Research

The Lower-Birrarung Billabongs: Uncovering a history of fires, floods, and fuel-loads to inform Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung led restoration of urban billabongs- Patrick Kennedy

2026 Research Spotlight, Archaeology and Geosciences, Research /

Identifying historical ecological baselines and understanding subsequent variability over appropriate timescales is vital for informing sustainable land-management and ecological restoration. The lower-Birrarung (Yarra River) billabongs, located in metropolitan Melbourne, are a series of lowland floodplain wetlands which have been culturally constructed and stewarded by Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung over millennia. Patrick Kennedy’s PhD, in collaboration with […]

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Understanding the Waters Beneath: Researching the Roper River and Cambrian Aquifer – Riley Nicholson

2026 Research Spotlight, Archaeology, Geosciences and Environmental Sciences /

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

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Unlocking the Vault: Exploring Structural Transformations in Uranium Materials

2026 Research Spotlight, Materials Science and Engineering, Research /

As the global demand for reliable, low-carbon energy alternatives accelerates, nuclear power is stepping back into the spotlight. But behind the scenes of this energy transition lies a critical scientific imperative: ensuring the absolute safety of nuclear materials at every stage of their lifecycle. Postgraduate Researcher and AINSE SAAFE Scholar Maria Nicholas is immersed in

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Advancing lung cancer diagnostics with phase-contrast X-ray imaging – Lucy Costello

2026 Research Spotlight, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science, Research /

Lung cancer in Australia Lung cancer is one of Australia’s biggest killers. It is the fourth-most commonly diagnosed cancer and has the highest mortality rate of any cancer. Early detection is crucial, but current diagnostic methods face significant limitations. Current imaging techniques The first step in lung cancer diagnostics is a chest X-ray, a two-dimensional

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A targeted approach to treating glioblastoma – Meaghan Ashton

2026 Research Spotlight, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science, Research /

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of brain cancer. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, prognosis remains poor, highlighting the urgent need for more precise and effective treatment strategies. Targeted radionuclide therapies (TRTs) offer a promising new approach by delivering highly potent radiation directly to cancer cells while minimising

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Exploring secondary electron behaviour for next-generation quantum and fabrication technologies – Rose Wilkens

2025 Research Spotlight, Materials Science and Engineering, Pathway /

As the demand for faster, smaller, and more powerful technology grows, the microelectronics industry is reaching the physical limits of current manufacturing methods. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, the current state-of-the-art technique for fabricating microchips, is being pushed to its limits, as engineers work to create features measured in nanometres and even atomic scales. Exploring new

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A geochemical investigation into toxic metal behaviour in mining environments

2025 Research Spotlight, Archaeology and Geosciences, ECRG, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith Beneath abandoned mine sites, a silent chemical threat lingers. When sulfide-rich rocks are exposed to air and water during mining, they trigger acid mine drainage—acidic runoff that releases toxic elements like arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) into surrounding soil and water.This contamination can persist for decades after mining operations cease, threatening the

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Building the safety blueprint for future Moon missions

2025 Research Spotlight, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science, PGRA, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith Have you ever wondered what the main risks of space travel are? Hollywood films like The Martian and Apollo 13 often portray the dramatic risks of space travel, such as mechanical failures, life support issues, and unpredictable space weather. However, as astronauts journey far from home, venturing into the cold, unforgiving vacuum

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How Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, could help us understand life’s origins.

2025 Research Spotlight, Materials Science and Engineering, PGRA, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith In the quest to unravel one of life’s greatest mysteries—how it all began—scientists are looking beyond our planet, to the vastness of space, in search of the molecular seeds that might have sown life on Earth. One key stop on that journey is Titan—Saturn’s largest moon. For nearly two decades, NASA’s Cassini

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Thermo-electro-magnetic synergy: Unlocking next-gen thermoelectricity

2025 Research Spotlight, Materials Science and Engineering, PGRA, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith Amidst the ongoing global energy crisis, industries such as power, manufacturing, and transportation are significant contributors to energy consumption. These sectors produce substantial amounts of unwanted heat as a byproduct, typically released into the environment through exhaust systems, heated surfaces, or cooling mechanisms. This thermal energy, often considered waste, represents a largely

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