Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bure ....Next-generation ocean current forecasting to improve maritime safety . This project aims to measure upper ocean currents at scales of 10-100 km in Australia's marine estate using pioneering satellite radar technology. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will map currents at 10 times the resolution of present-day satellites and revolutionise our understanding of ocean dynamics. Expected outcomes include validation of SWOT data in Australian waters and merging this data into Bureau of Meteorology ocean models. Downstream benefits include improved ocean forecasts for maritime safety, search-and-rescue, spill modelling, and marine conservation. At the same time, the project will build sovereign capability in emerging remote sensing technology with a legacy beyond the life of the SWOT mission.Read moreRead less
Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater ....Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic algae in subtropical water reservoirs? This project aims to determine the key factors causing blooms of the toxic algae, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, which dominates many freshwater reservoirs throughout Queensland. Little is known of why blooms of this species occur. Without the development of this understanding and research capacity to tackle this issue in Queensland, the severity of the problem is likely to increase, putting ever-greater pressure on drinking water supplies. The outcomes from this project would therefore be an increased capacity to predict blooms, and identification of management options for reducing the occurrence of blooms to ensure a cost-effective and safe water supply.Read moreRead less
Understanding and controlling bioavailability: passive dosing of persistent organic pollutants into recombinant cell bioassays. Bioassays with mammalian cell lines may replace animal testing in chemical risk assessment if issues with limited sensitivity can be overcome for very hydrophobic chemicals such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. The project will solve this problem by developing a polymer-release dosing technique that assures defined and constant exposure.
What are the risks of viral infections in drinking water storages? South East Queensland's population growth is the fastest in Australia but our drinking water supplies will be fully allocated by 2020. Maintaining public health standards of the existing supplies is vital. Declines in water quality in these unprotected catchments will influence viral infection but we don't know how. Toxin producing algae (cyanobacteria) also bloom and we don't know why. We have an innovative approach to determine ....What are the risks of viral infections in drinking water storages? South East Queensland's population growth is the fastest in Australia but our drinking water supplies will be fully allocated by 2020. Maintaining public health standards of the existing supplies is vital. Declines in water quality in these unprotected catchments will influence viral infection but we don't know how. Toxin producing algae (cyanobacteria) also bloom and we don't know why. We have an innovative approach to determine how changing water quality influences viral infection of toxic cyanobacteria and the potential of human viral pathogens (disease causing) to infect. This new knowledge will improve SEQWater's ability to manage public and ecosystem health risks in drinking water storages.Read moreRead less
A novel path to environmental and human health risk assessment of transformation products. Chemical pollution is a threat to our rivers and drinking water supplies. Degradation during water treatment and in the environment may lead to persistent and toxic transformation products. This project will provide a practical and cost-efficient risk assessment strategy for transformation products - to help ensure that our drinking water is safe.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354630
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. The Network in Fluorescence applications in biotechnology and life sciences will coordinate a research program relating to applications of fluorescence whose proper resolution requires a high degree of interaction between biology, physics, chemistry, bioengineering and medicine. These would be applied to industrially relevant problems in areas such as public health, biotechnology, safety of foods, chemical biology and environmental mo ....Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. The Network in Fluorescence applications in biotechnology and life sciences will coordinate a research program relating to applications of fluorescence whose proper resolution requires a high degree of interaction between biology, physics, chemistry, bioengineering and medicine. These would be applied to industrially relevant problems in areas such as public health, biotechnology, safety of foods, chemical biology and environmental monitoring. Approaches such as highly selective fluorescent labelling of targets using appropriate immunological and molecular techniques and purpose-engineered fluorochromes accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation will capitalise on the multi-disciplinary research strengths in Australia and lead towards tangible industrial outcomes.
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ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These resear ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences. This Network will concentrate Australian research in new applications of fluorescence to biological systems to solve significant problems in health diagnostics, biotechnology and the environment. The scientific goals identified by the Network such as highly selective fluorescent labelling and purpose-engineered fluorochromes will be accompanied by the development of specialised instrumentation. These research directions pursued by strong multi-disciplinary teams spanning biology, chemistry, physics, bioengineering and medicine will benefit from the support of the Network programs. Through its focus on academic - industry collaboration the Network will also facilitate development of basic scientific discoveries into commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Interactions between nanoparticles and bacteria. This project aims to understand how nanoparticles interfere with bacterial metabolism, and how these interactions lead to cell death, lysis and dispersal from biofilms. Intensive use of nanomaterials results in their continuously releases into the environment. While various nanoparticles have inhibitory and even toxic effects on microorganisms in ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. This project will investigate model organism ....Interactions between nanoparticles and bacteria. This project aims to understand how nanoparticles interfere with bacterial metabolism, and how these interactions lead to cell death, lysis and dispersal from biofilms. Intensive use of nanomaterials results in their continuously releases into the environment. While various nanoparticles have inhibitory and even toxic effects on microorganisms in ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. This project will investigate model organisms’ responses to nanoparticles at the cellular, enzymatic and gene expression levels. The findings are expected to help assess the immediate and long-term effect of nanoparticles on ecosystem health, for improved environmental management.Read moreRead less
Next-gen accident prevention: a new theory and toolkit for safer systems. This project aims to address limitations associated with existing accident causation theory and methodologies. Accident prevention across high risk industries is constrained by limitations in accident theory and methodologies. As a result, reductions in injuries and fatalities in most domains are plateauing. The expected outputs of the project include a new theory of accident causation, a new proactive risk assessment meth ....Next-gen accident prevention: a new theory and toolkit for safer systems. This project aims to address limitations associated with existing accident causation theory and methodologies. Accident prevention across high risk industries is constrained by limitations in accident theory and methodologies. As a result, reductions in injuries and fatalities in most domains are plateauing. The expected outputs of the project include a new theory of accident causation, a new proactive risk assessment methodology and a new methodology for analysing accidents. This will provide organisations and researchers with a powerful framework for enhanced accident analysis and prevention activities. This will provide significant benefits, associated with reductions in accidents, injuries and fatalities.Read moreRead less
Application of contemporary systems-based methods to reduce trauma at rail level crossings. Crashes at railway level crossings continue to cause significant trauma across Australia. Despite being a longstanding safety problem, the design and operation of level crossings has not changed considerably for decades. This research will provide an in-depth understanding of road user, environmental and infrastructure-related factors that influence safety and performance at rail level crossings. This wil ....Application of contemporary systems-based methods to reduce trauma at rail level crossings. Crashes at railway level crossings continue to cause significant trauma across Australia. Despite being a longstanding safety problem, the design and operation of level crossings has not changed considerably for decades. This research will provide an in-depth understanding of road user, environmental and infrastructure-related factors that influence safety and performance at rail level crossings. This will be used to develop a world-first model of the level crossing system that is needed to support the development of innovative countermeasures that will improve safety. Reductions in the levels of significant trauma at level crossings, and new public policy for level crossing upgrades, are the intended real-world outcomes.Read moreRead less