EMERGING RESEARCH FOR A BETTER WORLD

TAKING OUT THE TRASH Targeting space junk with world-leading AI BLUE CARBON Recruiting one of the great natural allies against climate change MENINGOCOCCAL B The verdict’s in from the world’s largest study on herd immunity stepping up on the global stage

Established in 1874, the is renowned as one of Australia’s premier ‘Group of Eight’ universities, and among the most respected research institutions in the world.

Our reputation for excellence is founded on a rich history of achievement—we’re associated with four Nobel Prize-winning researchers— and strengthened by elite, contemporary talent. In the 2019 Clarivate world Highly Cited Researchers list, 12 of our academics were recognised for the scale of their global influence—two in multiple fields. And in each of the past two years, we’ve had a young researcher recognised in MIT Technology Review’s prestigious Innovators Under 35 list*. In 2020, we were the only Australian university represented; in 2019 we were one of just two. adelaide.edu.au/research

*Asia Pacific region.

taking on covid-19

We’re doing everything in our ANAESTHETIC HOUSING PROGRAMMERS’ ECONOMIC power to help reduce COVID- PROCEDURES POLICY WELLBEING IMPACT 19’s global impact, and enhance Led international Leading national studies Co-led international Economic Briefing physical, social and economic collaboration of COVID-19’s impact collaboration Report on long-term recovery. This page highlights establishing best-practice on renting in Australia, establishing COVID-19’s economic impact of, many of the pandemic-related anaesthetic procedures and modelling potential impact on software dev- and recovery from, the 1 research projects we have for COVID-19 patients. national housing elopers’ productivity and pandemic. Delivered policy responses to wellbeing, and advising to Government of been, or are still, involved in. the pandemic.2 harm-minimisation .4 measures.3 contents

2 Space dejunked 22 Driving surrogacy reform

4 Finding fertile ground in orbit 23 An ancient language lives on

5 Extraterrestrial fibre, 24 Giving voice to a dark past extraordinary performance 25 Mitigating climate migration 6 Lightening a heavy footprint 26 Targeting taint 8 Atomic answers in the aquifer 28 Vines’ smart-tech lifeline 9 In pursuit of net zero 6 29 Future-proofing almonds 9 Situation critical 12 Cerebral palsy’s gene team 29 More cream for Indonesian 10 Meningococcal milestone dairy farmers 13 Fat blocked, metastasis stopped 12 Protecting the public purse 14 Technology supporting endometriosis sufferers 15 Doctorates of distinction 26 16 Blue is the new green

18 Optimising the flow

19 Averting disaster

20 The bones are talking 2 21 Healthier at home

DISCLAIMER: The information in this publication is current as at the date of printing and is subject to change. You can find updated information on our website at adelaide.edu.au. The University of Adelaide assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information provided by third parties. © The University of Adelaide. Published October 2020. Job no. 6278. CRICOS 00123M

1 Thiru, V et al 2020, Anesthesia & Analgesia, vol 131, issue 3, p 677-689, doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005043 2 Baker, E 2020, Renting in the time of COVID-19: understanding the impacts, and Leishman, C 2020, Supporting Australia’s housing system: modelling pandemic policy responses, both SNIFFER TRACING-APP BURNOUT IMMUNITY commissioned by the Australian Housing DOGS SAFETY RISK PHENOTYPING and Urban Research Institute. 3 Baltes, S et al 2020, submitted to Empirical International Assessed 34 of the world’s Led international Collaborative long-term Software Engineering. 4 South Australian collaboration to train COVID-19 contact tracing collaboration investigating study of recovering Centre for Economic Studies, 2020. and test COVID-19 sniffer apps for security and working adults’ likelihood COVID-19 patients 5 Led by National Veterinary School, dogs to detect infection, privacy vulnerabilities, of burnout during the to inform vaccine Alfort (France). 6 arXiv:2006.10933 even in pre-symptomatic and informed all stake- pandemic, based on development and public 7 Zhang, S et al 2020, Psychiatry and asymptomatic holders of findings to their proximity to the health management.8 Research, Jun;288:112998 doi: 10.1016/j. individuals.5 inform updates.6 outbreak’s epicentre psychres.2020.112998 8 In partnership in Wuhan, China.7 with the . DEFENCE, CYBER & SPACE

dejunked space

guiding algorithms is just a matter of Gazing up at a starry sky, it’s easy to imagine capturing it from human-driven cars. space as impossibly pristine—a vast, empty “But we can’t do the equivalent in space, because satellites are just too blackness interrupted only by sparkling expensive to develop and put into orbit. It’s an incredible challenge, celestial bodies. The reality, around our and one we’re excited to meet.” planet at least, is quite a bit messier. Since their ESA win, Chin and his team have been awarded significant federal funding to expand their Human-made debris, or ‘space junk’, the position and orientation, or research, through Australia’s orbits us in staggering quantities; ‘pose’, of space objects relative to an SmartSat Cooperative Research there are currently around 23,000 approaching craft—an essential step Centre (CRC). Collaborating pieces larger than 10cm across, and to enable debris collection. Led by with research partners Inovor an estimated half a million smaller Professor Tat-Jun Chin, the group’s Technologies, along with scientists than that. success in the field was highlighted in from the University of Queensland Moving at speeds exceeding 35,000 2019, when it won the European Space and Australian National University, kilometres per hour, all are capable Agency’s (ESA) global Pose Estimation they’re playing a leading role in the of causing serious damage to working Challenge, outperforming nearly 50 CRC’s overarching efforts to enhance satellites and other important of the world’s leading universities and space situational awareness— equipment. In 2009, for example, space technology companies. identified by the Australian Space an active US communications According to Chin, although the Agency as an industry priority. satellite was obliterated after scientific ‘tools’ he and his colleagues Their focus, however, is not limited colliding with an inactive Russian are working with are familiar, to pose estimation alone. “We’re counterpart. Three years earlier, a applying them to work in space also working on enhancing robotic tiny fragment chipped a window on presents unique difficulties. manipulation equipment to perfect the International Space Station. “Establishing the exact position of the task of actually collecting space Understandably, identifying space an object relative to another using junk once its position and orientation junk and mitigating the risks it computer vision and machine learning, are identified,” adds Chin. poses—by collecting or destroying or artificial intelligence (AI), is a task “We’ve built a robotic arm that we it—is a global priority. And some that researchers have been tackling can ‘train’ to acquire the debris. The of the world’s most advanced work for many years,” he says. next step is to work with a partner in the area is taking place at the “It requires algorithms informed organisation to jointly take testing University of Adelaide. by huge amounts of data, which and development to the next level.” The University’s team was among the is relatively easily done for many first internationally to effectively apply terrestrial tasks. I often use the Right: Professor Tat-Jun Chin (right) and computer vision and machine learning example of autonomous cars; getting Mr Dan Lawrence, student in computer principles to accurately estimate the data needed to inform their science (advanced).

2 | in sight KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

University of Adelaide AI technology, based on computer vision and machine learning, leads the world in space junk pose estimation.

The University’s researchers are overcoming unique challenges to successfully develop AI for space applications.

