UQ researchers nominated for 'Oscars' of Australian science
Four University of Queensland research projects have been named finalists in the 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
The event – known colloquially as the ‘Oscars’ of Australian science – is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and will feature UQ research in quantum turbulence, virtual reality nanomedicine, marine environment conservation, and biodiversity protection.
Explore the work of our finalists below.
L-R Professor Rob Parton (IMB) and Professor Kristofer Thurecht (AIBN and CAI)
L-R Professor Rob Parton (IMB) and Professor Kristofer Thurecht (AIBN and CAI)
ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology: BioNanoVR
Professor Robert Parton, from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and Professor Kristofer Thurecht from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and Centre for Advanced Imaging and their team have been busy using virtual reality (VR) to solve the problem of visualising complex data, making it easier to understand for scientists and the public.
“Imagine exploring a 3D representation of a cancer cell, about 10 million times smaller than the naked eye can see, by ‘shrinking’ yourself to 1000th the size of a human hair,” he said.
“We’ve brought together experts in cell biology, nanomedicine, 3D computer visualisation and video game design from UQ, Monash University and the University of New South Wales, to do just that.
“Not only did we want to develop a completely new way for people to interact with complex biological data, but also to translate this data for experts across several fields.
“We generated a new platform, BioNanoVR, to represent 3D and 4D datasets in a way that allows interactive exploring of the data by multiple users in real time.
“VR allows the user to experience a cell in action — they can interact with and understand how the cell operates by moving through a virtual environment in which every aspect reflects actual scientific data, not simply an animation.”
Virtual Reality graphic display showing internal view of a dinosaur and a rat
Virtual Reality graphic display showing internal view of a dinosaur and a rat
Youth education groups involved in STEM and outreach programs at UQ's Centre for Advanced Imaging.
Youth education groups involved in STEM and outreach programs at UQ's Centre for Advanced Imaging.
Youth education groups involved in STEM and outreach programs at UQ's Centre for Advanced Imaging.
Youth education groups involved in STEM and outreach programs at UQ's Centre for Advanced Imaging.
UNSW Eureka Prize for Scientific Research: The Australian Quantum Vortex Team
UQ finalist Professor Warwick Bowen said his team was ecstatic to hear that its work on quantum turbulence was being recognised.
“It’s been a remarkable year for us as this is a culmination of more than a decade of research across three universities,” Professor Bowen said.
“Our work observes, for the first time, the microscopic origins of large-scale structures in quantum turbulence.
“We all witness turbulence in our everyday lives, in storms, in the ocean and atmosphere.
“Though how these structures form and persist is not well understood – indeed turbulence is widely considered the most important unanswered question in classical physics.
“This research provides a new path to understand turbulence, allowing us to create and evolve turbulent systems at microscale dimensions in the lab, which could form the basis of new quantum technologies, such as precision inertial sensors.”
The University of Queensland members of the Australian Quantum Vortex Team standing in front of an ultra cold refrigerator, cooled to a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero. The team place nanofabricated devices within the refrigerator that allow laser control of quantum vortex dynamics in superfluid helium.
The University of Queensland members of the Australian Quantum Vortex Team standing in front of an ultra cold refrigerator, cooled to a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero. The team place nanofabricated devices within the refrigerator that allow laser control of quantum vortex dynamics in superfluid helium.
UQ Australian Quantum Vortex Team members monitoring UQ’s ultra cold refrigerator.
UQ Australian Quantum Vortex Team members monitoring UQ’s ultra cold refrigerator.
Team member Dr Guillaume Gauthier working on a Bose-Einstein condensate apparatus that uses lasers to trap atoms and cool them into a superfluid state. Precision laser stirring techniques in the apparatus are used to create quantum vortices and study their turbulent dynamics.
Team member Dr Guillaume Gauthier working on a Bose-Einstein condensate apparatus that uses lasers to trap atoms and cool them into a superfluid state. Precision laser stirring techniques in the apparatus are used to create quantum vortices and study their turbulent dynamics.
UQ Australian Quantum Vortex Team members (L-R) Dr Glen Harris, Dr Yauhen Sachkou, Dr Christopher Baker and Professor Warwick Bowen.
UQ Australian Quantum Vortex Team members (L-R) Dr Glen Harris, Dr Yauhen Sachkou, Dr Christopher Baker and Professor Warwick Bowen.
UNSW Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research: Ridge to Reef Fisheries
Dr Amelia Wenger, working with an interdisciplinary team led by UQ’s Dr Carissa Klein, has been hoping to solve problems facing marine biodiversity and the communities reliant on the marine environment.
“We developed models to predict how run-off from the land impacts coastal ecosystem health and the people that depend on them,” she said.
“Our research shows that there’s strong evidence that land-based threats to marine environments must be managed alongside threats such as fishing.
“This is critical in protecting marine biodiversity and the ecosystem services provided by the marine environment.
“Being a finalist is the result of years of hard work and interdisciplinary collaboration – we were so delighted.”
Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team (L-R) Dr Carissa Klein, Dr Megan Saunders, Dr Amelia Wenger, Professor Hugh Possingham, Dr Chris Brown, Dr Simon Albert, Associate Professor Mike Bode. Not pictured: Jutta Beher, Vivitskia Tulloch and Scott Atkinson.
Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team (L-R) Dr Carissa Klein, Dr Megan Saunders, Dr Amelia Wenger, Professor Hugh Possingham, Dr Chris Brown, Dr Simon Albert, Associate Professor Mike Bode. Not pictured: Jutta Beher, Vivitskia Tulloch and Scott Atkinson.
UQ Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team member Dr Amelia Wenger.
UQ Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team member Dr Amelia Wenger.
(L-R) Dr Simon Albert and Dr Carissa Klein assess water quality upstream of important coral reef fisheries habitat.
(L-R) Dr Simon Albert and Dr Carissa Klein assess water quality upstream of important coral reef fisheries habitat.
Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team: Dr Carissa Klein, Dr Megan Saunders, Dr Amelia Wenger, Professor Hugh Possingham, Dr Chris Brown, Dr Simon Albert, Associate Professor Mike Bode. Not pictured: Jutta Beher, Vivitskia Tulloch and Scott Atkinson.
Ridge to Reef Fisheries Team: Dr Carissa Klein, Dr Megan Saunders, Dr Amelia Wenger, Professor Hugh Possingham, Dr Chris Brown, Dr Simon Albert, Associate Professor Mike Bode. Not pictured: Jutta Beher, Vivitskia Tulloch and Scott Atkinson.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Newhaven Sanctuary cat proof fence. Image: Wayne Lawler.
Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Newhaven Sanctuary cat proof fence. Image: Wayne Lawler.
NSW Environment, Energy and Science (DPIE) Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research: Cat Ecology, Impact and Management Team
Saving Australian wildlife from an invasive introduced predator was the motivation behind UQ and ANU’s Professor Sarah Legge’s research program, based at the Threatened Species Recovery Hub.
“Australia is in the midst of a wildlife extinction crisis, which we won’t avert unless we get better at managing cats,” Professor Legge said.
“Across Australia cats collectively kill over three billion animals a year, and prey on at least 123 threatened species.
“Australian wildlife evolved without cats and many species are very vulnerable to this superlative predator, which is now found across 99.9 per cent of the continent and also on most of Australia’s larger islands.
“Our work has helped inform where we can use poison baiting most effectively and safely to control cats, how you can reduce cat populations by removing other introduced pests like rabbits, and the role that the community are playing in reducing cat numbers.
“We’ve shown that intense fire and heavy grazing compound the impact of cats on native animals, by removing shelter – if you manage fire and grazing carefully you can reduce the hunting success of cats.
“We've also worked really hard to communicate our research findings to conservation managers and the public, so that people understand the impact cats are having on our wildlife and the ways we can reduce that impact.”
Billy Ross undertaking field work in the Pilbara. Image: Nicolas Rakotopare
Billy Ross undertaking field work in the Pilbara. Image: Nicolas Rakotopare
Northern Quoll in the hand. Image: Nikolas Rakotopare
Northern Quoll in the hand. Image: Nikolas Rakotopare
Feral cat in South Australia. Image: Nicolas Rakotopare.
Feral cat in South Australia. Image: Nicolas Rakotopare.
Professor Bowen would like to acknowledge the efforts of Monash University and the Swinburne University of Technology, and funding from the ARC Centres EQUS and FLEET, as well as the US Army Research Office and the Defence Science and Technology Group.
Professor Parton and Professor Thurecht would like to acknowledge UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and Centre for Advanced Imaging, as well as the efforts of Monash University and the University of New South Wales.
Dr Wenger would like to acknowledge the efforts of Griffith University, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP).
Professor Legge would like to acknowledge lead partner Professor John Woinarski from Charles Darwin University, as well as the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and a team of over 30 scientists at collaborating organisations.
There are 51 finalists (individuals and teams), in the 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes – read about all of the 2020 finalists.
The winners of the awards will be announced on November 24.
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