Research 2010

Healthy Wombats (PDF, 77Kb)Healthy Wombats
Dr Julie Old and Mr Jack Wolfenden from the School of Natural Sciences have received funding from the Emirates Hotels (Australia) Pty. Ltd., to undertake research that will lead to the treatment and conservation of wombats suffering with sarcoptic mange.

Success in Mental illness Prevention (PDF, 101Kb)Success in Mental illness Prevention
Sharyn McGee and Associate Professor Meg Smith from the School of Social Sciences and Dr Gabrielle Gwyther from the Social Justice & Social Change Research Group are collaborating with the Richmond Fellowship of NSW to evaluate the effectiveness of a new community-based support and prevention strategy for mental health problems. The research has been funded by the Richmond Fellowship.

Interactive Technologies (PDF, 92Kb)251010_InteractiveTechnologies_Paine
Dr Garth Paine from the School of Communication Arts with Ms Margaret Medlin from Critical Path Incorporated, Associate Professor John Sutton from Macquarie University, Dr George Khut and Dr Lizzie Muller from University of Technology, Sydney, have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to investigate how interactive technologies transform notions of embodiment, agency and audience engagement within the performing arts.

Braid Theory Ties Up Data Security (PDF, 92Kb)Braid Theory Ties Up Data Security
Dr Volker Gebhardt from the School of Computing and Mathematics is collaborating with Professor Patrick Dehornoy from the University of Caen and Dr Juan González-Meneses from the University of Seville to explore mathematical theories that can improve data security. This project has been funded by the Australian Research Council through its Discovery Project scheme.

Rising CO2 and Eucalypts (PDF, 109Kb)Hawkesbury Forest Experiment
Professor David Ellsworth from the Centre for Plants and the Environment is leading a research team that will investigate the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and increasing temperatures on Eucalypts to enable the future management of forests under conditions of global warming. The project is supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under its Forest Industries Climate Change Research Fund program.

Estimating rainfall (PDF, 74Kb)A girl with an umbrella in the rainy afternoon
Dr Ataur Rahman and Khaled Haddad from the School of Engineering are undertaking a project funded by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to conduct a study on GLS regression approach for design rainfall estimation in Australia.

Bridging the Gap: empowering locationally disadvantaged young people (PDF, 103Kb)Bridging the Gap: empowering locationally disadvantaged young people
Professor Rhonda Craven and a team from the Centre for Educational Research and The Benevolent Society are examining an intervention program, Bridging The Gap, for locationally disadvantaged young people in areas of NSW. This research is funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in partnership with The Benevolent Society.

Wind-excited tall buildings (PDF, 98Kb)skyscrapers and cloud
Professor Kenny Kwok from the School of Engineering will lead a team of researchers to investigate the effects of wind-induced vibration on occupants of tall buildings. This project is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery grant. The multi-disciplinary team includes Professor Vaughan Macefield, School of Medicine, UWS, Dr Peter Hitchcock from the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, and Dr Darren Walton of Opus International Consultants, Wellington N.Z. The project will also include the research training of a postgraduate student.

Hungry Insects (PDF, 88Kb)Hungry Insects
Dr Markus Riegler and Professor David Ellsworth, from the Centre for Plants and the Environment, have been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant to test the predicted responses of individual insect species and communities in eucalypt forests against realistic climate change scenarios.

Protecting Building Foundations (PDF, 80Kb)Sun rising over a construction site
Dr Samanthika Liyanapathirana and Associate Professor Chin Leo, of the School of Engineering have been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery grant to investigate protective measures used to mitigate damage of existing buildings during major urban construction activities.

‘High touch’ Dementia Care (PDF, 82Kb)Young hands tending to an elderly person
Professor Esther Chang of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and her colleagues Ms Amanda Johnson and Dr Daniel Nicholls lead a team of aged-care professionals, researching alternative protocols for people with end-stage dementia. This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing through its Local Palliative Care Grants Program.

Water Wise Watering (PDF, 83Kb)Water sprinkler showering grass and flowers in park
Professor Shelley Burgin and Dr Tony Webb from the School of Natural Sciences, together with Dr Bhakti Devi from City of Sydney Council and in partnership with Marrickville, Mosman, Rockdale City and Woollahra Councils, have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to advance the science of urban irrigation and translate it into practice.

Are you happy with your Practice Nurse? (PDF, 80Kb)portrait of a nurse looking at the camera
Dr Elizabeth Halcomb and Associate Professor Yenna Salamonson from the Family and Community Health Research Group will be evaluating patient satisfaction with general practice nurses across New Zealand. This project has been funded by The New Zealand College of Practice Nurses.