The group’s work now also includes developing robotic manipulation technology to acquire space debris once located.

in sight | 3 finding DEFENCE, CYBER & SPACE The University of Adelaide is leading research into a new plasma-based, space-ready fertile process for the production of ground agricultural fertiliser. The streamlined process could help make it possible for space in orbit travellers to grow their own food. The resultant fertiliser can also be tailored to suit local conditions —also enhancing terrestrial farmers’ self-sufficiency.

intensification in small molecules In-space conversion, the project represents a PROFESSOR significant advance over traditional VOLKER HESSEL manufacturing’s ammonia production methods. Project leader “We’re generating the targeted creation potential has of unstable molecules or atoms during the whole reactions between plasma—a gas-like substance, consisting of particles such “Unlike existing large-scale fertiliser world talking. as positive ions and electrons—and production plants,” Hessel adds, “this proprietary catalysts,” says project technology will enable the creation of With the University of Adelaide’s leader Professor Volker Hessel. production facilities small enough to fit on the back of a truck. Farms—or assistance, optical fibre production has “These plasma-chemical reactions already taken the first step see( page space travellers—could have their own are fundamental to efficient fertiliser ‘plant’ right on-site.” opposite), and in coming years numerous production, produce no waste, and other industries are expected to enter intensively produce fertiliser that can The ability to tailor output, he adds, orbit. Among these is agricultural be ‘tailored’ for specific environments.” will come through the addition of fertiliser; here again, Adelaide-led artificial intelligence (AI). “SCOPE research is paving the way. Hessel and his team have set up a could further enhance the possibility process simulation study in South of autonomous farms by integrating A team from the University is using Australia to further refine and intensify, cutting-edge plasma technology to new capabilities into bespoke on a large scale, the first step of the agricultural technology solutions. radically transform and intensify the ground-breaking three-stage processing production of ammonia, fertiliser’s AI could be employed, for instance, technique: decomposing bio-methane, to tailor fertiliser according to local main ingredient. The process is waste- obtained from animal manure, into free, circular, highly streamlined, weather, soil and other characteristics hydrogen and carbon by heating it to increase crop yields.” efficient and scalable, so could one with solar-powered plasma energy day even be used to make fertiliser to 2,000oC. This high-temperature Enabling local self-sufficiency in this in space. This would help meet aspect of the process is owned by US way will only be more relevant in a crewed spaceflight’s requirement for energy company Monolith Materials post-COVID-19 world, as it eliminates autonomous operation by boosting and was initially developed by MINES dependence on complicated and easily astronauts’ capacity to grow their ParisTech university. disrupted supply chains. But it’s the own food. Adding to the promise, it off-Earth possibilities that most fire could also enable manufacturers to Subsequently, hydrogen will be the imagination. readily customise fertiliser to local reacted with nitrogen in air to produce environmental conditions. ammonia in a low-temperature plasma “Using abundant renewable energy process, using original University of from the sun, this self-sufficient tech- Known as SCOPE, which stands Adelaide technology. Then finally, the nology could actually make growing for Surface-COnfined fast-modulated ammonia will be reacted with nitrate, or crops on Mars a real possibility. Not Plasma for process and Energy other chemicals, to produce fertiliser. too long ago that was science fiction.”

4 | in sight DEFENCE, CYBER & SPACE

PROFESSOR HEIKE EBENDORFF-HEIDEPRIEM Team leader extraterrestrial fibre extraordinary performance

“It will enable entirely new products and applications Optical fibres are modern that simply couldn’t exist before,” adds Ebendorff- Heidepriem, “such as disruptive photonic technologies civilisation’s neural pathways, in communications, defence, utilities and healthcare.” enabling the vast, global To support SpaceFiber’s ongoing development and commercialisation, Flawless Photonics has estab- information flows that drive lished an Australian company and will be basing its headquarters adjacent to the University in Adelaide’s and bind humanity. world-class Lot Fourteen innovation precinct, also home to the . The robotic Traditional silica-based fibre, however, is nearing systems used to draw the fluoride fibre in space will its limits; higher-performing fluoride-based fibre— be designed and manufactured at this facility. which must be drawn outside Earth’s gravity for best results—is the future. Now, with University “We chose Adelaide because of Professor of Adelaide research leading the way, fluoride Ebendorff-Heidepriem’s world-renowned expertise fibre’s time has arrived. in fluoride fibre, and the outstanding quality of her team,” says Flawless Photonics chairperson and The University’s researchers have collaborated founder Rob Loughan. with US-based industry partner Flawless Photonics to develop novel processes and world-leading Though still very much focused on the science, technology for the commercially viable manufacture Ebendorff-Heidepriem is aware that the project’s of fluoride-based optical fibre in space. Their value is as much symbolic as practical. “In hard terms, collective success was proven in 2020 when Flawless this is a high-value, high-tech new industry that— Photonics drew fibre, known commercially as as production scales up—will attract significant SpaceFiber™, aboard the International Space Station. investment, and create many long-term specialist jobs. But it also effectively marks the world’s first The technological advance’s potential benefits concrete step towards in-orbit manufacturing. cannot be overstated, says the University team’s leader, Professor Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem. “It’s a great privilege to be playing a leading role in this historic step forward.” “Fluoride fibre has a theoretical information loss limit 10 to 100 times lower than fibre made with silica. That means ultra-high-speed long-distance undersea cables could be laid without the expensive repeater stations that silica fibre requires. WHY MANUFACTURE IN SPACE? “Several billion dollars are currently spent on Researchers have been aware of fluoride optical fibre’s those cables every year—there are over 1.2 million potential for decades. But terrestrially made fibres kilometres of them in service globally—so the have never met expectations, due to unavoidable savings on offer are enormous.” convection currents during fabrication causing harmful The new fibre, which will be the most transparent crystallisation. Drawing the fibres in microgravity material ever produced, is also expected to open eliminates this problem, allowing the production of new commercial possibilities for several industries fibres approaching their full theoretical loss limit. currently limited by silica fibre’s performance capacity.

in sight | 5 ENERGY, MINING & RESOURCES lightening a heavy footprint

Above: Professor Gus Nathan

6 | in sight High-temperature heavy industry presents an “Heavy industry has almost no margin to absorb almighty roadblock to combatting climate change. higher costs, as its products are globally traded The production of critical materials such as steel, commodities with prices that can’t be controlled cement and aluminium—all vital to the global domestically. Nevertheless, new markets are economy—accounts for around 15 per cent of CO2 emerging for low-carbon products and our system emissions worldwide, but has proven incredibly is expected to be cost-competitive in these markets. difficult to decarbonise cost-effectively. Innovative “We’re also aware that legacy heavy industrial technology developed by the University of Adelaide, facilities and equipment would be prohibitively however, may be able to help overcome the barrier. expensive and difficult to replace, so we’ve targeted The University has led collaborative investigations our system to enter the market via retrofitting into into low-cost ways of incorporating concentrated existing plants.” solar thermal (CST) energy into the ‘Bayer process’, Reducing the Bayer process’s climate impact will used to refine bauxite to alumina. Also involving be a valuable step. In bauxite-rich Australia, for Alcoa, Australia’s largest alumina exporter, together instance, it’s responsible for around one quarter of with mining and resources company Hatch, the the country’s industrial emissions. But Nathan sees Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research no reason why his team’s work could not be applied Organisation, and the University of New South Wales, to other heavy industrial processes. the project’s results are promising. “The use of carbon-neutral energy sources for heat, “The new technology we’re developing has passed such as solar thermal, hydrogen and renewable every technical and economic milestone we’ve estab- electricity, has the potential to transform heavy lished,” says lead researcher Professor Gus Nathan. industrial processes,” he enthuses. “We already have one patent and expect to submit further patent applications by late 2020. And— “Costs are reducing to the point with additional government funding—we hope to start upscaling the technology for industrial where we can feasibly envision implementation from 2021. This will again be in conjunction with Alcoa.” the gradual displacement of the Funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, energy currently supplied by the technology is being developed to directly use fossil fuels for high-temperature the heat from a CST system, together with other energy sources, such as electricity and/or hydrogen. process heat. “It’s not economically viable to store heat during extended periods of low solar availability,” explains “This is a vital step in enabling nations to meet Nathan. “So our CST system will also integrate their 2050 emissions-reduction commitments.” other renewable energy sources as a back-up.” It could also, he adds, lead to big flow-on benefits. The CST component works by programming a “The low-carbon transition offers new potential large array of mirrors, known as heliostats, to for countries with a coincidence of mineral and collectively and continuously focus sunlight into renewable energy resources to produce high-value a single solar receiver, producing extremely high materials instead of simply exporting ores. temperatures. That heat is captured and stored with high efficiency and at much lower cost than “That will increase gross domestic product, electricity, such as via batteries. boost employment, and enhance manufacturing self-sufficiency.” According to Nathan, these characteristics make CST and heavy industry, in many ways, perfect partners.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

