Introducing Professor Dick Haynes and his Team

Dick Haynes

Dick was born in England but his parents moved to NZ when he was three months old. He grew up and went to school in Auckland, NZ and then did his degree at Lincoln College, University of Canterbury (now Lincoln University) on the outskirts of Christchurch, NZ. He graduated BHortSci (Hons1) in 1976, PhD (Soil Science) in 1981 and DSc in 2000 all from Lincoln. He was a soil scientist for the NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (1981-1992), National Program Manager (Soil Science) for the NZ Institute for Crop and Food Research (1992-1996) and Professor of Soil Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (1996-2006). He joined UQ in the middle of 2006 as Research Professor of Soil and Environmental Science. His position and research are funded by CRC CARE (Contamination and Remediation of the Environment) which is based at the University of South Australia (Mawson Lakes Campus). Dick's previous research has been mainly on the fertility, quality and biology of agricultural soils in NZ and South Africa. However, in South Africa he branched out into the environmental area of soil science (rehabilitation of mined sites/waste application to soils etc) and is now concentrating, and expanding, his research in this area. He is the author of over 200 publications including over 130 refereed research papers, over 20 refereed review papers and chapters plus a large number of conference papers, extension publications and reports.

Dick holds duel citizenship (UK and NZ) and also has permanent residency in both South Africa and Australia! He has difficulty working out which country's sports team he is supporting especially when the rugby or cricket is on! He is an avid follower of motor racing especially speedway (midget cars and sprint cars) and was a pit crew member at Western Springs Speedway (Auckland) in his youth. He also is into home renovation (by necessity as well as enjoyment) and gardening. In addition, he has an interest in fine art and paints landscapes and motor racing scenes as a hobby.

One of Dick's landscapes of New Zealand	Another of Dick's paintings

The CRC CARE project is on recycling and using wastes of industry and municipalities while minimizing their effects on the environment. In particular, the project concentrates on minimizing the effects of heavy metal contaminants on the environment. It includes sub-projects on use of wastes as heavy metal sorbents, production of manufactured soils from wastes, use of waste organic amendments in rehabilitation of waste disposal areas, use of wastes as fertilizer sources and effects of saline waste waters on soil properties. The project currently includes Dick, a research scientist and a PhD student. In addition, a technician will soon be employed and two other PhD students will be appointed.

Dr Oxana Belyaeva is the research scientist working on the project. Oxana hails from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. She was born in southern Russia in the Krasnodarsky region and moved to Rostov during her primary school years. She completed her schooling in Rostov and then studied at Rostov State University graduating with a MSc in 1996 and a PhD (Soil Biology) in 2003. She worked as a technician in the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry at Rostov State University from 1999-2003 and also lectured soil science part time and modeled part-time. Between 2003 and 2007, Oxana worked in private enterprise in Rostov-on Don as a contract landscape/garden designer (in Russia, an occupation considerably more lucrative than an academic position) but missed academic stimulation and use of her qualifications. She accepted a position of lecturer in soil science at a polytechnical institute in Rostov in early 2007 but then, later in the year, took up the position of research scientist in the CRC CARE project at UQ. Since then she has set up the research laboratory and is currently working on a project on the production of manufactured soils using waste products of industries and municipalities (e.g. municipal green waste and coal fly ash). Oxana likes the outdoors, the beach, the ocean, horse riding and has particular interests in garden design/gardening and sowing. She also has a particular fascination for Australia's furry marsupials and other cute animals.

Oxana and Ya-Feng in lab

Ya-Feng Zhou is a PhD student working on the CRC project. She grew up and went to school in the northern part of China (Huludao, Liaoning Province) and then did her BSc and MSc at Shenyang Agricultural University specializing in Food Science. She subsequently moved to the city of Wuhan to do her PhD at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (Chinese Academy of Science) in microbiology (molecular science) and graduated in 2001. She worked as a research scientist in that institute from 2001-2007. Ya-Feng and her husband became Australian Permanent Residents in 2005 and she joined him here in Australia in 2007. She is doing her second PhD (this time in environmental science) on the use of solid waste materials as adsorbents and immobilizing agents for heavy metal contaminants and then intends to find employment in the Environmental Science area. She and her husband are in the process of buying a home and are expecting their three year old daughter will join them from China in the next few months. Ya-Feng's hobbies include listening to music, going to the movies and cooking.

