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Monthly Archives: April 2017

Media Release: Bacteria with Midas touch for efficient gold processing

Special ‘nugget-producing’ bacteria may hold the key to more efficient processing of gold ore, mine tailings and recycled electronics, as well as aid in exploration for new deposits, University of Adelaide research has shown. For more than 10 years, University of Adelaide researchers have been investigating the role of microorganisms in gold transformation. In the […]

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New paper rewrites the biology of common wetland reed

A new study by the Environment Institute’s Dr Jasmin Packer has uncovered the biology of phragmites australis, a globally important plant native to the British Isles. Phragmites are a type of wetland reed, with phragmite australis being one of the most common. The reeds are vital to wildlife and conservation as they provide a nesting site for birds […]

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Tasmanian devil myth busted in new paper

Tasmanian Devils are a precious Australian icon that now dwell only on the island of Tasmania. The devils were once wild across mainland Australia, but went extinct around 3000 years ago. But could some of those devils have survived on the mainland? Are there any populations left? Environment Institute researchers searched for answers. The myth of […]

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Pint of Science with Laura Weyrich

Pint of Science is coming to Adelaide, bringing together science enthusiasts over a nice, cold bevvy. This year’s Pint of Science will feature our very own Dr Laura Weyrich. Weyrich is an expert on ancient DNA and the original palaeo diet. Using DNA sequencing of ancient dental tar, she reconstructs diets of Neanderthals long gone. […]

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Seminar: Improving restoration outcomes for native grasslands: The importance of below-ground processes

Monique Smith, PHD candidate from the School of Biological Sciences for the Department of Ecology & Environmental Science Seminar Series will be presenting a seminar on understanding of the mechanisms behind restoring old-fields back into native grasslands. Title: Improving restoration outcomes for native grasslands: the importance of below-ground processes When: Friday 28th April 2017 Time: 12:10pm Where: Horace Lamb Lecture Theatre 1022 Cost: Free […]

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Morgan Disspain is honoured with University Doctoral Research Medal

A big congratulations to Morgan Disspain who has been awarded the University Doctoral Research Medal ahead of the graduation ceremony later this month. During her Ph.D Morgan investigated information that could be obtained from archaeological otoliths and how reliable this information may be as a palaeoenvironmental record. Congratulations Morgan!

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LISTEN: The Science Show

Professor Alan Cooper, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA and Giles Hamm, PhD Candidate from LaTrobe University were interviewed on ABC RN’s Science show last Saturday (14th of April). They talked about their recent discovery of a cave which contains the first reliably dated human interaction with mega fauna, over 49,000 years ago. […]

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Media Release: Megafaunal extinctions driven by too much moisture

Studies of bones from Ice Age megafaunal animals across Eurasia and the Americas have revealed that major increases in environmental moisture occurred just before many species suddenly became extinct around 11-15,000 years ago. The persistent moisture resulting from melting permafrost and glaciers caused widespread glacial-age grasslands to be rapidly replaced by peatlands and bogs, fragmenting […]

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Science in The Pub: The Science of Ancient Australia

The theme of Science in the Pub this month was The Science of Ancient Australia. Two Environment Institute members discussed how their research has helped us understand the evolution of marsupials and the impact megafauna had on the ancient Australian environment. Dr Kieren Mitchell, discussed the evolution of Australian marsupials after the separation of the […]

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New Paper: Understanding Biological Invasions

Invasive species cost us billions of dollars each year and pose a grave threat to native fauna and flora. New research proposes a framework to develop a global network for invasion science to stop the threat from invasive species. Published in the journal Biological Invasion, the research addresses fundamental gaps in our understanding of invasive […]

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