Reducing environmental footprint by improving phosphorous use efficiency. While modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of phosphorous fertilizers, most of them are not used by plants and lost in runoff, resulting in a massive environmental damage through contamination of waterways (termed eutrophication). This project takes advantage of an untapped resource - a unique collection of Tibetan wild barley genotypes, to reveal key traits that confer superior phosphorus use efficiency in wild ba ....Reducing environmental footprint by improving phosphorous use efficiency. While modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of phosphorous fertilizers, most of them are not used by plants and lost in runoff, resulting in a massive environmental damage through contamination of waterways (termed eutrophication). This project takes advantage of an untapped resource - a unique collection of Tibetan wild barley genotypes, to reveal key traits that confer superior phosphorus use efficiency in wild barley and identify appropriate candidate genes and their position on chromosomes for further incorporating these traits into commercial barley cultivars. This will reduce the environmental footprint of modern agricultural practices on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems without compromising food security.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of a major quantitative trait locus on wheat chromosome 3BL responsible for Fusarium crown rot resistance. Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a serious wheat disease in Australia and worldwide. Our team has identified a major chromosome region controlling this disease. This project is proposing to develop DNA markers for marker assisted breeding, to understand the genetic mechanism of resistance and to identify genes responsible for resistance to the disease.
Towards improving the yield of Canola and other Brassicas during drought. One of the major problems faced by world agriculture is drought; this project should improve the yield of Canola during moderate to severe droughts. Significantly, this project includes both "traditional" non-genetically modified (GM) strategies and GM strategies to maximise the market for our drought-tolerant canola both in Australia and overseas.
Integrating community and family aged care for diverse Australians . This project aims to identify optimal ways to integrate community and family care to support older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds to age well at home and in their communities. Using an innovative research design, the project seeks to generate new policy and practice relevant knowledge of care networks and expectations of diverse older Australians, their families and service providers to identify new avenues for e ....Integrating community and family aged care for diverse Australians . This project aims to identify optimal ways to integrate community and family care to support older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds to age well at home and in their communities. Using an innovative research design, the project seeks to generate new policy and practice relevant knowledge of care networks and expectations of diverse older Australians, their families and service providers to identify new avenues for enabling family and community collaboration to meet care needs. Expected outcomes include enhancing Australia’s capacity to provide accessible, tailored and culturally responsive aged care, with significant benefits for improving care experiences for diverse older Australians, their families and service providers.Read moreRead less
Standing up to racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This project aims to substantially increase understandings of bystander responses (including their extent, nature, potential, merits, benefits, and constraints) as a means of countering racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This aims to be achieved through examining experiences of, attitudes towards, and responses to, racism and racial bullying among school students; identifying health, wellbeing, ....Standing up to racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This project aims to substantially increase understandings of bystander responses (including their extent, nature, potential, merits, benefits, and constraints) as a means of countering racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This aims to be achieved through examining experiences of, attitudes towards, and responses to, racism and racial bullying among school students; identifying health, wellbeing, education and social outcomes of racism and racial bullying for individuals, schools and communities; exploring the enablers and obstacles associated with bystander responses to racism and racial bullying; and by developing and piloting a school-based program to foster bystander responses to racism and racial bullying.Read moreRead less
Economic Diplomacy and National Prosperity. This project aims to examine the effectiveness of economic diplomacy in contributing to Australia’s exports and inflow of foreign investment. The government’s economic diplomacy agenda guides a substantial portion of the activity of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). With the collaboration of DFAT, the project will develop a dataset to capture characteristics of Australia’s diplomatic sector, export and foreign di ....Economic Diplomacy and National Prosperity. This project aims to examine the effectiveness of economic diplomacy in contributing to Australia’s exports and inflow of foreign investment. The government’s economic diplomacy agenda guides a substantial portion of the activity of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). With the collaboration of DFAT, the project will develop a dataset to capture characteristics of Australia’s diplomatic sector, export and foreign direct investment ; use a gravity model to identify the determinants of trade and investment through diplomacy for Australia; and estimate the benefits to specific export industries. The project aims to also inform DFAT’s resource allocation, risk management and to assist advocacy in the public domain on trade and investment issues.Read moreRead less
Migration memories: an analysis of representations of Australian migration histories. This project is an innovative analysis of the representation of Australian migration heritage through community and archival research and imaginative forms of representation. The research focuses on underexplored regional locations and involves developing a pilot museum exhibition. The research for the exhibition will use the material of personal memory to create a dynamic connection between individual stories ....Migration memories: an analysis of representations of Australian migration histories. This project is an innovative analysis of the representation of Australian migration heritage through community and archival research and imaginative forms of representation. The research focuses on underexplored regional locations and involves developing a pilot museum exhibition. The research for the exhibition will use the material of personal memory to create a dynamic connection between individual stories, historical narratives and places. Community engagement with the exhibition will be investigated as part of the research process. This research will bridge the gap that exists in Australia between theoretical work on history and memory, migration and diaspora, and interpretive and museological practice.Read moreRead less
Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an e ....Using defined biotic and abiotic stimuli to dissect patterns of gene expression and protein accumulation that specify root architecture. Root morphogenesis is fundamental to agriculture and valuable for investigating the informational networks of genes, proteins and metabolites that control root growth and plant development. Root systems vary widely both within and between species. Root morphology is directed by a basic genetic program that is influenced by environmental factors to provide an enormous "phenotypic plasticity". This project will use two model plant systems to investigate how different external signals are "translated" by the plant into different developmental regimes. This knowledge is crucial to understanding how the plasticity of root development is modulated in response to changing environmental factors.Read moreRead less
Using museums to counter racism and increase acceptance of diversity among young people. Although little is known about the topic, racism is a significant issue for young Australians. This project will reveal how high school students and their teachers understand racism, diversity and identity. It will also determine how museum programs can reduce racism and increase acceptance of diversity among high school students and their teachers.
Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a nov ....Role of alanine aminotransferase in improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in cereals. The use of nitrogen-based fertilisers by crop plants is poor where efficiencies (nitrogen taken up to that applied) is often less than 40%. Nitrogen not used is often lost to the environment through leaching and or volatilisation. Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in agriculture will decrease overall nitrogen fertiliser use and minimise its environmental footprint. This project will characterise a novel NUE technology that when transferred to plants significantly improves NUE. We will define the phenotype at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels to maximise its adoption to other agricultural crops such as wheat, barley and maize.Read moreRead less