The University of The direct use of con- Large ore producers in reg- Adelaide is leading centrated solar thermal ions with strong renewable development of a heat has strong energy resources also low-carbon alumina potential to contribute stand to benefit from the calcination tech- to the reduction of potential to produce their nology with strong heavy industry’s own value-added products commercial potential. carbon emissions. at lower cost than competitors.

in sight | 7 ENERGY, MINING & RESOURCES

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PROFESSOR ANDRE LUITEN atomic Lead researcher answers in the aquifer The University of Adelaide has created a world- leading Atom Trap Trace In the world’s driest continent, where Launched in late 2019 at the University’s vast swathes of land are permanently inner-city Adelaide campus, the ATTA Analysis (ATTA) facility to parched or increasingly prone to technology uses state-of-the-art laser enhance the sustainable periodic drought, water security physics to count individual atoms of management of Australia’s verges on obsession. the isotopes Krypton-81 and -85, and precious groundwater. Australia’s surface-water scarcity makes Argon-39, which collectively enable the country’s deep groundwater systems accurate hydrological dating from 12 incredibly valuable—they provide around months to one million years. Notably, 30 per cent of national consumption— the system is the world’s first to measure and their sustainable management is all three isotopes at once. critical to life and industry. According to Luiten, these capabilities Now, a research partnership between will also enhance investigations in other the University of Adelaide and the hydrological systems. “For example, Commonwealth Scientific and it’s going to allow researchers to look Industrial Research Organisation even deeper into Antarctica’s climatic has provided world-leading, cutting- history through ice-core analysis, and edge technology to inform those expand our understanding of global The ATTA system counts groundwater management decisions environmental change.” individual atoms of noble with greater accuracy than ever before. Even this, however, barely touches gas isotopes, present in The partnership’s Noble Gas Tracer the technology’s potential. Further advances, Luiten enthuses, are already ultra-low concentrations. Facility, incorporating the Southern Hemisphere’s first Atom Trap Trace on the horizon. Analysis (ATTA) system, measures “We recently identified new techniques ultra-low concentrations of naturally that will substantially improve our ATTA occurring radioactive noble gases absorbed method. We’re now designing a second- in the groundwater. This enables precise generation instrument with 10 times analysis of water systems’ age, origin and the current throughput capacity, and 20 interconnectivity—all vital for making times the atom-counting efficiency.” informed, cost-effective decisions about the water’s sustainable use. “We can see how fast the water’s flowing, how quickly and reliably the aquifer’s recharging, and the directions in which WHY TARGET NOBLE GASES? it’s moving,” says lead researcher It will enable precise tracking Noble gas isotopes are considered the Professor Andre Luiten. “That makes gold standard in environmental tracers of groundwater systems’ it infinitely easier to predict the likely for tracking groundwater movement. movement, flow rates and environmental impacts of extracting Unlike established tracers, such as tritium it, and the steps needed to avoid recharge speed over time. and chlorofluorocarbons, noble gases contamination by agriculture, mining do not react geochemically, so they are and other industrial activity, such as highly reliable and their input conditions carbon and waste storage.” are well defined.

8 | in sight ENERGY, MINING & RESOURCES in pursuit of net zero PROFESSOR MIKE YOUNG Like the rest of the world, Australia has “Our overarching objective is to help make Research leader committed to decarbonising. And beyond it easier for Australia to reduce its carbon the nation’s official Paris Agreement emissions by optimising the sequence of obligations, there’s widespread community investments it makes,” says research lead agitation to reduce CO2 emissions to Professor Mike Young. “Getting that right the necessary resources to produce net zero by 2050. But achieving this in a will save the country huge amounts of money abundant green hydrogen.” country predicting 40 per cent population and help to build public support. Both of The economy-wide modelling project growth over that period, and renowned those outcomes are critical for maintaining was launched as a follow-on in 2020, and as one of the world’s worst per-capita our decarbonisation momentum.” remains ongoing. Its potential benefits, emitters, won’t be easy. The team’s first step was an in-depth global says Young, are enormous. Multiple measures will need to be invested hydrogen roadmaps review. This was in, at the right times, to enable a smooth completed in mid-2019 and submitted to “We’re building the capability economic transition—and that’s going the Australian Government to help inform to require vast, global intelligence and its National Hydrogen Strategy, launched to assess the likely economic, extensive data modelling capability. On later that year. societal and greenhouse impact both counts, the University of Adelaide is According to Young, the review included of every conceivable emissions- helping to make it happen. nuanced analysis of hydrogen strategies reduction measure—and their A research team at the University has led two being implemented in 19 different regions important collaborative projects at the Aust- and nations—even some individual timing relative to each other— ralian Government-funded Future Fuels cities—including the US, European Union, right across the country. Cooperative Research Centre (CRC): one, South Korea, China and London. analysing the various paths being taken “We looked at how each of these entities “We’re even enabling emissions hotspots, around the world to introduce ‘green’ hydro- is approaching all aspects of building like Western Australia’s Pilbara and gen into economies; and the other, building a and strengthening their hydrogen South Australia’s ‘iron triangle’, to be massive, highly detailed model of the entire infrastructure, industry and use. Then modelled independently. Australian economy to predict the likely we identified a series of key takeaways “Hopefully this will help replace economic impact of emissions-reduction measures, that we felt were particularly pertinent doubt and fear with excitement for a including the introduction of green hydrogen. for Australia—a nation blessed with all brighter future.”

items such as wind turbines, electric motors, environmental, economic and social issues situation batteries and solar panels. They’re also vital are all contributing to make buyers uneasy. components in high-tech electronics, from “Alternate supply chains are needed, and the ubiquitous smart phone to advanced Australia’s one of the few countries in critical national security and defence equipment. the world with the necessary balance of For those nations manufacturing, or prospective geology and a well-established, It’s decarbonisation’s great irony: even intending to manufacture, these technologies, modern mineral resources sector.” as we stop plying the earth for fossil a plentiful, responsible and reliable supply fuels, our shift to clean energy will Integrating world-class expertise across of critical minerals will be paramount; geoscience, economics, geopolitics, metal- require the extraction of ever more and research at the University of Adelaide non-renewable resources. lurgy, environmental science and engineering, is paving the way for Australia—already the centre’s team considers all links in the A number of metals and non-metals, one of the world’s top five critical minerals mining value chain. collectively known as “critical minerals”, producers and the second largest source of have essential roles to play in our low- REEs—to help deliver it. “What more can we learn about the geological controls on critical mineral ore emissions future. Including rare earth In 2020, the University launched the elements (REE), cobalt, lithium, german- formation, and what can that tell us about Critical Minerals Research Centre to Australia’s potential for new discoveries? ium, gallium, tungsten and others, these explore and overcome all challenges the minerals are variously key ingredients in Can we locate them more rapidly? country might face as it seeks to ramp up Cost-effectively? its global critical-minerals role. According to the centre’s director and lead researcher, “Just as importantly, how can we minimise Associate Professor Carl Spandler, the our environment impact? Can we recover ASSOCIATE work is becoming increasingly urgent. more critical minerals from existing PROFESSOR ores and mine wastes? And how can we CARL SPANDLER “Currently, many critical minerals carry innovate to use less energy and water? Lead researcher significant supply risk for a number of countries,” he says. “Geopolitical tensions, “We’re determined to find the answers.”

in sight | 9 meningococcal milestone

A vaccine introduced in 2013, known as 4CMenB Much progress has (Bexsero®), has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of potentially fatal invasive mening- ococcal disease (IMD) the meningococcus bacteria been made in reducing can cause. The vaccine’s effect on herd immunity, however, has been unknown. Now, world-leading meningococcal B’s University of Adelaide research has the answer. From early 2017 through until the end of 2018, the Uni- global health burden. versity conducted the largest randomised controlled trial ever undertaken to investigate herd immunity. Called B Part of It, the study tracked 4CMenB’s impact on meningococcal B carriage among a cohort of almost 35,000 students aged 15 to 18—the age group most likely to carry and spread the bacteria, and one of those at greatest risk of developing IMD. Enrolled in years 10, 11 and 12 at schools throughout South Australia, the youths were immunised through the state’s school immunisation program.

Below: Professor Helen Marshall

10 | in sight HEALTH & BIOTECH

University of Adelaide research has established meningococcal milestone for the first time that meningococcal B vaccination confers no reduction in carriage of the Doses were given at the trial’s outset and Another of the study’s valuable meningococcus B bacteria after two months; throat swabs were outcomes was the finding that 4CMenB and is unlikely to induce a taken at the outset and at 12 months. did reduce carriage of other types of herd immunity benefit. According to lead researcher Professor meningococcal bacteria. This supported Helen Marshall, the results, published emerging evidence that 4CMenB may in the New England Journal of Medicine1 in also provide protection against gonorrhoea, early 2020, were conclusive. “Although something long suspected in countries 4CMenB protected young people from using meningococcal B vaccine. developing IMD—and very effectively, Marshall explains the link: “The various at that—it did not reduce the chance meningococcal B strains don’t all have of them carrying meningococcal B in the same structures; most have what we The University conducted their throat,” she says. “Community refer to as a capsule around them—an the largest study transmission was no less likely.” outer coat—but some do not. Those that investigating herd immunity Although a herd immunity effect would don’t are more similar to the gonococcus ever undertaken, involving have meant fewer individuals needed to bacteria, which also has no capsule. be vaccinated to reduce IMD incidence Both types of bacteria are from the nearly 35,000 adolescent across the community, which could Neisseria family. participants. reduce vaccination program costs, the “When looking solely at those mening- findings are still incredibly valuable. ococcal B strains without capsules, we did find some reduction in carriage among “We now know beyond those vaccinated. So it’s quite possible that 4CMenB would also reduce disease doubt that all our young due to the gonococcus bacteria.” people need to be vaccinated Based on this finding, Marshall and The findings have global against meningococcal B her team have since been funded by importance for vaccination the Australian Government’s National programs and policy, and infection if they’re to have Health and Medical Research Council direct protection against to head a collaborative research have led to additional project assessing 4CMenB’s impact on research into 4CMenB’s meningococcal disease. gonorrhoea in Australia’s Northern potential protection Territory, where rates of the disease— “That’s a different and important which can cause infertility in women— against gonorrhoea. finding compared to meningococcal C are the highest in the country. vaccines, which have been shown to induce a herd immunity effect when “As we’re all now highly aware as a given to adolescents. result of COVID-19, effective public health initiatives are just so important “This knowledge has already been used when it comes to looking after our in Australia and globally to support communities and economies. We’re meningococcal B immunisation very proud to be playing our part.” programs for children and young people, and to inform cost-effectiveness 1 Marshall, H, McMillan, M, Koehler, A, Lawrence, analyses for meningococcal B vaccine A, Sullivan, T, MacLennan, J, Maiden, M, Ladhani, immunisation policy all over the S, Ramsay, M, Trotter, C, Borrow, R, Finn, A, Kahler, C, Whelan, J, Vadivelu, K & Richmond, P 2020, world. It will also undoubtedly inform Meningococcal B Vaccine and Meningococcal Carriage in development of the next generation of Adolescents in Australia, New England Journal of Medicine, meningococcal B vaccines in future.” 382:318-327, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1900236 HEALTH & BIOTECH protecting the PROFESSOR OUR HEALTH TECHNOLOGY TRACY MERLIN public purse Lead researcher ASSESSMENT TEAM’S IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS: 2002 - 2020 Sometime between the fifth and third centuries BC, the Hippocratic Oath implored health practitioners to do no harm or injustice. Were The impact of system failure, she adds, would be 59 it written today, that expectation would felt most keenly by those least able to absorb it. medical-service assessment undoubtedly extend to publicly funded healthcare systems. Ensuring equitable access “People living in rural and remote areas, and reports commissioned by the those with limited income, are disproportion- Australian Government to safe, effective care is, in many countries, a key role of government. In Australia, it’s actively ately affected when necessary services aren’t facilitated by the University of Adelaide. subsidised. Their health can really suffer.” A specialist research group at the University has Since their establishment in 2001, the team has been evaluating new and existing healthcare evaluated a huge variety of medical services. 43 Many they recommended, many they did not; services and technologies for the Australian new health some they pushed to conduct further clinical services subsidised Government’s health department for 19 years. Their task: ensure all subsidies provided through trials. But the most satisfying, reflects Merlin, the country’s Medical Benefits Schedule, known have been those requiring the development of as Medicare, represent money well spent. entirely new assessment methods, such as when personalised medicines were introduced in 2013. According to lead researcher Professor Tracy >2.6m “It was the first time we’d had to evaluate co- uses of these proven-effective Merlin, it’s a part the team’s incredibly proud to play. “Without Medicare, patients would dependent technologies—medicines, primarily services between 2006 and for cancer treatment, that are dependent on a the end of 2019 have to pay in full for all healthcare provided by a general practitioner or medical specialist companion diagnostic test to identify specific outside the public hospital system,” she says. genetic targets in the tumours. There was no system in the world that assessed the genetic “That includes consultations, medical or test and medicine together to see whether their >869,000 surgical procedures, pathology and blood tests, combined use was safe, effective and cost- service uses between 2011 imaging services… The costs would become effective. So we created one. prohibitive very, very quickly, so it’s imperative and 2016 alone, worth almost “These methods inform government guidelines AUD$160 million we keep the system running as effectively and safely as possible.” for drug companies and test manufacturers today.”

PROFESSOR JOZEF GECZ cerebral palsy’s of Adelaide, we now know where the Lead researcher missing attribution lies: in the genes. Playing a leading role in the Australian gene team Collaborative Cerebral Palsy group it founded, the University’s research team For decades, the medical world This knowledge, Gecz continues, opens has over the past five years headed myriad opportunities. “We can devise suspected cerebral palsy (CP) numerous peer-reviewed investigations precise medical interventions and better was largely caused by perinatal into the debilitating movement and management plans from a very early age, asphyxia—insufficient oxygen to the posture disorder’s genetic and genomic which could lead to greatly improved origins. This research has effectively brain at birth. Studies have shown, quality of life for the child, and reduced rewritten the CP textbook. stress and disruption for their family. however, that this is true in just “We’ve established that in at least one eight to 10 per cent of cases. “It enables more informed counselling in four children with CP the disorder’s for parents of children with CP regard- origin can be assigned to a genetic error Premature arrival and birth trauma ing the risk of recurrence as their or mutation,” says lead researcher family grows; this had been considered have also been proven to play a Professor Jozef Gecz. “Such errors in DNA part. But as many as 40 per cent of as low as one per cent, but factoring in can be passed on from the unaffected genetic risks could put it as high as 10. presentations remain unexplained parents or occur spontaneously— by these sources. Thanks largely to and current technologies allow us to “Ultimately, it’s possible that genetic CP pioneering research by the University identify them very soon after birth.” could one day be prevented.”

12 | in sight HEALTH & BIOTECH

University of Adelaide-led research has found fat- breakdown plays a critical part in prostate cancer cells’ treatment resistance, fat survival and spread. The enzyme DECR1 was found to enable and control blocked the fat breakdown.

Blocking DECR1—which can be done using existing metastasis cardiovascular disease therapies—stopped the cancer cells spreading stopped and killed them.

“We’re always wary of using the term “And to our great delight, we found that ‘breakthrough’ in medical research,” says by blocking the DECR1 we could not only lead researcher Professor Lisa Butler. “But stop the cancer cells from metastasising, PROFESSOR LISA BUTLER this could make an enormous difference but kill them.” Lead researcher to prostate cancer patients’ prognosis, and The fact that approved medication already quality of life, in very short time. exists that mimics the DECR1-blocking “Translating research findings from the role, Butler adds, is the icing on the cake. lab to the clinic normally takes years; the “This discovery provides the opportunity ability to repurpose pre-approved drugs to take proven-safe drugs that are already For men past their mid-40s, prostate could drastically reduce that timeframe.” cancer is an ever-present threat. in use for conditions such as angina, and Worldwide, it’s the second most common The team first found that prostate cancer redirect them to improve—potentially cancer among them, killing nearly cells rely heavily on polyunsaturated fatty dramatically—prostate cancer survival rates, 380,000 annually. Until now, a huge acids to fuel their survival and spread not to mention patients’ and their loved barrier to recovery has been prostate throughout the body. The fats were ones’ peace of mind. So that positive impact tumours’ eventual resistance to treatment. either taken up through patients’ diets, or can be felt in a fraction of the time it would But exciting University of Adelaide- generated in the cancer cells themselves. otherwise take to create a new therapy.” led research has uncovered a hidden “Importantly, we noticed that the cancer The team hopes to undertake proof-of- vulnerability in tumours’ cells—and a cells needed to carefully control the levels concept clinical trials in 2021. ready-made way to exploit it. of these fats,” explains Butler. “An excess 1Nassar, Z, Mah, CY, Centenera, M, Irani, S, Sadowski, M, The research team published two studies1,2 of them was toxic for the cells.” Scott, J, Nguyen, E, Nagarajan, S, Moldovan, M, Lynn, D, in 2020 showing three key findings: one, Daly, R, Hoy, A & Butler, L 2020, Fatty Acid Oxidation Is Building on this insight, the researchers an Adaptive Survival Pathway Induced in Prostate Tumors the breakdown of fats in prostate cancer sought to understand how that fat-level by HSP90 Inhibition, Molecular Cancer Research, DOI: cells is an important cause of treatment control was facilitated. 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-20-0570 resistance; two, one particular enzyme 2Nassar, Z, Mah, CY, Dehairs, J, Burvenich, I, Irani, S, “We identified an enzyme called DECR1 enables that fat breakdown; and three, Centenera, M, Helm, M, Shrestha, R, Moldovan, M, Don, as being essential for fat breakdown. The A, Holst, J, Scott, A, Horvath, L, Lynn, D, Selth, L, Hoy, A, blocking that enzyme—which could be done cancer cells were using it both to generate Swinnen, J & Butler, L 2020, Human DECR1 is an androgen- with drugs already approved for use against repressed survival factor that regulates PUFA oxidation to energy and to protect themselves from cardiovascular disease—can stop the protect prostate tumor cells from ferroptosis, eLife, 9:e54166 dying due to excess fat levels. doi: 10.7554/eLife.54166 cancer’s spread, or metastasis, in its tracks.

in sight | 13 HEALTH & BIOTECH

PROFESSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR GUSTAVO CARNEIRO LOUISE HULL Lead researcher Project leader

technology highly effective diagnosis method—does carry risks and can require a week or more for recovery. “We’ve developed algorithms to detect endo- supporting metriotic lesions, based on ultrasound imaging scans,” says machine learning lead Professor Gustavo Carneiro. “The preliminary results have been promising and further research will endometriosis allow for continued AI development to improve accuracy. Once fully developed, the algorithm will give women the answers they need sooner, sufferers without surgery, and will enable earlier access to treatment and support.” The second project is the development of an It’s been called ‘the secret plague’. empowering new online platform through which endometriosis sufferers can manage Endometriosis, the spread of their health. Supported by the Australian uterus-like tissue elsewhere in the Government and Jean Hailes for Women’s Health organisation, and designed in body, is estimated to affect around consultation with Australia’s endometriosis 200 million women worldwide. community, the platform will enable women to make timely treatment decisions. Yet, due to difficulty of diagnosis, “It will be a one-stop shop,” says project leader many suffer chronic, often- Associate Professor Louise Hull. “The portal will feature a wide range of research-based severe pain—particularly during tools, resources and information to assist with menstruation—unseen. managing endometriosis, and support patient- clinician engagement.” Complicating matters, even those diagnosed Importantly, it will incorporate advanced can feel reluctant to discuss their condition due analytics, enabling the platform to ‘learn’ from to a lingering social stigma. Two new medical- users and deliver a personalised experience. technology projects underway at the University “Women will be served the content and of Adelaide, however, offer cause for hope. resources they identify as important to them, when they need it, and we’ll be able In the first, the University’s health and computer to continually optimise the platform. science researchers are collaborating to create an alternative, non-invasive form of diagnosis, “We’re bridging the gap between using machine learning. The technology will research, clinicians, public policy and avoid the need for surgery, which—although a the endometriosis community.”

14 | in sight Photo: Unsplash, Alex Kalligas doctorates of distinction

The University of Adelaide’s higher-degree-by-research program produces a steady stream of world-class discovery and early-career talent. Our PhD students explore innovative DR KATHARINA RICHTER DR JESSICA BOHORQUEZ AREVALO solutions to challenges affecting MIT Technology Review 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) people, industry and our Innovators Under 35, Asia Pacific, 2019 Asia Pacific Winner, 2019 environment. They develop South Australian Science Awards Winner for PhD Research Excellence, 2018 Jessica’s research centres on the high-level professional skills. custom-design of machine learning Dr Richter is developing novel treatments to And they’re supported to apply algorithms based on artificial kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria and bringing neural networks for the condition their research in the real world. them to clinical applications, specifically for assessment of pressurised water surgical site infections, non-healing wounds pipelines using fluid transient waves. Here are some recent highlights. and chronic sinus infections. Two innovative therapies have progressed successfully through pilot studies in humans.

DR SAMUEL COSTELLO DR ERINN FAGAN-JEFFRIES DR MELISSA MIDDELDORP South Australian Science Awards Finalist South Australian Science Awards Finalist South Australian Science Awards Finalist for PhD Research Excellence, 2020 for PhD Research Excellence, 2020 for PhD Research Excellence, 2020 Dr Costello is investigating faecal Dr Fagan-Jeffries is dedicated to Dr Middeldorp’s research is in atrial microbiota transplantation (FMT) as discovering and describing new species fibrillation (AF), risk factor modification a treatment for ulcerative colitis. He of parasitoid wasps to better understand and patient education. During her co-founded the stool bank BiomeBank our biodiversity. A passionate PhD, she established and implemented to supply patients in Australia and Asia communicator, she gives numerous a risk-factor-modification program with safe and reliable FMT access, public lectures and workshops, and runs for AF patients that has already and support further research and a school-based citizen science project for informed changes to AF patient development in microbial therapies. students interested in entomology. management guidelines.

