The effect of wastewater treatment on the ecotoxicity of chiral chemicals. This project aims to assess the environmental implications of pharmaceuticals discharged in effluents from wastewater treatment plants. Trace levels of human pharmaceuticals occur in sewage and urban waterways, but during sewage treatment, some pharmaceuticals can undergo a chemical transformation known as 'chiral inversion'. In some cases, this may convert relatively benign environmental contaminants to more ecologically ....The effect of wastewater treatment on the ecotoxicity of chiral chemicals. This project aims to assess the environmental implications of pharmaceuticals discharged in effluents from wastewater treatment plants. Trace levels of human pharmaceuticals occur in sewage and urban waterways, but during sewage treatment, some pharmaceuticals can undergo a chemical transformation known as 'chiral inversion'. In some cases, this may convert relatively benign environmental contaminants to more ecologically toxic species. This project will investigate why and how some pharmaceuticals become susceptible to chiral inversion and assess ecotoxicological differences. This work is expected to determine the significance of considering chiral inversion in environmental risk assessment, with applications to a broader range of chemicals including pesticides and industrial chemicals.Read moreRead less
Pro bono service: drivers, delight, dark side and downside for the professional. Pro bono work, common in the professions, is important to Australia's economy. This ground breaking research provides rich insights into why pro bono givers feel unappreciated, unacknowledged, unreciprocated, and often taken advantage of and, importantly, equips professionals with strategies for enhanced outcomes.
Bold Experiment: an historical evaluation of the Australian Assistance Plan. Australia and similar western democracies continue to wrestle with growing citizen disengagement with political processes and declining levels of active participation in society. This project is expected to provide the first historical examination of the Australian Assistance Plan (AAP), an innovative yet forgotten program from the 1970s. The AAP sought to reframe participation at a local level, stimulate voluntary orga ....Bold Experiment: an historical evaluation of the Australian Assistance Plan. Australia and similar western democracies continue to wrestle with growing citizen disengagement with political processes and declining levels of active participation in society. This project is expected to provide the first historical examination of the Australian Assistance Plan (AAP), an innovative yet forgotten program from the 1970s. The AAP sought to reframe participation at a local level, stimulate voluntary organisations and provide a framework that engaged with all levels of governments. Using archival sources and oral history methods, the project seeks to offer a new interpretation of an important initiative in Australian history and demonstrate how historical analysis can inform policy and shape debates in government and non-profit sectors in the future.Read moreRead less
Photoelectrocatalysis-based Techniques for Bactericidal Applications. Effective control of the quality of water supply is paramount for public health. This project aims to develop a novel photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) based bactericidal technology capable of instant inactivation and rapid decomposition of waterborne pathogens in recycled water. The PEC processes at the illuminated semiconductor photoanodes with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light activities will be innovatively utilised with the ai ....Photoelectrocatalysis-based Techniques for Bactericidal Applications. Effective control of the quality of water supply is paramount for public health. This project aims to develop a novel photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) based bactericidal technology capable of instant inactivation and rapid decomposition of waterborne pathogens in recycled water. The PEC processes at the illuminated semiconductor photoanodes with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light activities will be innovatively utilised with the aim of in-situ generation of stable di-halide radical anions, reactive oxygen species and photoholes as effectual bactericides to achieve instant inactivation and rapid decomposition of waterborne pathogens. The success of the project is expected to provide Australian water industry with enabling technology to safeguard recycled water usage.Read moreRead less
Managing environmental change through planning for transformative pathways. The project plans to bring together Chinese and Australian researchers to investigate how planning systems in the two countries can be enhanced to avoid tipping points due to urbanisation processes and environmental change. It aims to formulate transformative pathways for two case study areas, situated in peri-urban areas of a rapidly growing region in each country, which seek to link adaptation and sustainability to add ....Managing environmental change through planning for transformative pathways. The project plans to bring together Chinese and Australian researchers to investigate how planning systems in the two countries can be enhanced to avoid tipping points due to urbanisation processes and environmental change. It aims to formulate transformative pathways for two case study areas, situated in peri-urban areas of a rapidly growing region in each country, which seek to link adaptation and sustainability to address and/or avoid land use planning failures. The anticipated outcome of the project is to address environmental and social change resulting from rapid urbanisation and environmental change.Read moreRead less
Unintentional surfactant facilitated solubilisation and transport of apparently immobile chemicals. This research will improve qualitative and quantitative understanding on surfactant facilitated transport processes of apparently immobile contaminants. The project's goal is to provide a modelling approach that ultimately can be applied to assess and predict groundwater and offsite contamination risks in areas where surfactants are commonly used.
Extreme soil acidification and metal release risks from increasing drought. The project aims to study the effects of drought on pH and metal speciation in soils, and develop tools to assess current and future risks. Social and economic well-being depends on good soil and water quality. Climate change makes droughts more frequent and severe, which could cause soil acidification (pH<4) and metal release in many regions. The project will integrate experimental data on the effects of drought on soil ....Extreme soil acidification and metal release risks from increasing drought. The project aims to study the effects of drought on pH and metal speciation in soils, and develop tools to assess current and future risks. Social and economic well-being depends on good soil and water quality. Climate change makes droughts more frequent and severe, which could cause soil acidification (pH<4) and metal release in many regions. The project will integrate experimental data on the effects of drought on soil geochemistry with hydro-geochemical models, and apply these to national-scale predictions. The intended outcomes are improved management and preparedness for droughts and new research directions for geochemistry.Read moreRead less