Edition 2, 2010 (PDF 2.1MB) - University of the Sunshine Coast

Scientist gainsclimate changeresearch fundsVIEW | EXITEmma Barton, right, watches as fish areprepared for sale in Shanghai.8Associate Professor David Lee is assessing how hardwood trees can better absorb carbon from the air.University of the Sunshine Coast plantscientist Associate Professor David Lee hassecured a $300,000 Federal Governmentgrant to assess how hardwood trees can bebetter used to combat climate change.Dr Lee is an Associate Professor ofPlant Genetics at USC and a SeniorPrincipal Research Scientist with Agri-Science Queensland in the Department ofEmployment, Economic Development andInnovation.He said he was delighted to have receivedthe grant in May from the government’sForest Industries Climate Change ResearchFund for his Forestry Adaptation andAcademic wants safer festivitiesA USC academic who is researching ways to limit crowdproblems at public events, such as New Year’s Eve celebrations,says harm reduction is vital.Counselling Lecturer Neil Mellor, pictured, recently presenteda seminar at the University based on his PhD research andevents studied over a dozen years across three states.“Celebrations need to be considered in the context ofreducing harm, not just law and order,” he said.“For example if you ban drinking alcohol in one area,dangerous drinking may move into unsupervised areas.Ambulance statistics suggest this result.”The social worker andcounsellor has been developingcollaborative strategies toaddress public health andsocial problems relatingto alcohol and druguse, gamblingand publiccelebrationssince the1980s.Sequestration Alliance (FASA) project.This large collaborative project—involvingUSC, CSIRO Plant Industries, and Agri-Science Queensland—establishes the groupas the major tropical forestry researchproviders for Australia in addressing climatechange.The project will involve assessingthe drought adaptation and carbonsequestration rates (the rates at whichtrees absorb carbon from the air) in tropicalhardwood plantations.“Tropical plantation forests haveenormous potential to combat climatechange by sequestering carbon,” Dr Lee said.Research teamcracks seafoodtrade in ChinaDodging flying fish scales whilesurveying traders preparing fresh seafoodin the cold, wet markets of Shanghai wasjust part of the challenge for a studentresearch team from the University of theSunshine Coast.“We became accustomed to the stink,even fish scales stuck in our hair, butwe were offered chowder and a chatwhile one family finished gutting andcleaning six whopping fish brought inby a customer on a bike,” said Businessstudent Emma Barton, 28.“It opened my eyes to a mesmerisingcountry and a dynamic industry I hadnever considered before. I now plan towork towards seeing our product furtherpenetrate the Asian market.”Emma, who is studying Marketingand Public Relations at USC, was one of10 students conducting on-the-groundresearch into the Aussie seafood trade atChinese markets and restaurants.Led by USC International BusinessLecturer Dr Joanne Freeman, the teamwill now report to industry on itstwo-week China trip examining exportopportunities for Australian abalone,Southern rock lobster and Pacific oysters.Dr Freeman said exporting,particularly by small to medium-sizedbusinesses, was vital to Australia’sregional locations because of its potentialto boost jobs, income, infrastructure andproduction facilities.She said the University studentsfound the international market researchboth challenging and rewarding.“Some were pleasantly surprised to betreated as equals doing real work, not asstudents on a field trip,” she said. “It addsso much value to their business degrees.”The China trip was partly fundedby the Australian Seafood CooperativeResearch Centre.VIEW | EXIT