Dr Jeremy Austin, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Adelaide, received funding in October 2008 from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to examine the genetic diversity of ancient devil remains. This work builds on the findings of scientists in the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, who previously determined that DFTD is a contagious cancer. It can spread between individuals because of a lack of genetic diversity among Tasmanian devils.

‘We want to understand when, where and why Tasmanian devils lost genetic diversity,’ Jeremy said. ‘Some of the samples we have from Victoria and Western Australia go back thousands of years. They’ll be able to give us an indication of how genetically diverse devils were, and whether they’ve been through something like this before.’ The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a screening program that identifies devils with a higher genetic diversity. These devils are the animals that will most likely be immune or resistant to the Devil Disease.

For more information about the DFTD visit the Save the Tasmanian devil website or for more infomations about  the new findings visit the ABC website

This prestigious Award has been established in honour of Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE, former Chair of the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment. Professor Millis, widely regarded as a national treasure, is a microbiologist of international repute who has made enormous contributions in agriculture, environmental protection, medicine and engineering. Nancy Millis is also a leader in environmental management. As a researcher she was aware early of the importance of clean water and developed techniques to treat industrial wastewater. She was Chair of the Victorian Government’s Water Strategy Committee advising on the supply and use of water for the Melbourne area. Nancy was the Chairman of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment from 1995 until it ended in 2008. In 1977, she became a Member of the British Empire (MBE) and in 1990 was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This award provides a stipend of $10,000 per year, a project operating allowance of $15,000, opportunities for leadership mentoring, plus additional support for participation in national and international conferences.

Applicants for all scholarships should be completing an Honours degree or a four year degree program with Honours, or hold a Masters degree. The Scholarships are open to students with Australian and New Zealand Citizenship and Permanent Residency. Scholarships are open to new and enrolled students. Applicants must have an APA or equivalent. Call for applications opens 16 March 2010. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 6 April 2010. Information about available projects and application procedures can be found at the WQRA website.

James Hansen, one of the world’s leading scientists on climate issues, is in Australia and has spoken at public events in both Melbourne and Sydney. Dr Hansen will be speaking at a public event in Adelaide at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Thursday night (11th March), don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear James Hansen share his lifetime of research on climate change and have the opportunity to engage with him through audience discussion.

For more information on this special event, or to book your ticket click here.

Professor Corey Bradshaw will tonight be presented with the Life Sciences and Biological Sciences category award at the inaugural Scopus Young Researcher of the Year Awards. The award, to be presented by Senator Kim Carr, Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, aims to recognise and encourage Australia’s best researchers aged 40 and under, judged by their research output, the impact of their research and other contributions.

Professor Bradshaw is Director of Ecological Modelling at the Environment Institute and holds a joint position with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI). He is a conservation biologist who uses mathematical modelling to understand the complex interactions between plant and animal species within an ecosystem.

Corey’s blog, ConservationBytes.com was recently ranked 12th for all sites on GreenTopSites.com. Conservation Bytes is getting over 180 visits a day. Green Top Sites provides a ranked list of all the best green websites on the internet, rankings are based on the number of people who visit the sites each day.

Corey’s achievements were profiled in today’s Higher Education supplement in the Australian,

“In naming him the Scopus young researcher of the year in the life sciences and biological sciences category, the judging panel says his modelling work has added “significant new perspectives and rigour” to his field.”

to read the article, click here.

Tanya Monro of IPAS was a finalist in the Physics category, to read who else within the University of Adelaide was honoured at the Scopus awards, click here.

The Environment Institute would like to congratulate Corey on this outstanding achievement!

All areas of the website have been updated including who’s new to the group, detailed information about each of the different research areas and news around the centre. There is also information about positions with the CET as well as PhD and Honours scholarships. Come and check out the CET’s new cyber home.

From his unique perspective, ecologist David Paton examines the changes that have occurred in the Coorong and Lower Lakes since European settlement. He summarises research collected over thirty years on the different ecosystems that comprise these wetlands at the end of the River Murray. The book is enriched with personal accounts from twenty contributing authors who share a passion for this part of South Australia through their connection with the environment for recreation, scientific pursuit or livelihood. More than a guide to the region, this book will give you an understanding of the causes of the current crisis and possible solutions

The launch was well attended and followed by drinks at the University of Adelaide.

Paul is a Marie Curie Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Imperial Collgege London.

Abstract: Explaining the rapid diversification of flowering plants remains one of the greatest challenges facing evolutionary biologists. The pollinator-shift hypothesis developed by Grant (1949) and Stebbins (1970) is the most widely accepted explanation. However, pollinator mediated selection is yet to be shown to result in speciation. The focus of my investigation has been biodiversity hotspots in southern Africa, primarily because they harbour exceptional plant species diversity and endemism, and therefore the promise of detecting speciation in action. In an attempt to unravel the processes driving the evolution of floral traits and speciation, I have taken a multi-faceted approach. I will present my findings from three very different studies:

1. Macroevolution in Sparaxis (Iridaceae),
2. Population genetics in Gladiolus carinatus species complex (Iridaceae),
3. Mating patterns in Gladiolus longicollis (Iridaceae). These studies highlight the role of pollination in recent and continuous speciation events.

Conservation Bytes is getting over 180 visits a day. Green Top Sites provides a ranked list of all the best green websites on the internet, rankings are based on the number of people who visit the sites each day. Corey is the Director of Ecological Modelling in the Environment Institute. He currently holds a joint position with the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI Aquatic Sciences).  Corey has a strong international reputation for his work in conservation biology and population ecology. Read Corey’s blog Conservation Bytes.

Professor Ian L. Pepper is the Director of the Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona. He will be giving a seminar on Monday the 15th of March at 4pm on Global research needs on  potable water distribution systems: studies at the University of Arizona water village. The seminar is hosted by the School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, and will be held in Room B01 in the Basement of the Masonic Lounge, 254 North Terrace.

A fundamental requirement for the 21st Century is the ability to provide safe, healthy potable water to consumers, with acceptable taste and odor. To answer these global needs, the University of Arizona has developed “The Water Village.” The Water Village is an intermediate field scale testing facility comprised of modular buildings that allow for the study of water and wastewater treatment and distribution. Central to this is the concept of “Smart Water Distribution Systems.” The “Real-Time Monitoring and Sensor Lab” is a test bed dedicated to the detection of microbial and chemical contaminants in distribution systems in real time. Multiple sensors in parallel are integrated holistically to allow for simultaneous detection of both types of contaminants. In a “smart water distribution system,” contaminant detection in real time is a priority, however an additional requirement is the predictive capacity to monitor dispersion and transport of contaminants following detection. This requirement is provided by the “Water Network Distribution Lab,” which develops state-of-the-art models for contaminant fate and transport. Finally, protection of the consumer to potential water contaminants is vital. This equipment is met by the “Microbiology and Point-of-Use Lab” which specializes in novel low energy disinfection technologies, and the evaluation of new point-of-use technologies which potentially provide the final barrier to contaminant intrusion of a consumer residence. In addition, the Water Village contains the “Novel Wastewater Treatment Lab,” which evaluates low energy treatment technologies, and a “Water Reuse Education and Outreach Building.” Overall, the Water Village has gained a national reputation and is the basis of several major projects that are currently underway.

The Government of South Australia, in association with the Environment Insitute present James Hansen: “After Copenhagen: Looking for Real Solutions.” The event will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre (Hall B), 6:30pm for a 7pm start. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear James Hansen share his lifetime of research in climate change and have the opportunity to engage with him through audience discussion. Tickets are $22 AUD, for bookings please visit Environment Institute website.

Thirty years ago, he created one of the world’s first climate models and is sometimes referred to as “father” or “grandfather of global warming”. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City.

Best known for his research in the field of climatology, a watershed testimonial to the US congress in 1988 on global warming and his advocacy to limit the impacts of climate change, James will be speaking at a public event in Adelaide about his new book “Storms of My Grandchildren“, covering his views on climate change and obtaining real solutions to these problems.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear James Hansen share his lifetime of research on climate change and have the opportunity to engage with him through audience discussion.