Plant and fungus relationships (PDF, 83Kb)Macro of a large Boletus mushroom. Low angle view, shallow depth of focus with sharpest focus on the front of the cap and stipe of the mushroom.
Professor John Cairney and Associate Professor Ian Anderson of the Centre for Plants and the Environment have been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Projects grant to investigate the extent to which basidiomycetes fungi form ericoid mycorrhizal associations with Ericaceae plants in Australian habitats.

WALK 2.0 HEALTH (PDF, 112Kb)Closeup of Running Shoe Treads
Professor Gregory Kolt, Head of the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, is leading a team of researchers who will investigate the efficacy of a publicly available physical activity promotion website. The team includes Professor Anthony Maeder (UWS), Dr Corneel Vandelanotte, Dr Mitch Duncan and Dr Cristina Caperchione from CQ University, and Professor Kerry Mummery from University of Alberta. The project is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Small hive beetle management (PDF, 112Kb)Small hive beetle
Associate Professor Robert Spooner-Hart from the Centre for Plants and the Environment together with Department of Primary Industries Victoria has been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to investigate the small hive beetle.


The endangered Bush Stone-curlew (PDF, 83Kb)Bush Stone-curlew
Dr Julie Old, Dr Ricky Spencer and Mr Jack Wolfenden of the School of Natural Sciences have received funding from the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority to undertake research that will help protect and enhance habitat for the Bush Stone-curlew.

Alzheimer's treatment from native tropical rainforest plants (PDF, 92Kb)tropical rainforest
Associate Professor Gerald Muench from the School of Medicine, together with EcoBiotics Limited, has been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to identify compounds from Australian native tropical rainforest plants for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neuro-inflammatory diseases.


How Smart Is Your Unconscious Mind? (PDF, 111Kb)Unconscious Cognition
Professor Christopher Davis from MARCS Auditory Laboratories and Dr Sid Kouider from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and École Normale Supérieure in France are researching what factors contribute to unconscious processing and how a persons’ learning can affect it. This research has been funded through an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant.

Supporting Refugee Students (PDF, 111Kb)Refugee Student
Dr Tania Ferfolja and Dr Loshini Naidoo from the School of Education, along with partner investigators Mr Eric Brace and Ms Mary-Ruth Mendel from the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, are reviewing an innovative high school based program to establish how best to support refugee students. This research has been funded by the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ANLF).

Community Organisations Success (PDF, 80Kb)Conceptual image of crossed hands isolated over white background
Dr Michael Houlbrook and Associate Professor Rosemary Leonard from the Social Justice and Social Change Research Group, together with Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF), have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to identify and assess processes that contribute to the successes of small community organisations.

Bridging the Gap in Infrastructure Decision Making (PDF, 95Kb)Perth Rail Yard
Professor Phillip O’Neill of the Urban Research Centre is investigating how the language and technologies we use to design and assess urban infrastructure projects can affect how they are built. This research has been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery program.

Can Acupuncture Help Fatigue? (PDF, 82Kb)Breast cancer survivor
Associate Professor Caroline Smith from the Centre for Complementary Medicine will be evaluating the use of acupuncture as a treatment method for fatigue for women undergoing cancer treatments. This research has been funded through a Research Innovation Grant from the Cancer Institute NSW.

Success through Diversity (PDF, 80Kb)Head shot of a young Asian-Australian woman
Dr Nida Denson from the Centre for Educational Research is exploring the benefits of interactions between students of different cultural backgrounds to seed success in tertiary education. This research has been funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery program.

Equality and the Economy in the Pacific (PDF, 117Kb)Fiji selling shells and jewellery
Professor Katherine Gibson and Dr Gerda Roelvink from the Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy along with Dr Michelle Carnegie and Dr Katharine McKinnon from Macquarie University, Ms Claire Rowland from the International Women’s Development Agency, and Dr Claire Slatter from the Fiji National University will be developing indicators to measure the gender effects at the community level of economic interventions in the Pacific. This research is funded by an Australian Development Research Award from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Wingara Mangami – To Follow the Dream of Understanding (PDF, 81Kb)Young Indigenous Australian
Dr Gawain Bodkin-Andrews and Professor Rhonda Craven from the Centre for Educational Research are developing an intervention program to help stop racism in Australian schools, and minimise its harmful effects on students. This research has been funded through an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Grant.

