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Social Anthropology research presentation

Sally Montgomery. Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Community Hall to hear about my Social Anthropology research on the Island. It was wonderful to have the Hall packed with those that could make it – it meant a lot to be able to share it and thank so many of the people who have been involved ... The following is a summary of the presentation for all those who couldn’t make it ...

Sustainable aviation fuel opportunities for Australia: CSIRO

With the rest of the world transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels to meet their own net zero goals, how can Australia develop its own successful sustainable aviation fuel industry? Aviation is one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise, contributing 2.5% of the world’s total carbon.

New release – Bush Tragedies

These are the crimes, murders and tragedies from across western NSW that made headlines around Australia decades and decades ago but are long forgotten – until now. A new book to hit the shelves today, Bush Tragedies, is a compilation of short stories from dark pockets of Australia’s history, recorded in stark, descriptive detail by award-winning journalist Bill Poulos.

Wattle Day: Robert Onfray

Today is the first day of spring in Australia, a day we celebrate as national Wattle Day ... we use today to celebrate a wonderful species that is, with a few exceptions, unique to our landscape. But to professional foresters, a recognition of wattles only reminds us of the deleterious effects of changed land management practices after millions of hectares of actively managed state forests have been converted to reserves since the 1990s. The effects have been compounded by massive wildfires that have occurred over that time.

Hotter, dryer summers bad news for farmers

The latest Federal Intergenerational Report suggests crop yields could be up to 4 per cent lower by 2063. Reduced yields are expected due to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather, including droughts, as well as most crops producing less in higher temperatures.

Forester Frank, science and French folly: David Jefford Ward

Although my qualifications lie in other fields, I know Frank Batini as a modest, well mannered, well qualified, and experienced forester. His recent article about his past work on water supply from Wungong Dam, near Perth, has raised concerns with me about the management of water supplies in Western Australia ... Instead of following scientific advice, they seem to have switched their beliefs to the thinking of other kinds of experts, without any qualifications in forestry, fire, or hydrology, but expertly politically aware and active.

How Polish agriculture supports Ukrainian patriotism

For a month of seasonal agricultural work in Poland, Ukrainians can earn as much money as they receive in 10 months in Ukraine. This is so profitable that poor Ukrainians prefer to spend their holidays on the farmer's fields in Poland, and not in the resorts. Diligence enables Ukrainians to save their own country. ... Oksana Pitchenko told us what seasonal agricultural earnings are in reality.

Citizen scientists help to unveil the secret world of Murraylands and Riverland Fungi: Landscape SA

Citizen Scientists have helped to develop better understanding of regional biodiversity by taking part in an initiative to record local fungi and lichen species. FungiQuest is a national event that encourages citizen scientists to share their fungi sightings via a smartphone app.

Magpie swoops in to claw first place

The beloved magpie has ruffled the feathers of kookaburras by claiming top position as Australia’s favourite animal sound. The magpie’s warbling has won over the nation, taking out number one in ABC’s search for Australia’s favourite animal sound.

Fungicide resistance detected in Qld barley

Early knowledge could be the key to keeping Queensland’s barley crops thriving according to research by University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Centre for Crop Health Senior Research Fellow Dr Noel Knight. Dr Knight has been conducting research monitoring for fungicide-resistant diseases in barley plants across southern Queensland, and the results have shown resistance is more common in Queensland than growers might have suspected.

Transition to net zero not one size fits all: Victoria University

New research from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute has painted a clear picture of how Australia’s Net Zero by 2050 transition will impact regions and industries and recommended how to harness and mitigate the human cost ... In early May 2023, the Federal Government established a National Net Zero Authority to support Australia’s transition...

Hard yacca – grass skirts are a life saver for many animals, but fire and disease threaten their survival: UniSA

Australia’s iconic grass-trees – aka yaccas – are hardy, drought-tolerant, and strikingly beautiful. Now, new research has revealed another, far more important, feature: their ability to protect wildlife from deadly weather extremes.

Another incredible story about koalas

Vic Jurskis. Laura Chung from Sydney Morning Herald tells us “Members of one of the healthiest koala populations in Sydney are dying at an alarming rate, as chlamydia-infected koalas and housing development” get closer. Makes you wonder how many different koala ‘populations’ there are in our State Capital ... Premier Chris Minns has a terrible dilemma.

Drought of time to end the drought-funding drip

What would focus the minds of farmers to be more drought resilient is if the State and Federal governments come out together and simply say to all Australia's farmers that 'you are on your own, we are no longer handing out grants when the rains fail'   ... If they are going to continue with the Drought Fund, then they should focus on funding some big game-changing projects, not the rats and mice ones that won’t move the dial.

Revolutionising the sesame industry – Unveiling a cutting-edge collaborative research hub: Agrifutures

With the global sesame seed market expected to reach A$26 billion by 2025, the Australian sesame industry has been identified as a high-growth potential emerging industry. To capatilise on this growth, a new national Sesame Central Research and Innovation Hub has been launched...

Research unlocks new potential of oaten hay in dairy production: Agrifutures

Oaten hay is more than a simple source of fodder fibre, and new research is backing up this well-known theory. A study from the University of Melbourne has shown that high-quality oaten hay could improve animal production, especially in dairies and feedlots, and support the sustainable development of dairy production both in Australia and overseas.

Research explores rodent eradication impact on native birds amid National Science Week: CSU

Researchers at Charles Sturt University are preparing to visit Lord Howe Island for the last time as part of a study on the impacts of a rodent eradication project on two native bird species. The study, ‘Effects of an island-wide rodent eradication programme on two threatened bird species’, was recently published after years of research both on and off the island.

Nauseous territory: outfoxing predators using baits that make them barf: UniSA

Introduced foxes, dogs, cats, rats, and other predators kill millions of native animals every year, but what if they were conditioned to associate this prey with food that made them ill? A team of international researchers have shown the potential to do just that, burying baits containing capsules of levamisole, a chemical that induces nausea and vomiting when consumed by predators.

How to stifle active forest management – the Wungong catchment trial in Western Australia: Frank Batini

Frank Batini has set down the history of the Wungong catchment trial in order to provide a record that shows how difficult it is to implement any active forest management in the northern jarrah forest. This account may be of interest to forest managers in other parts of Australia.

“Swimming in wine” – navigating oversupply in Australia’s wine industry: Rabobank

Even early removal of Chinese anti-dumping tariffs would not be enough to prevent Australia’s wine industry facing several years of oversupply, Rabobank says in its newly-released Wine Quarterly Q3 2023 report ... So large is the current oversupply, says Ms Piggott, that Australia has the equivalent of 859 olympic swimming pools worth of wine in storage.

Safeguard grain with gas-tight storage

With more growers opting to store grain for extended periods, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is reminding growers of the benefits of gas-tight sealable storage in controlling and preventing insect pest infestations in stored grain.  

New research on cultural tourism investment: Culture Counts, RAA

Regional Arts Australia (RAA) and Culture Counts have released new research findings on cultural tourism … The RAA Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program 2021-2022 Research Project indicates that arts and cultural activity in regional and remote Australia creates significant economic impact and community connection.

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