Unique plant hormone responses: the key to nitrogen-fixing nodules. This project aims to build a model of the signals that regulate root nodule formation, unique root organs formed by some plants that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen is often limited in the soil and agriculture relies on nitrogen fertiliser. Sustainable sources of plant nutrients are required to ensure food security and minimise the environmental impact of intensive farming. This project will provide fundamental informati ....Unique plant hormone responses: the key to nitrogen-fixing nodules. This project aims to build a model of the signals that regulate root nodule formation, unique root organs formed by some plants that host nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen is often limited in the soil and agriculture relies on nitrogen fertiliser. Sustainable sources of plant nutrients are required to ensure food security and minimise the environmental impact of intensive farming. This project will provide fundamental information on why some species can form nitrogen-fixing nodules by examining the role of plant hormones. This will build the knowledge base required to potentially expand this symbiosis into non-legumes, harnessing the huge advantage nodule forming species have in staple crops.Read moreRead less
Island Communities, Island Rhetoric: Sustainable Development and the Global Promise? The challenge to integrate economic development, social equity and environmental care intensifies on small islands. This research focuses on Tasmania, peripheral island state of Australia, sometimes typified as ?regional basket-case?. The aim is to examine how Tasmanians understand and accommodate the paradoxes of sustainable development (demanding new forms of ecological citizenship) and globalisation (based on ....Island Communities, Island Rhetoric: Sustainable Development and the Global Promise? The challenge to integrate economic development, social equity and environmental care intensifies on small islands. This research focuses on Tasmania, peripheral island state of Australia, sometimes typified as ?regional basket-case?. The aim is to examine how Tasmanians understand and accommodate the paradoxes of sustainable development (demanding new forms of ecological citizenship) and globalisation (based on conservative consumer-citizenship). Both deeply influence core government policy as well as formal and informal institutional life and language. Drawing on cultural geography and political ecology, the research will enhance theory and policy discussions about island regions, local communities and governance, sustainability and social change.Read moreRead less
Mathematical and computational analysis of ship wakes. This project aims to develop mathematical and computational tools to compute the energy in a given ship wake and to determine a range of properties of a ship by taking simple measurements of the water height as the ship travels past. The expected outcomes of this project include a suite of algorithms that back-calculate the hull shape and operating conditions of a moving ship given only the surface height data measured at a single point. The ....Mathematical and computational analysis of ship wakes. This project aims to develop mathematical and computational tools to compute the energy in a given ship wake and to determine a range of properties of a ship by taking simple measurements of the water height as the ship travels past. The expected outcomes of this project include a suite of algorithms that back-calculate the hull shape and operating conditions of a moving ship given only the surface height data measured at a single point. These results should have direct implications for measuring damage to coastal zones by ship wakes and for surveillance of shipping channels.Read moreRead less