Sunflower 2008 Competetion

The sunflower competition is in full swing. Over 170 kits were sent out to high schools with planting in early March. Kits were sent out to schools in a radius of about 200 km from Gatton. Susanne Schick and Carissa Dennis in NRAVS Marketing have been a tremendous help in organising this competition. Students were supplied with hybrid sunflower seed and rules for growing the plants. The size of the pot was limited to 11 litres but otherwise students can grow the plants in any way they think will produce the heaviest plants.

Display of Sunflowers grown in the Gatton LCAFS glasshouse

Prizes will be allocated to the heaviest plants with main prizes for first, second and third. We had a great response from sponsors with donations from the Grains Research Foundation, Pacific Seeds and the Australian Sunflower Association.

Weigh-in day starts at 9.30 am on Friday 6 June during swot vac and will take place in the Central Walkway close to the Foundation Building. Vic Robertson and his team will be invaluable in making the day a success. Students and teachers will be able to take a guided bus tour of the campus ending at the nursery where staff has a display of ornamental sunflower plants as well as other species they are propagating. At 11.30 am visitors will meet in the Main Lecture Theatre where there will be a careers presentation followed by announcement of prize winners. A sausage sizzle barbeque will follow. All staff are invited to attend.

As an aside, Francine Bentley, LCAFS Finance Officer at LCAFS Gatton, is running a small sunflower competition with students of St Mary's Primary School at Laidley. There are some pretty impressive plants coming from some of the classes. The preschoolers have a 132cm tall sunflower with a 5cm Flower, but Year 3 is coming in first at the moment with a 95cm Plant and a 9cm Flower. Francine's rules are somewhat different from the 'official' Sunflower Competition. She is not only looking for the tallest plant, but also the biggest sunflower - but the plants won't be weighed.

Impressive sunflowers grown by students at St Mary's Primary School at Laidley

The students are very enthusiastic and Francine usually ends up surrounded with a small crowd asking about heights and also wanting to help with measuring and fertilizing the plants and taking photos.

At present there isn't an end date to the competition, although it is likely to be before the end of June, as Francine wants to let the children see how big the sunflowers can get.

UQ - IPA Partnership

LCAFS, in conjunction with the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management and the TC Bernie School of Law has formed a new partnership with the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA). The primary purpose of the partnership is to conduct evidence-based, scientific and legal research into environmental issues, with the aim of providing improved information frameworks for policy formulation. This research will include quantifying the costs and benefits of conservation initiatives, and evaluating current legal and policy frameworks.

To mark the significance of the partnership, a morning tea was held on Wednesday 30 April at the UQ Art Gallery, presided over by Professor David Siddle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Back Row: Graham Farebrother and John Abott, Candidates Front Row: John Roskins, IPA Executive Director; Bryant Macfee, Donor; Louise Macfie; Kaye Basford, Head of School of Land Crop, and Food Sciences; David Siddle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research); Jane Macdonnell, Candidate

Scholarship recipients will be both UQ PhD Research Students and IPA Research Fellows. As such they will enjoy the benefits of intellectual freedom in their pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and receive strong mentoring support. Once their research has become established, they will be encouraged to speak openly and publicly about their findings and to provide expert advice in their field.

The three areas of research currently under study include:

Agricultural practices and chemical usage - Candidate: John Abbott, Supervisors: Richard Burns and Neal Menzies, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences - The research project will critically assess the scientific evidence for environmental impacts of pesticides on coastal ecosystems and how these impacts can be quantified, controlled and even reversed. It will also look at the involvement of other stressors, cumulative or synergistic, that may also be implicated, in order to establish the direct and indirect chemical impacts. Analysis of chemical usage, costs, risks and benefits will provide a balanced understanding, to better evaluate the current environmental legislation.

Carbon sequestration in an Australian context - Candidate: Graham Farebrother, Supervisors: Bob Beeton, School of Natural and Rural Systems Management and Neal Menzies, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences - The research project on carbon sequestration will focus on the biological aspects of carbon sequestration and its integration into the overall National and State Carbon Policies. The research will aim to identify the connections and gaps that may exist between the sequestration science and Green House Gas policy, leading to the possible avoidance of any adverse environmental effects of the existing or future policy.