DR OLIVIA COUSINS DR HAOYU LOU DR CAMILLE ROULIÈRE

Joint PhD with University of Nottingham Joint PhD with University of Nottingham Joint PhD with University of Caen Normandie Doctoral Research Medal (Adelaide), 2018 Dr Cousins’s research enhanced Dr Lou employed CRISPR/Cas9 gene CHASS (Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social understanding of soil, water, nitrogen editing and computer modelling in her Sciences) Australia Prize for a student Winner, 2017 and plant interactions, and showed research to show two related genes’ Dr Roulière’s research explores spatial how variable water and nitrogen levels roles in regulating the biosynthesis poetics: the manner in which people engage can be manipulated to maximise of important carbohydrates in barley and interact with their environment through wheat-crop growth under sub-optimal root cell walls, and in barley root-tip art. Her PhD focused on the relationships conditions, in which lower quantities development. This opens a promising between humans, waters and sound—both of both resources are available. new direction in barley breeding. intrinsic and human-produced—around the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia.

in sight | 15 ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY blue is the new green

Known as ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems, “After mapping the state’s entire In the search for mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass coastline, we now know South Australia meadows are carbon-storage machines, has 1.12 million hectares of blue-carbon potential natural allies absorbing CO2 up to 40 times faster ecosystems,” says research leader than terrestrial forests and trapping Professor Bronwyn Gillanders. “That’s to help combat climate carbon in the soil for millennia. almost the size of Qatar. change, marine coastal They are also incredibly valuable “We’ve calculated that this vegetation for many other reasons, supporting currently holds the equivalent of five vegetation sits near biodiversity, stabilising shorelines, pro- to ten years’ worth of the state’s carbon viding nursery habitats for commercially emissions. And it has additional the top of the list. fished species, improving water quality capacity to sequester another 0.36 to and enabling unique recreation and 0.83 million tonnes of CO2 every year, tourism opportunities—all of which offsetting up to 3.6 per cent of the state’s helps to sustain regional economies. But annual greenhouse gas emissions.” if governments are to prioritise nurturing Through various case studies, the blue carbon ecosystems, they’re going team also confirmed that far more to need hard, local evidence. Exactly carbon is stored in healthy ecosystems what difference does coastal vegetation than degraded ones, adds project make to our emissions targets in our exact leader Dr Alice Jones. “Considered in location and climatic conditions? total, our findings put beyond doubt Now, thanks to University of Adelaide- the importance of conserving and led research, the driest state in the restoring our blue carbon habitats,” world’s driest continent has that data. she says, “particularly when these The research team has quantified— areas are facing increasing pressure for the first time—the total carbon- from coastal development, pollution storage capacity of South Australia’s and rising sea levels.” coastal mangrove, saltmarsh and seagrass habitats.

16 | in sight KEY ACHIEVEMENTS For Gillanders and Jones, however, presenting an evidence-based case for holding ground is only half the job; they’re equally concerned with identifying how best to achieve that objective. With this in mind, they’ve recently undertaken two important, complementary missions. The first is generating maps to show South Australia’s coastal vegetated habitats’ blue carbon storage potential. “We’ve already finished this for the University of Adelaide-led coastline around metropolitan Adelaide,” research has quantified, for the says Jones, “and we hope to extend this approach across the entire state.” first time, local blue carbon coastal ecosystems’ total contribution The second, closely related project is using the blue carbon potential to absorbing South Australia’s maps to help identify area-specific greenhouse gas emissions. Above (left to right): Dr Alice Jones and management strategies. Gillanders Professor Bronwyn Gillanders explains: “It’s likely that some saltmarsh vegetation will be lost because of its inability to retreat from the country’s Emissions Reduction rising seas beyond physical barriers, Fund and carbon inventory. Jones or because of human activity, whereas is confident that, once the latter is other areas will open up. finalised—providing a clear financial “So we’re assessing the possible incentive for protecting and restoring effectiveness of taking steps such as coastal ecosystems—private enterprise installing culverts to assist tidal flows; will follow the lead. returning marginal drained or ponded “I’ve no doubt organisations will The research team is creating farmland to its natural, coastal form; start setting up restoration projects in a map to show the state’s and fencing off areas to protect them these ecosystems if they can get carbon likely blue carbon storage from human impacts.” credits, because they just have so The University’s work has already many benefits for people and the potential and inform regional helped to inform the South Australian natural world. preservation strategies. Government’s Blue Carbon Strategy, “This is a critical step to mitigate and our researchers are now also climate change.” advising the Australian Government on ways to include blue carbon in

Our researchers are advising the Australian Government on ways to incorporate blue carbon projects in the country’s Emissions Reduction Fund and carbon inventory.

Photo: Unsplash, Max Conacher in sight | 17 ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

optimising the flow

With climate change threatening to double methods, and a large number of areas of PROFESSOR the number of people experiencing water market failure. That obviously makes it SARAH WHEELER 1 stress globally by 2050 , competition for hard to maintain equity, so we feel there’s a Senior researcher water allocations will become extreme. pressing need for standardisation and for To maintain equity—and the social and water market governance changes.” economic stability that comes with it— Another recent project for Wheeler, this best practice water markets will be critical; time collaborating with Oxford University’s and University of Adelaide research is Associate Professor Dustin Garrick, has ASSOCIATE contributing significantly to improving been identifying market participation PROFESSOR their governance. drivers. She and Garrick analysed ALEC ZUO The University’s Professor Sarah Wheeler historical water market activity in both the Senior researcher and Associate Professor Alec Zuo southern and northern MDB to uncover the key factors, or ‘policy levers’, that most are among the leading authorities on 4 Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) influence trading activity and volume . water markets, considered the most “There were three stand-outs,” says 1Munia, HA, Guillaume, JHA, Wada, Y, Veldkamp, T, developed and adopted in the world. Wheeler. “Distribution of initial property Virkki, V & Kummu, M 2020, Future transboundary water stress and its drivers under climate change: A Their ongoing research, both independent rights in resource allocation; the need global study, Earth’s Future, 8, e2019EF001321 and commissioned by state and federal to prepare for and seize opportunities 2 Seidl, C, Wheeler, SA & Zuo, A 2020, Treating agencies, is providing critical insights into to strengthen property rights; and the water markets like stock markets: Key water market the effective design and governance of the institution of robust monitoring and reform lessons in the Murray-Darling Basin, Journal country’s water management systems. compliance requirements.” of Hydrology, 581, 124399 3 Seidl, C, Wheeler, S & Zuo, A 2020, High turbidity: A recent focus for the pair has been Further research into water market Water valuation and accounting in the Murray-Darling assessing water market governance failures governance by Wheeler and Zuo Basin, Agricultural Water Management, 230, 10592 and the impact of MDB water entitlement included the world’s first comprehensive 4 Wheeler, S & Garrick, D 2020, A tale of two water ownership by non-landholders—government investigation into the area for signs of markets in Australia: lessons for understanding 5 participation in formal water markets, Oxford Review and non-government organisations, insider trading , and their studies into of Economic Policy, 36, 132–53 and investors, such as superannuation water scarcity’s impact on landholders’ 5 de Bonviller, S, Zuo, A & Wheeler, S 2019, Is there companies and trade speculators2,3. mental health6,7—highlighting the need evidence of insider trading in Australian water for urgent action to address rural suicide— markets?, Australian Journal of Agricultural and “With increasing water scarcity and Resource Economics, 63, 307-27 similarly broke new ground. growing market participation, water is now 6 Daghagh Yazd, S, Wheeler, S & Zuo, A 2020, Unders- one of the most valuable assets many MDB “Ultimately we’re seeking the most tanding the impacts of water scarcity and socio-economic demographics on farmer mental health in the Murray- irrigators own,” says Zuo. effective ways of sharing water to improve Darling Basin, Ecological Economics, 169, 106564 “We’ve found considerable variation net social welfare,” reflects Zuo. “Economic 7 Wheeler, S, Zuo, A & Loch, A 2018, Water torture: in financial valuation and accounting strength must come hand in hand with unravelling the psychological distress of irrigators in environmental and human health.” Australia, Journal of Rural Studies, 62, 183-194

