the virus causing this illness in as little as 15% of cases. We intend to address this lack of research by examining, in detail, a new virus we recently identified in a child with serious respiratory illness that required admission to hospital. Testing by our laboratory suggests that the new virus is related to picornaviruses (which cause some common ....The common cold and serious chest colds are usually due to viral infections, and mostly occur in children. Unfortunately we can only be certain of the virus causing this illness in as little as 15% of cases. We intend to address this lack of research by examining, in detail, a new virus we recently identified in a child with serious respiratory illness that required admission to hospital. Testing by our laboratory suggests that the new virus is related to picornaviruses (which cause some common colds) but seems to be present in children with far more serious illness. Our study plans to more completely identify the new picornavirus-like virus (PLV) using the tools of molecular biology and the expertise of a senior team of Australian scientists and clinicians who have recently made several virus discoveries in Australia, demonstrating that Australian virus research is capable of achieving highly competitive results that benefit our hospitals and especially their young patients. Our studies will develop extremely sensitive tests which rely on the detection of very small amounts of the viral genome. We can use these tests to determine what the whole virus looks like, when it might occur during the year and whether the PLV are found worldwide. Our studies will also produce viral proteins in the laboratory and use these to make new tests for stored blood samples. If a blood sample comes from a patient who has previously been infected by PLV, their blood will contain specific antibodies which we will then be able to detect. We also intend to determine whether some strains of PLV are more or less likely to cause serious illness than others. Improved understanding of these and other viruses minimises the chance of illness spreading within a hospital, helps scientists to decide against which viruses to design vaccines and drugs and aids medical doctors to better identify what once went undiagnosed.Read moreRead less
Peopling educational policy: realising the new Australian English and mathematics curricula. Implementation of Australian curricula in English and mathematics provides an opportunity for school systems to re-examine practice. This project will identify resources and teacher learning opportunities needed to facilitate implementation of these curricula and use findings to develop interventions identified as likely to optimise implementation.
The Lexicon Project: Analysing pedagogical naming systems from different cultures to reconceptualise classroom practice and advance educational theory. Classrooms remain the principal site of institutionalised learning. Their cultural specificity poses challenges for international comparative research. New approaches are needed. Internationally, our educational theories, research and descriptions of practice are framed in English, which names some aspects of the classroom, but ignores key aspect ....The Lexicon Project: Analysing pedagogical naming systems from different cultures to reconceptualise classroom practice and advance educational theory. Classrooms remain the principal site of institutionalised learning. Their cultural specificity poses challenges for international comparative research. New approaches are needed. Internationally, our educational theories, research and descriptions of practice are framed in English, which names some aspects of the classroom, but ignores key aspects named in other languages. This limits our capacity to access, connect and adapt the wisdom of other cultures. The Lexicon Project will initiate cross-cultural dialogue to identify pedagogical terms from selected Asian and European educational communities and use these as analytical tools to categorise, interrogate and enrich our classroom practice, classroom research, and educational theorising.Read moreRead less
Powerful knowledge: mapping out standards of teachers' knowledge for teaching mathematics and English to achieve the goals of the curriculum. Setting standards is an important step to raising teacher quality. This project will establish benchmarks for teachers' knowledge at all levels of schooling in two key areas of the curriculum: English and mathematics.
Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented pr ....Sustainable Mathematical Foundations: STEM-enriched Modelling . This longitudinal project aims to generate new knowledge on how sustainable, innovative mathematics learning can be fostered through STEM-enriched mathematical modelling across the early grades. Featuring interdisciplinary processes, including engineering and science, novel modelling sequences will prompt children to adapt their existing ways of mathematical thinking to develop conceptual innovations in solving future-oriented problems. New theoretical and empirical frameworks are expected to transform our outmoded problem experiences to ones that challenge all children to reach their mathematical potential. Professional learning, informed by international collaboration, is expected to transcend existing teacher development modes.Read moreRead less
Using mathematics to solve real world problems. This project aims to identify, apply and refine teaching approaches that help secondary students learn mathematical modelling, using mathematics to solve real world problems. The study will investigate the mathematical, cognitive, social and environmental factors that "enable" Year 10/11 students to develop mathematical representations of a real world problem. This project expects to generate theoretical and practical insights into how these enable ....Using mathematics to solve real world problems. This project aims to identify, apply and refine teaching approaches that help secondary students learn mathematical modelling, using mathematics to solve real world problems. The study will investigate the mathematical, cognitive, social and environmental factors that "enable" Year 10/11 students to develop mathematical representations of a real world problem. This project expects to generate theoretical and practical insights into how these enablers promote successful modelling, tasks that support students' development as modellers, and effective teaching approaches that promote student capability and interest in mathematics.Read moreRead less
Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the imp ....Modelling with data: Advancing STEM in the primary curriculum. Improving the nation's skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) remains a continuing concern, especially given the decline in international test results. The project aims to introduce a new approach to promoting this learning across grades 3-6 through modelling with data. With a focus on inquiry processes involving data variation and uncertainty within STEM-based contexts, the project aims to develop the important mathematical and statistical literacies needed for lifting student achievements. In advancing both theory and practice, the project aims to contribute to knowledge of primary students' capabilities for STEM problem solving and ways of enhancing implementation of the Australian Curriculum.Read moreRead less