Evaluating environmental legal frameworks and protection policies - Candidate: Jane Macdonnell, Supervisor: Suri Ratnapala, School of Law - The research will look to evaluate the current legal frameworks for vegetation management in Australia, with particular reference to the Queensland Vegetation Management Act. The research focus will aim to broadly evaluate the effectiveness of vegetation management regimes in Australia in relation to the environmental goals and the impacts on constitutional values and principles.

CALFS

The CALFS Committee are proud to announce the first CALFS Industry Dinner Night Spectacle on Friday 19 September, 2008.

The night aims to bring together both students and professionals who have a passion for crops, agriculture, land and food sciences. It is intended that students will receive insight into the industries they are entering and will also be a great networking opportunity for all.

The night will host three guest speakers along with a number of key professionals from relevant industries.

The dinner is a black tie event consisting of a three course meal, a drinks package of beer, wine and soft drinks, with three speakers and dancing .

The Staff and Graduates Club, UQ St. Lucia campus is the venue for this prestigious event. Pre-dinner registration commences at 7pm in the foyer

Tickets are $85 for CALFS members, $95 for non members

Please contact Rachel Archbald on 0417 774 708 for further details and bookings. Numbers are limited so please be sure to book your tickets early.

Spotlight on some of LCAFS new Postgraduate Students

Anneline Padayachee, supervised by Mike Gidley (CNAFS) and Li Day (CSIRO), has just started her PhD researching the surprisingly "unresearched" area of food processing effects on the plant cell wall and the role the plant cell wall has in phytonutrient release from the cell. Her interest in developing healthier food products was fostered during her honours year when she researched overweight and obesity among Brisbane children. Anneline has traveled extensively which has developed in her a passion to address food insecurity and malnourishment, especially in developing communities.

Only 3 months into her project, Anneline is working in collaboration with scientists at UQ, Food Science Australia, Cannon Hill and Werribee as well as CSIRO, St.Lucia looking at the role the plant cell wall plays in bioactive release from the plant cell. Although it is well-known that the plant cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose and pectin, there is minimal research in the interaction between hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds with the plant cell wall during nutrient release. Anneline aims to determine the interactions that are occurring between a variety of phytonutrients and the cell wall that are allowing some phytonutrients to be released whilst others are binding to the cell wall.

'Rainbow' carrots - white, yellow, orange, red and purple carrots. The yellow carrot is a source of lutein, orange carrot isa source of carotene red carrot is a source of lycopene and purple carrot is a source of anthocyanin. Photo source: USDA 2004

A unique vegetable source will be the CSIRO's Rainbow carrots, but other common fruits including mango, berries, tomato will also be studied to gain a greater understanding of cell wall interactions from different plant models.

As this project will also be determining the effects of processing on bioactive release from fruit and vegetable material, the information provided from this research could be used by the food industry. Certain processed fruit and vegetable material could be utilised as food ingredients aiding the development of more functional food products that can contribute to the fruit and vegetable dietary intake of Australians.

Highlights of Anneline's career to date include:

• Participation in the CSIRO Food Futures Flagship project to determine phytonutrient release from processed fruit and vegetable material which looked at how fruit and vegetable material could provide additional vital nutrients to those unable to afford a diverse dietary intake.
• A stint in the food industry as a Quality Assurance/Research and Development Manager where she oversaw the development and implementation of HACCP and ISO quality assurance systems in addition to formulating new products and improving existing products.
• Involvement in the dietary, physical activity and anthropometric assessment of children across the south east QLD region as part of Queensland Health's 2006 Healthy Kids Queensland study, where approximately 3,700 children aged 5-17 were surveyed from state and private schools across Queensland in this baseline data study.
• Travelling to many developing communities in Australia and overseas on voluntary mission work where she has gained first hand experience of food insecurity and the issues surrounding malnutrition faced by many people in these communities.

Adam Wightwick is supervised by Neal Menzies (LCAFS) and Graeme Allinson (DPI Victoria). His project is funded by the CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CARE). Adam is conducting his studies off-campus in Victoria, based at the DPI - Queenscliff Centre.