18 | in sight ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY averting disaster

PROFESSOR HOLGER MAIER Lead researcher

It’s an unsettling prognosis. Driven by climate change, population growth and economic development, natural hazards —such as the recent bushfires in Australia and the US, heatwaves in Europe, and floods in Japan—will in coming years “It’s a kind of risk mitigation policy “We’re currently looking at ways of become an even bigger threat. wind tunnel,” says lead researcher accounting for the impact of people’s Professor Holger Maier. lived experiences of disasters,” he says, They will occur more frequently and “and the fact that certain areas have mul- with greater intensity. One will ‘cascade’ “UNHaRMED lets decision-makers test how their local disaster risk will tiple, different uses throughout the day, into another more regularly. Costs to each creating its own unique risk profile.” life and economies will spiral. be affected by climate, population and economic drivers; mitigation The result, he believes, will be a tool So what are governments to do? How are measures, such as restricting land suitable for embedding in government they to identify which risk mitigation use, strengthening building codes, processes across the country to inform strategies will work today, in their constructing sea walls or increasing policy economy-wide, and reduce specific environment, without causing controlled burns; and by all factors’ future disaster risk. new, unforeseen problems tomorrow? cumulative influence on each other. Ground-breaking University of Adelaide- “The principles underlying led research is presenting an answer. UNHaRMED can be used for long-term “Cost-benefit trade-offs planning in utilities, transport and just Collaborating with government agencies can be explored over about any other sector to facilitate a across four Australian states, and time, producing the most truly integrated approach. funded through the national Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative comprehensive evidence base “For example, we’ve just launched Research Centre our team has co- an industry-backed PhD with South yet possible for the adoption Australia’s water and electricity developed the world’s most holistic risk of robust, long-term risk mitigation decision-support tool. Called authorities to investigate applying UNHaRMED, which stands for Unified reduction strategies.” these principles to cyber-security risks Natural Hazard Risk Mitigation Exploratory threatening our state’s water supply. Decision support system, the software is Prototype UNHaRMED applications “This could be the difference that allows the first to enable authorities to model have now been developed for authorities Australia to effectively increase its changes in their spatial risk profile over in South and Western Australia, collective preparedness for disasters of time in response to multiple, interacting Victoria and Tasmania. And Maier and all kinds, rather than being surprised variables—including potential risk his colleagues are continuing to build and caught-out by future catastrophes. mitigation strategies themselves. even greater flexibility into the system, After the events of our last summer, conducting ongoing research into ways that’s something we’re all hoping for.” of quantifying social vulnerability. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

A University of The system is the first Cost-benefit trade-offs Adelaide research to enable authorities can be explored for all team has led the co- to model changes potential mitigation development of the in their spatial risk strategies, even taking world’s most holistic profile over time in into account their disaster risk mitigation response to multiple, impact on each other. decision-support tool. interacting variables.

in sight | 19 ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

the bones are talking “Our study integrates all aspects of the Caves’ South Australia’s Naracoorte Caves are a preserved deposits— UNESCO World Heritage-listed treasure. Among thousands of fossils already found there flora, fauna, wildfire are nearly 20 species of megafauna and over 135 small vertebrate species. But there’s much more records, sediment and to come; the Caves promise to provide a clear calcite formations. record of environmental change over the past ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR 500,000 years, and priceless insight into shifts LEE ARNOLD “We’ll learn a huge amount about variations Lead researcher currently underway. University of Adelaide-led research is bringing it all to light. in rainfall and climate, which will allow us to understand past biodiversity responses to In collaboration with other Australian universities, variability, and inform future conservation and museums, government and industry partners, our climate change adaptation strategies.” researchers have taken on the mammoth task of excavating the multi-chamber limestone system’s The team is employing innovative approaches in estimated 5,000 tonnes of still-untouched sediment; geochronology, palaeontology and geochemistry cataloguing its contents; and piecing together its to develop comprehensive palaeoecological and unprecedented fossil and environmental record. palaeoclimatic histories for the site. They’re also Lead researcher Associate Professor Lee Arnold: creating, for the first time, a highly detailed 3D DR LIZ REED model of the entire known Naracoorte system and Senior researcher surrounding region. As cutting-edge and valuable as the work is, it’s the tantalising possibility of further megafauna discoveries that most excites the Caves’ steady flow of tourists. “They’re definitely the rock stars of the collection,” says senior researcher Dr Liz Reed. “The area’s already known to have been home to gigantic short-faced kangaroos; a huge 5-metre snake, Wonambi naracoortensis; a large tapir-like marsupial, Palorchestes azael; and, of course, there’s the king of the Pleistocene forests, Thylacoleo carnifex—a fearsome relative of koalas and wombats. So naturally visitors to the Caves are always wondering what fantastical creature we’ll find next. “I can’t blame them, either. I still feel that raw excitement myself every time I head back in there.”

Left: Dr Liz Reed (right) unearthing fossils in South Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves. Photos courtesy Steve Bourne.

20 | in sight CREATIVITY & CULTURE healthier

Researchers at the University have been helping to inform the Australian at home Government’s COVID-19 response through a series of related investigations, documenting the immediate impact on housing and COVID-19 has touched every predicting necessary post-pandemic changes. aspect of our lives: where we According to lead researcher Professor Emma can go, what we can do, who we Baker, the studies have revealed two overriding positives. “The first is that Australia’s housing can see—even how closely we system has actually become an important can stand. Throughout it all, public health asset,” she says. homes, for many people, have “It’s enabled our federal and state governments to roll out lockdowns and quarantining provided valuable refuge, a place strategies to isolate and slow the spread of the to retreat and take stock. But as virus, in most instances quite effectively.” University of Adelaide research The second, closely related positive was that many people have found their homes to be has confirmed, housing too is far more acceptable places to work from than experiencing profound change, they’d realised, a trend mirrored in many and more must follow. developed countries. But, Baker emphasises, glaring inequalities have also been exposed. “Cruelly, the pandemic hit the lowest income, most precariously employed people in our society hardest—and these individuals typically had the least resilient housing circumstances.

PROFESSOR PROFESSOR EMMA BAKER CHRIS LEISHMAN Lead researcher Senior researcher

in sight | 21 CREATIVITY & CULTURE

Continued from previous page “Having enough indoor space, being able to during the pandemic. Early analysis of its keep it warm, and being able to access quality findings paints a bleak picture. green spaces outside has become a lot more “Almost all tenants have been affected in some, important to people.” or often multiple, ways—including employment Looking ahead, Baker can see this bringing loss or reduction, inability to pay rent, and risk The University of Adelaide market change. “We think people’s preferences of eviction,” says Baker. “Almost half reported are likely to swing away from both open-plan stress, depression or anxiety, many skipped has conducted significant and apartment living, towards more energy- meals, and more than a third had accessed housing research to efficient housing that can allow for working, their superannuation or savings just to get by.” help inform Australia’s studying and isolating.” Here, government support was found wanting. pandemic response. The research also highlighted high levels “There were no federal interventions in of financial risk among Australia’s property the private rental sector,” adds Leishman. investors. Senior researcher Professor Chris “Instead, the government’s direction was vague, Housing has become Leishman: “We now know there are about and advisory at best, leaving each state and 50,000 Australian households in which people territory to figure out their own interventions. a frontline COVID-19 are struggling to pay their own housing costs, And most commentators felt these largely defence, but needs are yet they also own an investment property. favoured owners and investors; as a nation, we changing—our housing “And without the Australian Government’s have still made little progress towards ending will almost certainly look emergency JobKeeper income support no-fault evictions, for example. different in future. measures, that number would have doubled. “This is a serious problem arising from The pandemic is a potential disaster for these Australia’s constitutional arrangements and the households if the right support measures aren’t distribution of housing policy responsibilities. put in place going forward.” It must be addressed.” Private renters Perhaps worst affected of all has been the Ultimately, however, the team remains hopeful. have been especially rental sector, which houses about a third “If the pandemic has shown us anything,” vulnerable—large-scale of Australia’s population. The University’s Baker reflects, “it’s that change is possible. federal intervention is team hosts the Australian Rental Housing We’ve already started to think differently Conditions Dataset, the largest national survey about housing, and good things will come.” urgently needed. of Australian renters and their experiences

