ScienceNetwork WA

A NEW strain of the deadly water mould Phytophthora may be the key to combating the spread of European blackberry – an invasive weed taking hold in the south-west.

THE Department of Fisheries have launched a new app that empowers the public to report suspected aquatic pests, in the fight to protect WA’s biosecurity.

WESTERN Australian research groups and conservationists are continuing to work together in the fight to conserve the Carnaby’s black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris) which has long been recognised as the Swan Coastal Plain’s most iconic bird, once blackening Perth skies with countless flock sizes – now seriously endangered.

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

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.

TAMMAR wallaby reproduction is influenced by individual variation in body condition as well as climate variation according to a new study.

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.

ADDING nutrients beneath planted seedlings can improve rehabilitation success in revegetation efforts, according to a Murdoch University study.

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

A TEAM from Murdoch University and Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK, have developed the first fish based multimetric index for assessing the health of Australian estuaries.

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.

LICHEN could prove to be an affordable alternative to traditional biomonitors used to detect atmospheric heavy metals, following research in WA’s South West.

WESTERN Australian Department of Agriculture and Food researcher Richard Fennessy is investigating the nuances of the ‘cold soak’ process on the quality of West Australian reds.

MURDOCH University researchers are researching a solutions to possible environmental management problems stemming from inland saline aquaculture.

EDITH Cowan University is playing a crucial role in a massive new project, unveiled last month, which will help CSIRO to understand and estimate the potential of marine environments to capture and store blue carbon in Australia.

NEW research in the Peel Harvey estuary found that during resuspension of iron sulphide rich sediments, nutrients are released into the water column.

A GROUNDBREAKING study has shown by-products from mining and mineral processing could provide a cost-effective solution for water treatment, as Western Australia tries to find an answer for stockpiling mining by-products.