Immersive Schools (PDF, 101Kb)Teen Girls Smiling and Looking at Laptop
Professor Christine Halse and her colleagues in the Centre for Educational Research are studying the use of immersive learning environments for enhancing collaborative learning. The research has been funded by the Centre for Learning Innovation in the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Sydney Rock Oysters (PDF, 88Kb)A delicious plate of Oysters.
Ms Laura Parker of the School of Natural Sciences has been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Award to investigate whether Sydney rock oysters can adapt to reduced ocean-pH conditions and rising temperatures caused by climate change. Ms Parker will be mentored by a team of experienced researchers including Associate Professor Pauline Ross, UWS, Dr Wayne O’Connor of Industry and Investment NSW, Associate Professor David Raftos, Macquarie University and Professor Hans Pörtner of The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany.

Ethnicity and Compulsory Schooling (PDF, 109Kb)Disenchanted teenage boy wearing a hooded top
Associate Professor Carol Reid and Professor Christine Halse from the Centre for Educational Research are identifying the pressures that may impact on increasing the school leaving age for ethnically diverse populations in NSW public schools. This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project scheme.

Of Concrete and Steel (PDF, 127Kb)concrete-filled stainless steel column
Associate Professor Zhong Tao from the School of Engineering has been awarded a research fellowship to investigate the behaviour of concrete-filled stainless steel columns used in building construction. The project and fellowship have been funded by the Australian Research Council though its Future Fellowship grant scheme.

Water Use in Forest Ecosystems (PDF, 94Kb)Measurement of fluctuating tree sap levels
Professor David Ellsworth and Dr Charles Morris from the Centre for Plants and the Environment with Dr Belinda Medlyn from Macquarie University and Mrs Danelia Drewry of Penrith Lakes Development Corporation Ltd., (PLDC) are investigating the water-use of various tree species within a plantation. This research is funded by PLDC and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Program.

Interaction in Soils (PDF, 77Kb)Human hands and young plant
Associate Professor Paul Holford and Dr Paul Milham from the Centre for Plants and the Environment, together with NSW Department of Investment and Industry and Applied Horticultural Research Pty. Ltd., have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to develop a simple method to measure bioavailable cadmium in soils.

Taking a LEAP forward in treating Anorexia Nervosa (PDF, 81Kb)Model posing with arm free weight
Professor Phillipa Hay from the School of Medicine and a team of national and international researchers are investigating a new therapy to treat anorexia nervosa. The team will be combining cognitive behavioural therapy with LEAP (Loughborough Eating disorders Activity Therapy), a treatment that addresses the role of extreme exercise in anorexia nervosa sufferers. This research is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Grant.

Efficient Fox Control (PDF, 104Kb)A Fox and a Control Bait
Dr Ricky Spencer from the School of Natural Sciences is developing a cost effective technique to control Australia’s feral fox population. This research is funded through Melbourne Water.


Depression in the Twilight Years (PDF, 83Kb)Senior man looking down, feeling dispair, in deep thought, difficulties as husband or father. Showing silver wedding band.
Dr Tanya Covic, Dr Adelma Hills, Associate Professor Rocco Crino and Dr Helen Correia of the School of Psychology are researching the success of a depression intervention program in residential aged-care facilities (RACFs). This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Bankstown General Practice Division Inc (BGPD) and is a BGPD funding initiative.

Sonicated Mud (PDF, 83Kb)Aluminium Mining Port
Associate Professor Chin Leo from the School of Engineering, Dr Gary Dennis and Research Fellow Dr Paul Emseis from the School of Natural Sciences in collaboration with the CSIRO are researching the use of high power ultrasonics in mineral and materials separation processes for red mud slurries, a waste product of aluminium ore processing. This research is supported by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation through its Flagship Collaboration Research Fund.

Ageing Towards 2030 (PDF, 87Kb)seniors
Professor Peter Phibbs of the Urban Research Centre is researching the possible future impact of an ageing population on local government resources and services. This project is supported by the Local Government Association of NSW, the Shires Association of NSW and funded by Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW (ADHC).

Culture and Conflict Resolution (PDF, 139Kb)A cannon on the field of war
Dr Tim Winter from the Centre of Cultural Research is exploring what cultural changes societies face when they are recovering from war and other violence. This research is supported through an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant.

Increasing access to sexual health services for young people (PDF, 81Kb)A teenage girl looks away from the camera with a sad expression
Dr Ann Dadich from the CInIS Research Group, together with NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Programs Unit (STIPU), has been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to determine if a new resource for general practitioners improves the care they provide to young people regarding sexual health.


Age-Specific Housing (PDF, 89Kb)A happy senior couple sit outside their home
Professor Peter Phibbs of the Urban Research Centre is working in collaboration with Associate Professors Catherine Bridge and Bruce Judd of the University of New South Wales along with researchers from Murdoch University to investigate the age-specific housing market in Australia. This project is funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Ltd.

Upper Georges River Sustainability (PDF, 82Kb)Upper Georges River
Dr Gregory Teal from the School of Management, together with Campbelltown City Council, has been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to evaluate the Upper Georges River Urban Sustainability Project.


You Can Count on It (PDF, 106Kb)Students posing in front of the blackboard
Associate Professor Allan White from the Centre for Educational Research is continuing his investigation of the outcomes of the Counting On numeracy skills program, operating under the Quality Teaching in the Middle Years program in NSW schools. This research is funded by the NSW Department of Education and Training.

Improving Farmer Livelihoods (PDF, 99Kb)Two men use an ox to plough a narrow, terraced field in China
Professor Bill Bellotti of the School of Natural Sciences and a multidisciplinary team of researchers and policy analysts from the CSIRO, University of Queensland, Lanzhou University, China, the Rural Development Institute Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau, China is collaborating to help Chinese farmers improve their land and water resource management and farming efficiency practices. This research is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Good Foundations (PDF, 89Kb)a bridge under construction
Dr Samanthika Liyanapathirana from the School of Engineering, along with Professor Harry Poulos and Dr Richard Kelly of Coffey Geotechnics is developing and testing new, safer and more stable designs for the engineering of embankments built on soft ground. This research is funded by Coffey Geotechnics and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Project grants scheme.

Community Engagement in Water (PDF, 79Kb)waterdrop
Dr Tony Webb and Professor Shelley Burgin from the School of Natural Sciences, together with Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to investigate how best to stimulate community engagement to address regional water issues.

Green Roofs (PDF, 92Kb) This is an established garden with olive trees and oleander shrubs, in addition to the obligatory swimming pool
Dr Charles Morris from the Centre for Plants and the Environment is researching which type of growing media produces the strongest plant growth and health for plants and gardens on roof tops (green roofs). This research is funded by The Hills Bark Blower.


Addressing terrorism challenges (PDF, 89Kb)Air pressure tent with person in the protective suit
Professor Beverley Raphael from the Disaster, Response and Resilience Research Group is examining communication methods with the community that may be used in the event of a major emergency involving CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incidents. This research is funded through grants provided through the Research Support for National Security program, which is managed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Responding to Catastrophies (PDF, 85Kb)a firefighter pulls a victim from a pile of rubble and fire
Professor Beverley Raphael from the Disaster, Response and Resilience Research Group is researching the responses and perceptions of people when their society is subject to large scale catastrophic events. This research is funded through grants provided through the Research Support for National Security program, which is managed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Crossing thresholds in school biology (PDF, 88Kb)A biology school student makes up a solution in a laboratory
Associate Professors Pauline Ross and Roy Tasker from the School of Natural Sciences, Dr Betty Gill, College of Health and Science, Dr Charlotte Taylor from University of Sydney and Lachlan Macquarie College, together with NSW Department of Education & Training have been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to investigate threshold concepts in biology in order to develop teaching approaches that are appropriate for diverse learners.

The impact of psychosocial assessments on mothers (PDF, 80Kb)Young Mother to be looking at her bump with mixed feelings
Associate Professor Virginia Schmied from the Family and Community Health Research Group and School of Nursing and Midwifery is investigating the process and impact of psychosocial assessments on women by midwives and child and family health nurses (CFHN) during their prenatal and postnatal visits. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage program in partnership with Karitane.

Service engagement for infants and their young mothers (PDF, 84Kb)side view of young blond mother holding her baby girl on her shoulder smiling at the camera
Associate Professor Virginia Schmied, Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen and Dr Christine Taylor from the Family and Community Health Research Group, together with Ms Jenni Hutchins from The Benevolent Society, has been awarded a UWS Research Partnership grant to investigate the characteristics of young mothers who seek support from services and who fare well and those who are at risk for poorer outcomes.

Breastfeeding and First-times Mums (PDF, 84Kb)Mother breast feeding her baby girl at home
Associate Professor Virginia Schmied from the Family and Community Health Research Group and School of Nursing and Midwifery is researching what factors influence breastfeeding and other parenting decisions of first-time mothers. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage program in partnership with The Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation.

On a Sound Footing (PDF, 88Kb)soil quality measurement equipment
Associate Professor Chin Jian Leo and Dr Jia Zou from the Civionics Research Centre in collaboration with Prof. Buddhima Indraratma from the University of Wollongong, Dr Henry Wong from Ecole Nationale des Travaux Publics de l’Etat and Prof. Dennes Bergado from the Asian Institute of Technology, in partnership with Mr Robert Golaszewski of Penrith Lakes Development and Mr Tristan McWilliam of Coffey Geotechnics are investigating a new method for assessing the quality of compacted soil fills. This research is funded by Penrith Lakes Development Corporation, Coffey Geotechnics and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Project grants scheme.

Caring and Social Capital (PDF, 81Kb)young Nurse and senior woman cuddling in a care home
Dr Debbie Horsfall from the School of Social Sciences and Associate Professor Rosemary Leonard from the Social Justice Social Change Research Group are exploring the effects of how caring for the elderly and terminally ill can contribute to the growth of relationships within a community. This research has been funded by NSW Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care (DADHC).

Closing the Gap for Indigenous Students (PDF, 100Kb)School children with an aboriginal flag
Ms Virginia O’Rourke, Professor Rhonda Craven, Associate Professor Geoff Munns and Dr Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews from the Centre for Educational Research are investigating how including Indigenous cultures into teaching can help Indigenous students achieve positive results. This research is supported through an Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development grant.

Motherhood with Rheumatoid Arthritis – Yes or No (PDF, 80Kb)Happy baby with mother
Dr Tanya Covic, from the School of Psychology, Associate Professor Louise Sharpe and Professor Nicholas Manolios from the University of Sydney and Associate Professor Julie Pallant from the University of Melbourne are collaborating with Ms Diana Aspinall from the Arthritis Foundation of NSW to develop a decision aid tool to assist women with rheumatoid arthritis to make motherhood decisions. This research is funded by the Arthritis Foundation of NSW and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Program.

Community Housing (PDF, 91Kb)A family stands infront of their home
Housing NSW has engaged Professor Peter Phibbs of the Urban Research Centre, along with research and management consultants Dr Alison Ziller and Ms Robin Hill, to write an Industry Development Framework for improved operations and services in the NSW community housing system. The project is funded by Housing NSW.

How Innovative Is Your VET? (PDF, 86Kb)Teacher helping young female sitting by the desk in a computer lab
Dr Rob Dalitz, Professor Tim Turpin and Dr Phil Toner from CInIS (Industry and Innovation Studies) are examining the interrelationship between Vocational Education and Training (VET) and innovation. This research is funded by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research through its National VET Research and Evaluation Program.

It’s in the tone of your voice (PDF, 78Kb)OPTOTRAK apparatus
Professor Denis Burnham of MARCS Auditory Laboratories, along with researchers from Lancaster University, UK, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is investigating lexical tone perception in speech in a variety of tone languages. This research is funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant.

Advanced Model Updates for Systems Verifications and Modifications (PDF, 86Kb)IT Professional
Professor Yan Zhang from the School of Computing and Mathematics has been awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Projects Grant to develop a new system prototype for advanced computer aided system modification.


The Business of Climate Change (PDF, 86Kb)Solar panels on a highrise building
Professor Bobby Banerjee from the College of Business and Law, along with colleagues Professor David Levy from the University of Massachusetts and Drs Bettina Wittneben and Chukwumerije Okereke from the University of Oxford, is exploring the strategies employed by business and government to cope with the challenges of climate change. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery program.

Enabling Success at School (PDF, 100Kb)Angry Teenager with brown eyes wearing hood hiding face behing hair
Professor Rhonda Craven from Centre for Educational Research is leading a team investigating ways to foster positive behaviour and academic success in school children. The research team is working in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and Training. This research is supported through an Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant.

Can acupuncture help pregnancy? (PDF, 79Kb)a woman checking a pregnancy test
Associate Professor Caroline Smith from the Centre for Complementary Medicine is researching the effects of acupuncture on assisted reproduction - fertility medicine. She is collaborating with researchers from IVF Australia and the Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic, NSW. This research is funded by the National Institute of Complementary Medicine through the Department of Health and Ageing.

It’s raining, it’s pouring (PDF, 84Kb)Houses in flood water
Dr Ataur Rahman from the School of Engineering is undertaking a project that will support the revision of the Australian Rainfall & Runoff Handbook. Stages I and II of the project are funded by the Department of Climate Change and coordinated by Engineers Australia.

Environmental and Social Responsibility in Small Business (PDF, 87Kb)A worker supervising a photovoltaic instalation
Professor Bobby Banerjee and Dr Fernanda Duarte from the College of Business and Law are researching what challenges and opportunities arise from including social and environmental issues into the business plans of small and medium scale enterprises. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage program in partnership with Business Associates Network.

How Can Machines Negotiate? (PDF, 96Kb)Diagram of automated negotiation techniques for electronic trading systems
Dr Dongmo Zhang from the School of Computing and Mathematics in collaboration with researchers from the University of New South Wales and Dresden University of Technology, Germany is developing automated negotiation techniques for electronic trading systems. This research is funded by the Australia Research Council through its Discovery grants program.

A “Fair Go” – Interpreter Protocols in Courts and Tribunals (PDF, 83Kb)An interpreter with a client
Associate Professor Sandra Hale of the Interpreting and Translation Group will be researching interpreter protocols for courts tribunals across Australia. This research is funded by the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration.


100 Patient Stories (PDF, 83Kb)Beautiful patient receives anaesthetic in hospital
Dr Ann Dadich and researchers from the CInIS Research Group are working with a team of researchers from seven Australian universities to improve the communication and investigation processes for people involved in an unexpected event that resulted in harm while receiving healthcare – this includes patients, their carers and family members, as well as hospital staff. This national study is led by Professor Rick Iedema from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing on behalf of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

Going with the flow (PDF, 82Kb)Nurses pulling a sickbed in a hospital
Associate Professors Anneke Fitzgerald and Terry Sloan and Dr Premaratne Samaranayake from the Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies Research Group along with Professor Simeon Simoff and Mr Mark Johnston from the School of Computing and Mathematics and Ms Amanda Larkin, General Manager of Campbelltown Hospital are working to optimise patient flow in hospital emergency departments to reduce waiting time and increase bed availability. This Linkage project is funded by the Australian Research Council and Campbelltown Hospital.

Managing Olive Plant Pests (PDF, 80Kb)shot of a hand holding ripe olives
Associate Professor Robert Spooner-Hart from the Centre for Plants and the Environment is researching which environmentally friendly pesticides should be used by Australia’s olive industry to control pests and diseases. This research has been funded by The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

Autonomous Welding Robots (PDF, 101Kb)welding robots in a car manufactory
Dr Gu Fang from the School of Engineering will be researching the development of a robotic welding system that can perform quality tasks automatically and provide the necessary flexibility in performing low to medium volume welding productions. This research is an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in partnership with the Automation Division of Lincoln Electric.

RUN and GROW e-learning (PDF, 89Kb)A young Asian florist in her flower retail shop
Dr Geoffrey Lee, Associate Professor Robyn McGuiggan and Dr Yi-Chen Lan from the College of Business and Law are collaborating with the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, (now Industry & Investment (I&I)) to develop a series of online training modules for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). This research is funded by I&I.

Culturally responsive family services (PDF, 83Kb)Son protecting his family
Dr Susan Armstrong from the Social Justice and Social Change, is collaborating with Anglicare, CatholicCare and Interrelate Family Centres to provide research to support Family Relationship Centres in Parramatta and Bankstown to develop a culturally responsive model of family dispute resolution.

It’s worth how much!? (PDF, 85Kb)Suburban Street With New Modern Houses In A Sydney Suburb On A Sunny Summer Day, Australia
Associate Professor John MacFarlane from the School of Computing and Mathematics in collaboration with the Office of the NSW Valuer General is continuing to develop and evaluate the NSW Mass Valuation System for land and property valuation.


Protective Hormones (PDF, 85Kb)active brain
Professor Nikolaus Sucher of the Centre for Complementary Medicine is investigating the ability of hormones such as oestrogen and other similar natural compounds to protect the brain from degenerative disease by looking at their effects on a molecular level. This research is supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Increasing Health Literacy for Australian-Vietnamese Women (PDF, 82Kb)Portrait of a Vietnamese family of mother and daughter
Dr Sansnee Jirojwong, Dr Sharon Hillege and Associate Professor Virginia Schmied of the School of Nursing and Midwifery with Professor Pranee LiamPuttong of Latrobe University are developing multimedia educational materials to help Vietnamese-Australian women with gestational diabetes to improve their self-management of this condition. This project is supported by funding from the Department of Health and Ageing through the ‘Sharing Health Care Initiative’.

 

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