Media releases

Articles highlighting the achievements and initiatives of members and students within the ACSC include:

• Flood waters deliver valuable data for USQ scientists -  There is a silver lining to recent flooding on the Fraser Coast – the surge of fresh water entering Hervey Bay is providing valuable data for University of Southern Queensland and Griffith University research. ACSC Professor in Climatology Dr Joachim Ribbe, USQ PhD student Daniel Briewa and scientist Johann Gustafson from Griffith University recently measured the Bay's water temperature, salinity, turbidity and underwater light as part of an ongoing research project and found this year’s floods provided important information.
• USQ’s sustainability expertise bound for Pakistan -  A group of high-level government officials and academics from Pakistan are in Australia this month building a ‘toolkit’ of business best practices with help from the University of Southern Queensland.
• Endangered turtles get helping hand from USQ - ACSC PhD student, Christa Pudmenzky, who is based at USQ's Toowoomba campus, has been selected by Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett to undertake a project through the Queensland Parliamentary Internship Program. Under the direction of Mr Bennett, Ms Pudmenzky will research turtle nesting habits at Mon Repos and surrounding areas, with a particular focus on the continued increase of new developments and therefore an increase in light pollution on nesting areas.
• USQ grows partnership with sugar industry - A research partnership announced between the Queensland sugar industry and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is destined to bring a much sweeter outlook to the future of sugar cane growing.
• PhD student travels to Canberra for water workshop -  Marina Costa Barbosa, PhD student at the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchment (ACSC) made a splash at the Water Governance Research Initiative: National Workshop 2011 after receiving a travel grant for early career researchers.
• Moving irrigated crop production north - Associate Professor Cockfield and Dr Shahbaz Mushtaq from the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC) and Dr Neil White from the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation are examining the profitability and regional economic impacts of growing cotton and rice in the Burdekin region.
• More research needed on coal seam gas exploration - A scientific study that brought data from major coal seam gas companies together for the first time has opened the doors for more research to be undertaken into the exploration and production methods for the Surat Basin in southwest Queensland.
• PhD Candidate wins National Award for Sustainability Research - USQ postgraduate student, Benjamin Taylor, was recently awarded the 2010 National Student Environmental Engineering and Sustainability Award from Engineers Australia’s Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering.
• USQ scientist joins new search for Earth-like planets - A USQ academic will join an international team of scientists in Chile mid-April to search for potentially habitable planets in the universe
• USQ leading world in climate research - USQ is leading the world with its research into climate science and linking it to sustainable water use and farming practices
• Regional geospatial professionals converge on USQ for DIGGARS Forum - USQ hosted the ninth Geospatial Forum for the Downs Interest Group for GIS and Remote Sensing (DIGGARS).
• Innovative research goes on show at USQ - From computational engineering to pedagogical and educational development, there is groundbreaking research being undertaken at USQ every day.
• Go WEST honours high achieving females at awards ceremony - Go WEST USQ Student Award – Sciences: Kathryn Reardon-Smith, PhD student, USQ.
• USQ to conduct innovative climate change project in India - USQ academics will conduct a ‘world first’ web-based project in India with the aim of better preparing 600 million farmers in the region for extremes in climate variability and climate change.
• USQ Climatologist to lead global climate change research - Director of the ACSC and USQ Professor in Climatology and Water Resources, Professor Roger Stone, was chosen to lead the worldwide program during a recent United Nations (UN) Commission for Agricultural Meteorology congress meeting.
• Climate adaption to be the focus of new programs -  USQ has made significant strides in national and international leadership in climate change teaching and research.
• Climate change Expo helps reinforce USQ as industry leader - Australasia’s premier Trade Fair and Conference for carbon market participants and service providers, the University attended the Expo to network with key domestic and international carbon market players.
• Research partnership generates important climate impact findings - The health of Australia’s coastal ecosystem is the focus of a joint climate impact research project between USQ academic Associate Professor Joachim Ribbe and visiting German oceanographer Professor Jörg-Olaf Wolff.
• Climate change forum attracts academia and industry - Close to 70 academics and industry professionals have attended a special forum at USQ to discuss ways in which the local community can approach issues surrounding climate change.
• Southern Queensland’s rainfall predictions for the next 90 years - will be a key point of discussion during a special climate change forum at USQ, Guest speakers will address the forum on the far-reaching impacts of climate change on everyday life, including USQ PhD student Andrew Cottrill whose research has focused on southern Queensland rainfall predictions up to the year 2100.
• Farmers get across 'heartfelt' message at UN farming and climate workshops - Farmers would prefer to have free and accurate weather forecasts than free seed or fertiliser, according to a group of Darling Downs farmers who addressed a series of United Nations (UN)World Meteorological Organization (WMO) workshops and meetings at USQ.
  USQ hosts major United Nations' farming and climate workshop - Held in Australia for the first time, ACSC is hosting the UN workshop which has attracted more than 100 meteorology experts, agricultural scientists, and farmers to the University from around the globe.
