The Implementation And Evaluation Of Living Evidence In The Management Of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. Improving outcomes for patients with CKD requires the translation of research into clinical care. However, scientific research that underpins the management of CKD has rapidly increased, and traditional methods to summarise and inform clinical care are out of date. This project will develop, evaluate, and implement a new approach, known as ‘living-evidence’, that translates research evidence in real-time into the management of patients.
Two-Eyed Seeing – A Framework For Cultural Fishery Assessments Supporting Equitable And Sustainable Access To Shared Resources In NSW Inland Rivers
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,460,500.00
Summary
Fish are totemic and a primary food source; and so are part of the deep cultural, spiritual and economic connections Aboriginal communities have to their waterways that are part of ‘Country’. Cultural knowledge tells us that when there’s more water availability cultural fishers experience increased total catches and greater diversity of target species, and they fish more (e.g. increase in recreational and subsistence fishing). These narratives also suggest that as a result of these improved cult ....Fish are totemic and a primary food source; and so are part of the deep cultural, spiritual and economic connections Aboriginal communities have to their waterways that are part of ‘Country’. Cultural knowledge tells us that when there’s more water availability cultural fishers experience increased total catches and greater diversity of target species, and they fish more (e.g. increase in recreational and subsistence fishing). These narratives also suggest that as a result of these improved cultural fishing opportunities, there are flow on socio-economic benefits to household budgets, diets of communities, social behaviours and mental health and well-being.
Water is sacred and living; and central to the cultural, social and spiritual identity of Aboriginal people, as well as to their livelihoods. Conceptual models underpinning western water management frameworks and decision making do not incorporate Aboriginal/First Nations socio-cultural complexity, local knowledge and governance arrangements. These are critical – Aboriginal/First Nations people have strong connections with fish, water, rivers and knowledge to contribute to planning, as well as a fundamental right to participate. Water and fish are central to the way of life, two-way knowledge and planning frameworks will support reciprocity in engagement and participation.
Two-Eyed Seeing Frameworks (Ganma, Yolgnu for two-ways) provide a way forward for cultural fishery assessments supporting equitable and sustainable access to shared resources. In this framework, knowledge systems (western and cultural) contribute in parallel, on an equal footing, and both serve as evidence bases to produce an enriched picture of mutual understanding. Application of this framework can empower Aboriginal communities to participate more equitably and negotiate by using their science and values and providing a method for inclusion.
The overall objective of this proposed project is to empower Aboriginal communities through application of a “Two-Eyed seeing framework” (Reid et al. 2020) to participate more equitably and negotiate for cultural fishing practices and water allocation and management. This project will define the cultural fishery and quantify the socio-economic value of cultural fishing in two NSW river regions, and assist communities to identify water management needs for key cultural fish species to support ongoing planning and negotiations. It will improve our current fishery and water management by providing a pathway for cultural fisheries and cultural science to be included. Overall, it will increase our current knowledge of fish and fisheries, by bridging the gap between cultural science and western science practitioners and knowledge holders to share understandings, insights and skills. The application and extension of this framework to a national project will be considered for future use in addressing cultural fishery allocations and management.
Objectives: 1. Identify suitable NSW riverine cultural fisheries, engage with Aboriginal Communities, Traditional Owners, codesign the project and confirm move to phase 2. 2. Define and quanitfy the cultural fishery and associated totemic, cultura and social values 3. Identify and describe fish objectives and water management needs for cultural fish species using the Fish and Flows Framework. 4. Determine if changes in (2) are related to changes in water availability, policy and operations and/or river restoration activities (e.g. fish passage restoration, cold water passage, screening), if possible. 5. Objectively assess the efficacy and utility of the “Two-Eyed Seeing framework” in assessing the totemic, culutal and social fishing values and linking them to the fish and flows framework, including consideration of National applicability. Read moreRead less
The Benefits of Utilising Visual-Spatial Representations of Numbers . The aim of this project is to investigate how visual-spatial representations of numbers enhance practice to promote the use of retrieval-based over counting-based strategies for children learning early arithmetic. About one-third of Australian children stay reliant on counting strategies for basic arithmetic, despite these being associated with lower achievement in mathematics in later years. Expected outcomes of this project ....The Benefits of Utilising Visual-Spatial Representations of Numbers . The aim of this project is to investigate how visual-spatial representations of numbers enhance practice to promote the use of retrieval-based over counting-based strategies for children learning early arithmetic. About one-third of Australian children stay reliant on counting strategies for basic arithmetic, despite these being associated with lower achievement in mathematics in later years. Expected outcomes of this project are new understandings of how problem-answer associations can be strengthened in memory and the development of tools to promote retrieval-based strategies. Potential benefits include children who are better prepared to take on higher-level mathematics in secondary school and, subsequently, more numerate citizens. Read moreRead less
Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. ....Designer solvents to control reaction outcome. This project aims to control outcomes of chemical reactions using specifically designed ionic liquids as solvents. Ionic liquids are distinct from molecular solvents and are underused due to the limited understanding of their effects on chemical processes. We are developing a predictive framework to explain such effects and this project aims to exploit this new knowledge, using both new and rarely applied ionic liquids to control reaction outcomes. The significance lies in the ability to optimise reaction outcomes without the need for solvent screening. The innovation lies in the measurement of microscopic interactions between solvent and reagents, and the use of these interactions to affect a given process.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL200100049
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,906,992.00
Summary
Nanofluidic Membranes for Sustainable Energy Future. This project aims to create a novel class of advanced membranes by making fundamental breakthroughs in nanofluidics, and harnessing this for developing new renewable energy and low-energy separation technologies. This project addresses the key challenges in understanding selective mass transport at the angstrom scale, thereby allowing the development of innovative materials design strategies to realise the ultrafast molecular and ionic permeat ....Nanofluidic Membranes for Sustainable Energy Future. This project aims to create a novel class of advanced membranes by making fundamental breakthroughs in nanofluidics, and harnessing this for developing new renewable energy and low-energy separation technologies. This project addresses the key challenges in understanding selective mass transport at the angstrom scale, thereby allowing the development of innovative materials design strategies to realise the ultrafast molecular and ionic permeation, and the ultrahigh selectivities observed in biological cell membranes. This new cross-disciplinary research will benefit Australia by the development of new materials for accelerating renewable hydrogen and biofuel futures, and enabling sustainable production of energy materials.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100268
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,053.00
Summary
Supporting successful educational pathways of First Nations students. The aim of this study is to develop strategies to prevent the steep drop in school attendance rates of First Nation students as they transition from primary to secondary school. The project expects to generate effective culturally embedded support strategies. In partnership with communities, industry partners and schools we propose to consult, codesign and assess the effectiveness of peer-mentoring of primary school students b ....Supporting successful educational pathways of First Nations students. The aim of this study is to develop strategies to prevent the steep drop in school attendance rates of First Nation students as they transition from primary to secondary school. The project expects to generate effective culturally embedded support strategies. In partnership with communities, industry partners and schools we propose to consult, codesign and assess the effectiveness of peer-mentoring of primary school students by those from the same community who have successfully reached senior grades. The outcome is the evaluation of students’ experiences and ongoing attendance and attainments. Significant benefits are for students’ ongoing school engagement and academic success. Cultural and economic benefits are for all Australians.Read moreRead less
Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insi ....Encoding Interactions and Printability into Hairy Colloidal Biomaterials. Printing mixtures of live cells and biomaterials (or 'BioInks') to make bespoke engineered tissues has the potential to enable personalised platforms for therapeutic discovery and organ replacement. Using a novel high throughput approach to materials synthesis, BioInk design and process optimisation, this project aims to discover new biomaterials and printing nozzles to help realise this potential. It will produce new insights in colloid science, cell-laden biomaterials design, and BioInk processing. Structure-property-function guides for colloid-based BioInks and quality-assured bioprinting as outcomes represent significant benefits for researchers and industries alike engaged in biofabrication, cell therapy and biotherapeutics.Read moreRead less
Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and b ....Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia.Read moreRead less
Can eco-evolutionary theories explain outcomes of microbiome coalescence . Environmental microbial communities are among the most abundant and diverse natural communities, responsible for many ecologically and economically important ecosystem functions, including primary productivity and climate regulation. This project aims to identify the biotic and abiotic factors that regulate community and functional outcomes of microbiome coalescence (the mixing of two different communities) caused by natu ....Can eco-evolutionary theories explain outcomes of microbiome coalescence . Environmental microbial communities are among the most abundant and diverse natural communities, responsible for many ecologically and economically important ecosystem functions, including primary productivity and climate regulation. This project aims to identify the biotic and abiotic factors that regulate community and functional outcomes of microbiome coalescence (the mixing of two different communities) caused by natural and anthropogenic activities. The outcomes will provide a unifying ecological framework to predict variation in microbiomes across different scales, ecosystem types and disturbances, and will generate critical knowledge for the development of effective microbiome products, a rapidly growing industryRead moreRead less