ScienceNetwork WA

ALTHOUGH the Western Australian Goldfields is one of Australia’s most important wealth generators, it neither enjoys high public expenditure nor experiences development that correlates with the amount of wealth it generates, according to research that has defined it as a ‘resource bank’ for the state.

IDEAL conditions for producing perennial legumes – that could be used to relieve the shortage of forage during dry periods – have been identified by agricultural researchers.

NEW polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) testing developed by scientists at ChemCentre could help protect marine health and improve marine industry environmental impacts.

PLANT species are at risk of becoming extinct under predicted climate change rates according to new collaborative research.

A NOVEL approach to the biological recovery of phosphorus from wastewater has been developed by the CSIRO Land and Water in Floreat which may yield significant economic and environmental benefits.

A NEW method for estimating the time-since-fire in infrequently burnt woodlands in the Goldfields has been developed by scientists at the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and CSIRO.

Writen by Sarah Fletcher, of the Goldfields Education Mining Industry Alliance

Over three days and an evening session of April 4, 5 and 6, around 600 school children, many community members and educators enjoyed short talks, hands-on activities, workshops  and displays at the recent Science Awareness Festival at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall. 

IN HIS new role as Minister for Science, Premier Colin Barnett took time to brief ScienceNetwork on his vision for science in WA.

Writen by Sarah Fletcher, of the Goldfields Education Mining Industry Alliance

PROFESSOR Fiona Haslam Mckenzie, Principal Research Leader for the Enduring Community Value from Mining- Remote Economies program for the Co-operative Research Centre - Remote Economic Participation helped launched the Goldfields-Esperance Portal of the ScienceNetworkWA website in late November last year.

A NATIONAL surveillance study of hospitalised cases with chicken pox before and after the introduction of the freely available varicella vaccine in Australia has reported a drop of almost 70 per cent in cases with complications needing medical attention.

WA’s ChemCentre has begun a research initiative to further understand and curb Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), one of the leading environmental concerns produced by mining and development sites.

RESEARCHERS say an increasing amount of land in Western Australia is being managed for environmental conservation, however mining companies are the single largest lease holder of what was previously pastoral land.

AN article by Western Australian and American environmental scientists is putting forward a new way of looking at the native versus non-native species debate and proposes species origin is no longer the best judgement tool in the ever-changing environment.

AN INTERNATIONAL research project involving a local scientist has presented the results of a study which used the first non-destructive, three dimensional method of documenting binding attachments in fossil vertebrates.

UNIVERSITIES have welcomed Premier Colin Barnett’s move to raise the profile of science within government by taking ministerial responsibility for science policy.

THE declared rare flora poison pea (Gastrolobium graniticum) does not need fire to propagate as previously believed.

ESTABLISHING an industry founded on algae-based biodiesel could potentially overshadow Western Australia’s iron ore industry and could be up and running in as little as five years, according to a local expert.

TRADITIONAL owners are using a unique software program that collects environmental and cultural data to contribute to the land management and conservation of the desert rangelands areas in WA.

MURDOCH University scientists have created a technique using microfluidics which could revolutionise how resource companies recover high-value precious metals, making the process faster and cheaper.

A recent UWA study has investigated the nutrition-related issues affecting disadvantaged families with overweight or obese children.