Riley is a PhD candidate at Griffith University supervised by Prof Matthew Currell with Dr Christopher Ndehedehe, Dr Dioni Cendón (ANSTO) and Dr Elisabetta Carrara (BoM) as co-supervisors. His collaborative research is part of an ARC linkage project partnering with the Northern Land Council and Environment Centre NT and focuses on the culturally and environmentally significant Roper River, including the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer which sustains it.
His research combines groundwater isotopes, geochemistry, and environmental DNA to improve the conceptual understanding of this highly connected groundwater-surface water system. The aquifer is facing increasing development pressure from rapidly expanding mining and agricultural industries, which could threaten the health of the Roper River.
“Working collaboratively with Mangarrayi Traditional Owners is a key component of the research, and I have been fortunate enough to spend a significant amount of time on-Country with Mangarrayi People during fieldwork,” Riley says. “This experience has deepened my understanding of the system, but more importantly, helped to direct the research toward questions that matter for the people most connected to this iconic river system.”
Riley says receiving the postgraduate research award from AINSE has allowed him to gain some hands-on lab experience and given him a much greater appreciation of the science behind the isotope data generated at ANSTO. “I also cannot speak highly enough of the people at ANSTO – with a real passion for the work they do and a genuine willingness to share their knowledge and experience,” Riley adds.
AINSE is proud to support Riley as he completes his PhD, fostering the collaboration and knowledge-sharing that are at the heart of scientific discovery.