BLOGS WEBSITE
Category: Biosecurity
Latest COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway at Adelaide Airport
Six dogs, including four Australian Border Force (ABF) detector dogs, one South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (SAMFS) dog and one dog from the University of Adelaide (gifted by the ABF), have commenced research trials at Adelaide Airport to determine the feasibility of deploying dogs to detect COVID-19. The COVID-19 detector dog feasibility trials are a […]
Comments Off on Latest COVID-19 detector dog research and trials underway at Adelaide Airport
Trained dogs could possibly detect COVID-19 in near future
University of Adelaide researchers are working with international partners to train sniffer dogs to detect COVID-19 infection. It is hoped the first COVID-19 detection dogs could be working within months and would complement existing methods by providing low cost, instantaneous, and reliable screening. Dogs could be deployed in airports and also be used to screen […]
Comments Off on Trained dogs could possibly detect COVID-19 in near future
‘Gene drives’ could wipe out whole populations of pests in one fell swoop
Pest species are not news to continental Australia: animals either deliberately introduced or brought here accidentally by boat have wreaked havoc for decades. Gene driving is a technique that aims to humanely spread a “faulty” gene through a population and triggers population collapse. Environment Institute Researchers Thomas Prowse, Phillip Cassey, Talia Wittmann and Paul Thomas suggests this […]
Comments Off on ‘Gene drives’ could wipe out whole populations of pests in one fell swoop
Media release: University of Adelaide celebrates Australia Day honours
Four members of the University of Adelaide community; a pioneering fertility surgeon, a wildlife biologist, a snakebite expert and a law reformer, have been awarded in this year’s Australia Day honours. Associate Professor Ossie Petrucco received an AM for significant service to medicine and education in the field of obstetrics, human reproduction and child health. […]
Comments Off on Media release: University of Adelaide celebrates Australia Day honours
Protecting bees from climate change and varroa mites
A recent ABC news story has reported on a project to map bee activity and gain a better understanding of the habitat and food sources needed for their continued survival. The South Australian government and the University of Adelaide have both contributed $300,000 each to the program. “We want to prevent bees dying in the future, […]
Comments Off on Protecting bees from climate change and varroa mites
Pablo Garcia Diaz wins Student Prize
The Environment Institute congratulates PhD student, Pablo Garcia Diaz for winning the Student Prize for his presentation at the Statistics in Ecology and Environmental Monitoring (SEEM) 2015 conference in Queenstown, New Zealand recently. Pablo won over the judges with his 5-minute ‘speed talk’ presentation about his research into the preparedness of Australian border and post-border […]
Comments Off on Pablo Garcia Diaz wins Student Prize
Podcast: Exotic invasion stops here
Biosecurity is a key concern for Australia, especially as the trade in exotic bird and lizard species maintains popularity. Associate Professor Phill Cassey leads a research group from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences that is working on ways to track these species and ensure they don’t get out of hand and create a threat […]
Comments Off on Podcast: Exotic invasion stops here
Media Release: Volunteers help monitor River Torrens ducks
Six University of Adelaide volunteers braved the dark and cold in the early morning last Thursday 7 May to help University researchers investigate River Torrens ducks and other waterbirds for avian influenza. The six volunteers are among 50 members of the community who responded to the call for Duckwatch volunteers. They are helping wildlife veterinarian and PhD […]
Comments Off on Media Release: Volunteers help monitor River Torrens ducks
Media Release: Volunteer ‘duck watchers’ needed for bird flu research
Ducks and other waterbirds on the River Torrens will be under close scrutiny for the next 18 months as University of Adelaide researchers investigate what ‘bird flu’ or avian influenza viruses they may be carrying. ‘Duckwatch’ starts along the River Torrens this month. The researchers will be monitoring and banding ducks and other waterbirds fortnightly […]
Comments Off on Media Release: Volunteer ‘duck watchers’ needed for bird flu research