• World renowned climate variability expert addresses seminar - The Darling Downs community had the chance to hear from world renowned climate variability and forecasting expert Professor Chris Folland.
• World renowned climate variability expert to address seminar - Professor Folland will  discuss the different methods that the UK Met Office is exploring to predict such events as droughts and floods and what could be in store climate wise throughout the next twenty years.
• Dr Shahbaz Mushtaq, ACSC research fellow, was one of part of the international team that received the prestigious award from the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
• USQ PhD student and ACSC researcher presents at BirdLife International World Conservation Conference - Mr Simon Attwood will give two presentations at an international conservation conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina this month.
• 'Landline' host impressed by USQ - 'Landline host and USQ graduate Anne Kruger visited the ACSC this week for the popular ABC program.
• USQ scientist selected to share ideas with world's elite - Dr Tek Maraseni will present his research work at the North American, National Science Foundation (NSF) international conference on climate change in the United States.
• Study to investigate effects of Lantana on soil biodiversity - An MSc student will undertake an innovative research project to determine the effects of the nationally-significant environmental weed, Lantana camara, on soil biodiversity.
• ACSC member wins Queensland Spatial Excellence Award - For the 3^rd year in a row, a USQ Surveying lecturer has taken out the Excellence in Education and Professional Development Award at the Queensland Spatial Excellence Awards held recently on the Gold Coast.
• Director of the ACSC helps establish research links between Australia and China  -  Professor Roger Stone has returned from Asia, where he helped establish research links between Australia and China.
• Funding for research into saving endangered orchid - ACSC Members Dr John Dearnaley (plant biology) and Dr Andrew Le Brocque (ecology and sustainability) have received funding to save an endangered orchid native to South East Queensland.
• USQ and Chinese Ministry of Agriculture to sign MOU - Members of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture were briefed about the capabilities of the ACSC.
• Emotional Response to amalgamation no surprise to USQ Professor - Centre Member, Professor Grace Pretty spoke about the strength of response to the amalgamation of Queensland Councils.
• ACSC praised by cloud seeding expert - Dr Roelof Bruintjes from NCAR (National Centre for Atmospheric Research, USA) has praised the research being undertaken by ACSC members.
• International Climate Change expert visits USQ - Professor Gary Schaffer (University of Concepcion, Chile) presented a seminar whilst visiting USQ to undertake research with Associate Professor Joachim Ribbe.
• Satellite mapping to help endangered reptiles - A new ACSC-led project that will use satellites to map the habitat of threatened reptiles has received a grant from the Hermon Slade Foundation.
• ACSC and Condamine Alliance consolidate partnership - Representatives from the ACSC and Condamine Alliance gathered for a special ceremony at USQ.
• Grant for biodiversity trials - USQ Senior Lecturer in Ecology & Sustainability, Dr Andy Le Brocque, and his team in the ACSC, have received a $61,000 grant to continue grazing-biodiversity trials in the Traprock region of Southern Queensland.
• Dust deposition my be slowing climate change - New research led by USQ Maths and Computing lecturer and ACSC Member, Dr Harry Butler is exploring how dry conditions caused by the drought may be helping slow climate change.
• USQ appoints Professor Roger Stone as Director of the ACSC - The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has appointed world reknown climatologist Professor Roger Stone as the University's Research Chair in Climatology and Water Resources and Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC).
• Governor General of Australia visits ACSC - His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Marlena Jeffrey visited the ACSC to build upon their knowledge and interest in the environment and sustainability.
• Associate Professors elevated to Fellows of SSI - USQ and ACSC Members Associate Professors Frank Young and Armando Apan's passion for Spatial Science has been recognised, after they were both named as Fellows of the Spatial Science Institute (SSI).
• USQ appoints Professor Roger Stone as Director of the ACSC - The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has appointed world renowned climatologist Professor Roger Stone as the University's Research Chair in Climatology and Water Resources and Director of the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC).
• National project studies wind erosion impacts on catchments - ACSC member, Dr Harry Butler is working with internationally renown researchers to study and model the environmental impact of dust storms on Australian catchments. Dr John Leys's Seminar discussed the benefits of combining modelling with experimental observations to better understand wind erosion processes.
• Prestigious Queensland Spatial Science Excellence Award for ACSC Researcher - USQ's Dr Armando Apan has been awarded the most prestigious Spatial Science award available in Queensland.
• ACSC hosts Brigalow conservation meeting - The inception meeting for an ARC-supported Brigalow conservation project was hosted by the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC) at USQ.
• Partnerships to search for answers - A new partnership agreement between the Condamine Alliance and USQ will improve the understanding of natural resource issues in the Condamine catchment.
• USQ scientists support water recycling - More than 40 USQ scientists and engineers have voiced their strong support for the Toowoomba City Council's Water Futures Proposal.
• USQ lecturer receives $70k conservation grant - ACSC Member, Dr Martine Maron has received a $70k grant to fund a project that aims to protect the south-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoo.