Annual Conference media releases
Each year in May the CRC Association hosts a major conference and actively assists CRCs in issuing media releases.
SmartCap manages fatigue at mine sites
18 May 2011
Drivers of trucks, dozers, graders and excavators will soon be wearing a new ‘SmartCap’ which detects their level of fatigue. Fatigue related incidents on mine sites are a major cause of injuries and deaths, and cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars in lost production and accidents each year. Invented by Dr Daniel Bongers Read More...
Short-sighted treatment makes myopia worse
18 May 2011
A new approach to the design of glasses and contact lenses for people with myopia (short-sightedness) will have huge benefits for the 3.6 million Australians with myopia. Studies in Sydney with 12 year old children showed that myopia progressively worsened when correcting myopic eyes with traditional negative powered correcting lenses even though they give clear Read More...
Rapid identity check for border security pests
18 May 2011
A new system linking field officers with international experts has enabled a dramatic speed-up in the identification of exotic insects and diseases which may pose a threat to crops and the environment in Australia. The Remote Microscope Network (RMN) allows agricultural officers equipped with microscopes to link with experts, both national and international, over the Read More...
Cochlear implant and farmed tuna among breakthroughs taking out prestigious Innovation Awards
28 May 2010
Teams developing Australia’s cochlear implant and pioneering an aquaculture industry based on southern bluefin tuna were among the winners of this year’s Awards for Excellence in Innovation, presented tonight by Warren Snowdon, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery. A process for making better aluminum ingots and a community guide Read More...
WA Mining’s salty little helpers
27 May 2010
Salt-tolerant bacteria that can break down rocks could replace smelters and chemical plants in the extraction of heavy metals from ores in Western Australia, thanks to new research. Carla Zammit, a scientist at the Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions, has identified microorganisms that look promising for use in “biomining” in the state. Read More...
Beefier cattle benefit consumers, industry
27 May 2010
More muscular beef cattle can more consistently deliver better meat while adding millions of dollars to the beef industry bottom line, according to new research likely to drive selective breeding programs. Scientist Peter McGilchrist, of the Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies, said beef yields were higher from muscular cattle. But until now, it Read More...
Ultrasonic weapon against farm DDT
27 May 2010
A South Australian scientist has worked out how to use ultrasound to clean up finely textured soils contaminated with DDT – once a widely-used pesticide, now banned because it causes cancer, attacks the nervous system and disrupts the hormonal system in humans. Kandasamy Thangavadivel will tell the Pathfinders 2010: Challenge and Change Conference at the Read More...
Campaigner gives low down on loos
26 May 2010
Technological advances have put toilets within the reach of the even the poorest people in developing countries but millions of people are still dying from diseases caused by sub-standard sanitation, according to World Toilet Organization founder Jack Sim. Mr Sim will tell the Pathfinders 2010: Challenge and Change Conference at the Alice Springs Convention Centre Read More...
Kids can teach parents about bushfire risk
19 May 2010
Children are good channels for getting fire safety messages into homes, according to new research. Briony Towers, a research psychologist at the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre and University of Tasmania, investigated, for the first time, how children understood and talked about bushfires. She will present her results at the Pathfinders 2010: Challenge and Change Conference Read More...
From beefier cattle to bacteria that break down rockstop, young scientists reveal their results
27 April 2010
A study showing that more muscular cattle more consistently deliver better meat, and the discovery of bacteria that could be used in the extraction of heavy metals from ores are among research findings to be presented at the Pathfinders 2010 Challenge and Change Conference at the Alice Springs Convention Centre this week (May 26–28). Top Read More...