The use of copper-based fungicides in vineyards has resulted in an accumulation of copper in the surface soils which has the potential to cause adverse effects to soil organisms and the long-term fertility of the soil. Adam's PhD project is investigating copper bioavailability, the adverse effects of copper accumulation on soil organisms, and the resilience of soil ecosystems to increased copper with the aim to determine whether the use of copper fungicides poses an unacceptable risk to long-term soil fertility in Australian vineyards. The project will also give consideration to the risk management options if copper fungicides are posing an acceptable risk, for example assessing whether alternative fungicides are actually safer for the soil/environment.

Adam completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) at the University of Ballarat (Victoria) majoring in Food Science in 1999. At the end of his honours year he resisted the pressure to go on to a PhD but instead won a job with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now DPI). Most of his work has been centered around the development and validation of guidelines to assist farmers to adopt environment best practices and to research the risks posed by off-target/off-site movement of chemicals applied on farm. After procrastinating over it for several years he finally decided to embark on a PhD program to further develop his research skills and to progress his career.

Sarah Vaughan is supervised by Neal Menzies (LCAFS), Ram Dalal (Department of Natural Resources and Water), and Stephen Harper (Department of Primary Industries).

Sarah's project is to evaluate whether the significant mineral nitrogen, remaining post harvest in intensive agricultural systems, can be trapped in the soil profile and stored in a reversible manner to limit problematic nitrogen leaching. Growers typically apply late applications of nitrogenous fertiliser to boost yields, however, often the subsequent removal of plant material occurs prior to complete nitrogen utilisation. Thus, nitrogen can remain in a soluble form subject to leaching by the high local rainfalls ultimately resulting in eutrophication, unsightly algal blooms and even loss of marine life.

Sarah's project aims to manipulate the soil carbon and nitrogen cycles through the application of organic amendments; many which are by-products from other industries, such as sugar cane trash, or waste products, such as green waste from home garden. The addition of materials high in carbon and recalcitrant compounds can result in the soils natural microflora utilising the available nitrogen source for their own growth and function - thus, temporarily removing the nitrogen from its available form.

Sarah completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) at the University of Melbourne in 2004. Her 4th year Honours Project first piqued her interest in soil science - where she reviewed the effects of humic acids extracted from the organic material in peat on the growth of horticultural crops. Throughout her Honours year Sarah worked part-time as a Research Officer for Biogreen Pty Ltd, a company who sells peat based products to the agricultural sector and to the domestic home garden market. In 2005, for a lifestyle change, and to get some on-farm research experience, Sarah moved to Tasmania and commenced work with Peracto Pty Ltd - a private agricultural research company specialising in efficacy and residue trials for agricultural chemicals. At Peracto she assisted in the designing, conducting and managing of field and pot trials for a wide range of crops ranging from poppies and pyrethrum to wine grapes, cereals, and intensive horticulture.

Six months ago Sarah decided her real interests lay in soil science research and decided to commence a PhD where she has the opportunity to work closely with the strong community of soil science experts.

Welcome to the following new postgraduate student

Zaiton Sapak (PhD), Principal Advisor: Victor Galea, "Development of an infection and sporulation model for powdery mildew of cucurbits".

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded their doctorate:

David George, Development of applied climate education for improved management of climate variability and climate change in rural Australia.

Jodie Ann White, Pathotypes, epidemiology and economic importance of sorghum rust (Puccinia Purpurea) in Australia.

Staff News

Congratulations to Polly and Scott Burey on the birth of their son Caspian Richard born on Sunday 13 April. He weighed 3.12 kg (7 lbs) and was 53 cm (21 ins) long.

Congratulations to Zalifah Mohd Kasim and husband Kamal on the birth of their daughter Kaisarah Kamal born on Tuesday 26 February 2008. She weighed 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs) and was 51 cm (20 inches) long. A beautiful sister for Kiasatina Kamal.

Welcome Caspian and Kaisarah.

New Grants

Dave Edwards and Sean Grimmond, $3,090,926, Developing technology for the cost effective de novo sequencing and analysis of complex genomes.

Gui Hassan, Rukhsana Bajwa, and Steve Adkins, US$373,600, Biology, ecology and management of parthenium weed (Parthenium huysterophorus L.): An invasive alien weed threatening agricultural and natural ecosystems in Pakistan.

