SCU receives almost $1 million in Australian Research Council funding

Work on the development of a cutting-edge analytical laser is one of four Southern Cross University projects that have received almost $1 million in funding through the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) major grants initiative announced yesterday.

The laser – called a high-resolution laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer – is being developed by Southern Cross GeoScience, a Special Research Centre within SCU. The laser, when up and running, will enhance the Centre’s reputation as a leader in its field not only in Australia but also the world. This project has been awarded $200,000 by the ARC.

“It (the laser) will be used as an analytical tool for measuring elements primarily. Quantitative elemental and isotopic composition data is a keystone in investigating and solving important environmental, geochemical and archaeological questions. It will be particularly useful in measuring small samples. It will also be ideal for rare and valuable museum specimens because there will be almost no damage to them by using the laser. It is certainly cutting edge,” Professor Richard Bush, a director with Southern Cross GeoScience, said.

Professor Bush said it would also allow researchers to dispense with using toxic chemicals to measure samples. Professor Bush is lead chief investigator along with chief investigators Associate Professor Edward Burton, Dr Sander Scheffers, Associate Professor Anja Scheffers and Associate Professor Andrew Rose in the $200,000 ARC-LIEF grant.

Dr Scott Johnston and Associate Professor Edward Burton from Southern Cross GeoScience were also awarded $250,000 to study iron, sulfur and carbon cycling during freshwater re-flooding of acid sulfate soil wetlands. In doing so, the study hopes to gather information which could underpin long-term management and remediation of these sensitive and unique landscapes.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research, a Research Centre within SCU, has been awarded two grants totalling $510,000.

Dr Isaac Santos in the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry Research is lead chief investigator in an ARC Discovery grant of $260,000 over three years for his research project 'Are subterranean estuaries a source or sink of greenhouse gases?'.

Dr Santos is also lead chief investigator with chief investigators Professor Bradley Eyre, Dr Simon Dworjanyn, Dr Joanne Oakes and Dr Dirk Erler in the ARC-LIEF grant of $250,000 over 12 months for 'A high precision, automated system for studying greenhouse gas cycling in coastal environments.

In addition Associate Professor Andrew Rose and Dr Renaud Joannes-Boyau from Southern Cross GeoScience are both chief investigators in two separate ARC Discovery grants not led by SCU, with the funding to be negotiated.

Southern Cross University Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Neal Ryan, welcomed the ARC grants.

“The grants confirm the national leadership in geoscience and geochemistry at Southern Cross University,” he said.

More than 1000 university research projects across Australia are being supported by the ARC grants which total $310 million. The grants were announced by Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr who said investing in quality research and researchers was the key to solving the nation’s big problems.

Photo: Professor Neal Ryan.