Occupational injury prevention in high temperature environments. This project aims to explore the contribution of heat as a risk factor in work-related illness and injury. Approximately 600 000 Australians experience a work-related illness or injury each year. Hot weather may directly or indirectly lead to accidents, but heat as a risk factor has not been systematically explored, and is particularly relevant in a warming climate. This project aims to improve safety and productivity in Australian ....Occupational injury prevention in high temperature environments. This project aims to explore the contribution of heat as a risk factor in work-related illness and injury. Approximately 600 000 Australians experience a work-related illness or injury each year. Hot weather may directly or indirectly lead to accidents, but heat as a risk factor has not been systematically explored, and is particularly relevant in a warming climate. This project aims to improve safety and productivity in Australian industry by generating new evidence and predictive models to inform injury prevention policy and guidance, and facilitating the development of practical, targeted resources. This project expects to add to the body of knowledge regarding workers’ health and safety and to be of benefit to industry and subpopulations at risk.Read moreRead less
Ocean Acidification in a Rapidly Increasing CO2 World. Carbon dioxide not only acts as a greenhouse gas but is being dissolved at increasing rates into the surface waters of the world's oceans, causing ocean acidity. We will examine how the rapidly increasing trend towards acidity in the oceans surrounding Australia is effecting the ability of marine organisms to calcify and determine the rate at which the world's ocean sink for CO2 is being reduced. New constraints will be placed on the critica ....Ocean Acidification in a Rapidly Increasing CO2 World. Carbon dioxide not only acts as a greenhouse gas but is being dissolved at increasing rates into the surface waters of the world's oceans, causing ocean acidity. We will examine how the rapidly increasing trend towards acidity in the oceans surrounding Australia is effecting the ability of marine organisms to calcify and determine the rate at which the world's ocean sink for CO2 is being reduced. New constraints will be placed on the critical threshold limits of CO2 emissions for sustainable calcification in both shallow tropical and deep-water marine ecosystems of the Southern Oceans.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Panel Data Econometrics: Theory and Practice. This research addresses the ARC National Research Priorities Goal of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia', specifically 'Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation'. Avoiding, managing, and/or adapting to the climate change impacts is now the most pressing global environmental problem. This project will produce tangible and original insights into policy options for institutional adjustment to future climate ....Nonlinear Panel Data Econometrics: Theory and Practice. This research addresses the ARC National Research Priorities Goal of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia', specifically 'Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation'. Avoiding, managing, and/or adapting to the climate change impacts is now the most pressing global environmental problem. This project will produce tangible and original insights into policy options for institutional adjustment to future climate change in Australia; will provide insight into the scope for positive community behavioural change; and possible transformations in Australian social debate to maximise adaptive capacity. It will also strengthen and produce original conceptual approaches and research methods.Read moreRead less
Sugar and water handling by honeyeaters and sunbirds. Honeyeaters are the major vertebrate pollinators in Australia, playing a vital role in maintenance of healthy ecosystems. These birds are faced with extreme physiological challenges due to their diet, ingesting 2-5 times their body mass in nectar to obtain their daily sugar requirement. Nectarivores are, consequently, masters at processing and assimilating sugars and water; comparative physiology of these charismatic birds will provide deep u ....Sugar and water handling by honeyeaters and sunbirds. Honeyeaters are the major vertebrate pollinators in Australia, playing a vital role in maintenance of healthy ecosystems. These birds are faced with extreme physiological challenges due to their diet, ingesting 2-5 times their body mass in nectar to obtain their daily sugar requirement. Nectarivores are, consequently, masters at processing and assimilating sugars and water; comparative physiology of these charismatic birds will provide deep understanding of sugar and water handling mechanisms. Understanding gut and renal physiology and morphology contributes to the broad base of knowledge required to address pathological and clinical conditions in man, and will enhance our ability to predict effects of environmental change on these birds.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear and Nonstationary Time Series Econometrics: Theory and Applications. The outcomes of this project will not only complement but also enhance the existing research strengths of Australian researchers in time series econometrics. Such a research goal falls within the National Research Priority 3 (PG1). In addition, our models will be applicable in stablizing the national financial market for more accurate forecasts. This falls within the National Research Priority 3 (PG5). The research ou ....Nonlinear and Nonstationary Time Series Econometrics: Theory and Applications. The outcomes of this project will not only complement but also enhance the existing research strengths of Australian researchers in time series econometrics. Such a research goal falls within the National Research Priority 3 (PG1). In addition, our models will be applicable in stablizing the national financial market for more accurate forecasts. This falls within the National Research Priority 3 (PG5). The research outcomes will also provide novel models to respond to climate change and variability and to provide accurate warming estimates for improving the policy making process. This falls within the National Research Priority 1 (PG7) Read moreRead less
