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...

Remixing reality: new cyber tools to merge remote workplaces

27 April 2010

Architects in studios scattered across the globe will sketch together, and geologists on fieldwork will point out landscape features to colleagues in city offices in real time if Viveka Weiley has his way. Mr Weiley is designing new creativity-supporting digital systems that remix the real environments of colleagues working apart. He will describe these futuristic  Read More...

Disunity weakening war on feral animals

27 April 2010

Conflict between farmers and government agencies is weakening the assault on invasive pests such as feral pigs and dogs, according to new research. The study, by University of York conservation scientist Adriana Ford-Thompson, also showed that disagreements between landholders, and tensions at the city/country boundary over shooting and baiting were restraining the campaign. The study,  Read More...

Pathfinders 2010 conference probes policy in countdown to election

17 April 2010

Leading politicians, Indigenous representatives, public servants and academics meeting at the Pathfinders 2010: Challenge and Change conference at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on May 26–28 will probe federal government and opposition policy on areas including health. Speakers this year at Australia’s main annual innovation conference include Warren Snowdon, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and  Read More...