Victor Galea, $134,500, Powdery Mildew and White Blister.

Bob Gilbert, $66,034, Mechanistic investigation of fluorinated coating for stone preservation.

Jacqueline Batley and Dave Edwards, $3,000, Characterising genetic variation in Sorghum.

Daryl Joyce and Richard Burns, $2,800, Superior drought stress coping ability among indigenous ornamental rainforest plants.

Library Update

Late nights in the Library

In response to requests from library users, the Biological Sciences Library is now open until midnight from Monday to Friday during semester. The library will operate as usual until 9pm Monday-Thursday and until 5pm on Friday, with library staff available for assistance and advice. After these times, security will take over the building and remain on site until closing at midnight. Library users will have access to all levels of the building and to computers, group rooms, printer/copies and the autoloan machines to borrow from the collection.

Research skills for staff and postgraduate students

The Liaison Librarians for NRAVS at St Lucia are now offering research skills training from 9-12 on the last Friday of each month. Depending on numbers of attendees, these sessions can cover such topics as:

• search strategies for database searching;
• choosing suitable databases;
• demonstrations of effective database searching;
• setting up alerts;
• searching for open access material (such as UQ eSpace);
• effective internet searching;
• finding journal impact factors using JCRWeb;
• anything else you need help with.

6th Annual Australian Biotechnology Summit 2008
Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney
30 to 31 July 2008
URL: http://www.acevents.com.au/bio2008/

This is a flagship summit for the biotechnology industry - in Australia and internationally. The event has annually attracted a distinguished panel of speakers, as well as senior delegates representing the industry's most innovative biotechnology companies. The agenda focuses on movng products from the bench to business, as well as R&D and full-scale commercialisation. The format features a mix of senior level presentations, "chat-room" style panel discussions and networking sessions. A state-of-the-art technology showcase is also included over the 2 days.

19th International Conference on Genome Informatics (GIW2008)
Gold Coast, Queensland
1 to 3 December 2008
URL: http://mlaa.com.au/giw2008/

The International Conference on Genome Informatics is the longest-running international bioinformatics conference. It was first held (as Genome Informatics Workshop, hence the acronym GIW) at Kikai Shinko Kaikan (Tokyo) on 3-4 December 1990, just before the start of the Japanese human genome project. This annual conference has grown to bridge theory and experiment, academia and industry, East and West. In recognition of its size and international nature, beginning with GIW 2001 the conference took on the name "International Conference on Genome Informatics" while retaining its established acronym GIW. The scope of GIW2008 includes all work that addresses the computational understanding of biological systems at the molecular level. Papers at GIW2008 will present recent results of theoretical and practical research at genomic and other "omic" scale, particularly with a systems biology orientation. Six internationally renowned researchers will present keynotes.

General Interest

Alumni and Friends website goes live
The UQ Alumni and Friends website has undergone a facelift and went live on the web earlier this month. The revised version of the website incorporates a more attractive look and feel than the previous Alumni site and makes it easier for alumni to update their details, find ways to reconnect with the University and support UQ through donations. The Advancement Office's website is now incorporated within this website.

Are you a parent of a two-10 year old child?
The Parenting and Family Support Centre is seeking parents of children aged 2-10 years for a study assessing the acceptability and usefulness of the Triple P - Positive Parenting Program. Participation involves attending a session at the St Lucia Campus that will take less than an hour. Participants will be asked to watch a video, complete a questionnaire and take part in a short follow-up telephone survey. Volunteers will be offered free Triple P materials as thanks for participating. Please contact: Sally Burrows or Alina Morawska, phone ext. 57304.

Would you like to be more effective in supporting your child at home?
Parents are invited to take part in a free occupational therapy coaching intervention that aims to improve children's skills through coaching. Some areas that can be addressed in this study include managing family routines such as getting ready for school, completing homework; specific skill problems such as dressing, cutlery use, playing with friends; or general issues such as physical skills, thinking skills or social skills. The researchers particularly seek children having particular difficulties, including those with diagnoses (such as ADHD, DCD, Intellectual Disability, Developmental Delay) or children just struggling to learn the skills typical for their peers. If interested, contact the occupational therapist researcher on 33467469 or email her on Fiona Graham.