Calibration Free Coulometric Sensors Based on Polymeric Thin Layer Films. The world faces enormous environmental and clinical challenges that require accurate data from remote deployable and disposable sensors. Many key parameters important to global warming (carbon dioxide cycle) and clinical diagnostics (blood electrolytes) may be assessed with a polymeric membrane sensing technology, but the measurement principle is not sufficiently robust for remote sensing applications. This research will m ....Calibration Free Coulometric Sensors Based on Polymeric Thin Layer Films. The world faces enormous environmental and clinical challenges that require accurate data from remote deployable and disposable sensors. Many key parameters important to global warming (carbon dioxide cycle) and clinical diagnostics (blood electrolytes) may be assessed with a polymeric membrane sensing technology, but the measurement principle is not sufficiently robust for remote sensing applications. This research will make this possible by adapting calibration free measurement principles (coulometry, or charge counting) to this class of sensors, where a thin layer of sample solution will be depleted by instrumental control. This forms the scientific basis for successfully tackling the measurement challenges of the future.Read moreRead less
Human Impact and Environmental Change in the Lower Yangtze Delta, China. Based upon a combination of sediment-based proxies of palaeoenvironmental conditions this project attempts to link existing models of geomorphological and climatic variability for the Yangtze Delta to cultural changes evident in archaeological and historical records. The Yangtze valley was the home of agriculture in Asia and hence for the beginnings of village life and Chinese culture. The delta region has prograded over 10 ....Human Impact and Environmental Change in the Lower Yangtze Delta, China. Based upon a combination of sediment-based proxies of palaeoenvironmental conditions this project attempts to link existing models of geomorphological and climatic variability for the Yangtze Delta to cultural changes evident in archaeological and historical records. The Yangtze valley was the home of agriculture in Asia and hence for the beginnings of village life and Chinese culture. The delta region has prograded over 100 km since the early Holocene and there is a well- preserved succession of Neolithic and modern cultures across its surface. The project investigates the relative impact of Holocene river migration, sealevel and climate change on societies, and also the relative impact of societies on vegetation, eutrophication and erosion while the region was converted to an anthropogenic landscape. The results will enable models of human-environmental interactions to be compared with those developed for
Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.Read moreRead less
Significance and mechanisms of evaporative water loss control by endotherms. This project plans to examine the novel hypothesis that mammals and birds can control and minimise their evaporative water loss in dry environments. Water balance is fundamental for the survival of mammals and birds. As a large component of total water loss, evaporative water loss is particularly critical for species in arid habitats and areas undergoing desertification and other habitat modifications. Control of water ....Significance and mechanisms of evaporative water loss control by endotherms. This project plans to examine the novel hypothesis that mammals and birds can control and minimise their evaporative water loss in dry environments. Water balance is fundamental for the survival of mammals and birds. As a large component of total water loss, evaporative water loss is particularly critical for species in arid habitats and areas undergoing desertification and other habitat modifications. Control of water loss is a previously unappreciated ability in mammals and birds. Determining the mechanistic basis for evaporative homeostasis would fundamentally change our knowledge of animal function, and may help us to predict and understand the effects of environmental change on survival and distribution limits for Australian fauna.Read moreRead less
Enabling social innovation for local climate adaptability. Climate variability and change is likely to be felt most acutely at the local scale in Australia. This is where inter/national and State policies are translated into practices to prepare for, and adapt to, anticipated impacts of heatwaves, bushfires and floods. This project will investigate tensions and potentialities between risk-based assessments by local governance agencies and innovations by local groups and Non-Government Organisati ....Enabling social innovation for local climate adaptability. Climate variability and change is likely to be felt most acutely at the local scale in Australia. This is where inter/national and State policies are translated into practices to prepare for, and adapt to, anticipated impacts of heatwaves, bushfires and floods. This project will investigate tensions and potentialities between risk-based assessments by local governance agencies and innovations by local groups and Non-Government Organisations. The research will utilise an innovative mixed-methods approach to investigate and to analyse the strategies and experiments of adaptation practices. It aims to develop new ways of identifying and implementing practical, local, adaptive responses that are contextually relevant, socially innovative and capacity building.Read moreRead less
Locating loss from climate change in everyday places. This project aims to investigate loss within the contexts of fire, drought and flooding in Western Australia. The project’s innovative approach will reveal how community members in rural and urban places make value trade-offs and decisions over desirable futures. The project’s expected outcomes will provide insights into acceptable and intolerable losses, and grief and hope, in familiar places. The findings will contribute an analysis of com ....Locating loss from climate change in everyday places. This project aims to investigate loss within the contexts of fire, drought and flooding in Western Australia. The project’s innovative approach will reveal how community members in rural and urban places make value trade-offs and decisions over desirable futures. The project’s expected outcomes will provide insights into acceptable and intolerable losses, and grief and hope, in familiar places. The findings will contribute an analysis of community resilience in the face of socio-economic and environmental threats, and inclusive planning for place-based adaptation.Read moreRead less