he says, “all of which were accepted. Key was the need to enshrine the child’s right DR DAVID PLATER to know their full history and family; driving Lead researcher to remove restrictions on single people accessing lawful surrogacy; maintain legal distinction between commercial and non- surrogacy commercial arrangements; and discourage offshore surrogacy.” also been exacerbated by rising infertility rates increasing surrogacy demand, just Plater and his team also recommended reform taking a flexible approach to jurisdiction as the numbers of women prepared to be surrogate mothers has declined, prompting throughout Australia, to recognise the When laws dealing with surrogacy first many would-be parents to seek poorly interstate aspects of surrogacy, while appeared, they were, by today’s standards, regulated services overseas. still discouraging ‘forum shopping’— moving around to find the most far from progressive. The Babylonians form- In response, the Government of South favourable conditions. ally allowed the practice from around 1701 BC, Australia in 2017 asked the South purely as a means to hold together marriages Australian Law Reform Institute, an “We’re delighted to between infertile male-female couples. independent body hosted and led by the Since then, of course, monumental social University of Adelaide, to explore and have helped better protect and technological change has swept the suggest a suitable contemporary regulatory future surrogate families world. There is now widespread, and still framework for surrogacy in the state. growing, acceptance of diverse family Their subsequent report, submitted in in South Australia.” arrangements; and huge advances in repro- 2018, paved the way for major change, Notably, the report’s authors included a ductive technologies have made the dream culminating in Parliament passing the University of Adelaide student, Madeleine of parenthood infinitely more accessible. standalone Surrogacy Act 2019 (SA). Thompson, who was able to see her research But in many regions, the law has struggled Dr David Plater led the research. “Our ultimately translate to real-world impact. to keep pace. In Australia, the issue has report provided 69 recommendations,”

22 | in sight CREATIVITY & CULTURE

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ROB AMERY Lead researcher an ancient language KEY ACHIEVEMENTS lives on

Amery is the founding leader of the University’s The Australian KWP team, which stands for Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi: creating Kaurna language. A Aboriginal language was community body comprising numerous Kaurna people, teachers, linguists and thought to be irretrievably The University of Adelaide has language enthusiasts, KWP was established lost, last heard nearly in 2002 in collaboration with Kaurna elders led collaborative efforts with the 160 years ago. Linguistic Dr Lewis Yerloburka O’Brien and Dr Alitya Kaurna Australian Aboriginal Wallara Rigney to generate and manage all people to successfully revive researchers from the Kaurna language revival activities. their language. To help achieve the team’s goals, Amery University of Adelaide developed what he calls the formulaic method and Kaurna descendants, for reintroducing an “awakening” language in the absence of native speakers. Considered however, retained hope. world-leading, the method involves initially teaching easy-to-learn key phrases that can Today, after more than three decades of stand alone; these are then built upon with collaboration, the language is again in daily increasingly complex utterances, eventually use; some adults have gained remarkable expanding the speaker’s repertoire. fluency; the first semi-native speakers KWP has developed many Kaurna language The University developed a are emerging; and an entire people’s pride resources: a comprehensive learner’s guide; is on the rise. Kaurna funeral protocols book; translations of world-leading method, initially teaching easy-to-learn key The Kaurna (pronounced: GAR-na) Aboriginal the Lord’s Prayer and well-known hymns; and people have for tens of thousands of years a puppet show for school children. “We’ve even standalone phrases that are occupied what is known today as the Adelaide created a deck of playing cards featuring Kaurna then built upon. Plains in South Australia. But like many cultural icons, elders and language speakers.” indigenous peoples and cultures, their very Much progress has also been made in terms existence and identity has been threatened of broad community awareness. “Welcome by colonial settlement. to Country” speeches are now commonly The loss of their language, thought to have given in the Kaurna language at the start of occurred by the 1860s, was central to this events right across the ; and experience. And for too long, its permanent our University, which itself stands on Kaurna disappearance was simply accepted as inevitable. land, has increased the language’s presence on campus. A traditional Kaurna learning “As recently as the 1990s the prevailing attitude circle was built on our grounds in 2020 as a among linguists was that language retrieval ceremonial meeting place, bearing a plaque The Kaurna language— and revival was an impossible dream,” says reading “Kaurna miyurna wangkanthi marni unheard for nearly 160 years— Associate Professor Rob Amery. “And certainly naa pudni, Kaurna yarta-ana”: Kaurna people is now back in daily use. in the Kaurna language’s case there were say good you all came to Kaurna country. challenges; 19th century documentation was incomplete and sound recordings non-existent. But perhaps most pleasing of all, reflects Amery, is the work’s impact on Kaurna people’s “But fortunately, the written record has wellbeing. “Having their language revived has been sufficient to enable the reconstruction considerably raised the Kaurna community’s of a working language.” cultural pride and esteem. For many individuals, it has totally transformed their lives.”

in sight | 23 CREATIVITY & CULTURE

PROFESSOR PROFESSOR ROBERT FOSTER AMANDA NETTELBECK giving Lead researcher Lead researcher

voice to a “We will engage, with great sensitivity of course, with Aboriginal and settler-descended communities right across South Australia,” says Foster. “This will allow us to capture and bring to light ‘frontier’ stories that may otherwise have remained dark past hidden or could even be lost. And presenting them in this way will add additional layers of meaning, giving the narratives a strong sense of place and clearly That relations between British colonisers and illustrating their spatial relationships.” were marked by bloodshed The map is being developed in association with is no secret. Nor is the vast disparity of the conflict’s the History Trust of South Australia, the South impact. It’s thought that between the 1790s and 1930s Australian Museum, State Library of South Australia, around 20,000 Aboriginal people died violently; by State Records of South Australia and Reconciliation contrast, European casualties are believed to be around South Australia, and will be hosted by these partners a tenth of that number. upon completion. These estimates, however, remain controversial. “We’re pursuing this research in the spirit of And while we have access to some settlers’ personal ‘truth-telling’,” adds Nettelbeck. accounts of these events, through journal entries, letters, government records and the like, the Aboriginal perspective remains tellingly absent. “We need a better Now, the University of Adelaide is leading efforts to clarify this important history, and redress understanding of the imbalance. A research team is building a comprehensive interactive geospatial map of colonial Australia’s colonial conflict in South Australia, populated with accounts of the events handed down through generations by past if we are to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. advance the objectives Jointly led by Associate Professor Robert Foster and Professor Amanda Nettelbeck, with support from of reconciliation.” historian Dr Skye Krichauff, the project will produce the first polyvocal account of the history, and historical memory, of frontier conflict in the state.

‘A fight at the Murray’ by William Anderson Cawthorne, 1844 24 | in sight Image courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales CREATIVITY & CULTURE mitigating climate migration

The UN ’s estimates regarding the “It’s the result of a complex web of Predictions regarding number of people likely to be forced into interactions between climate change and environmental migration start at around numerous other factors—demographic, the potential impact 25 million; at the upper end, they stretch social, economic and political. These of climate change on to one billion. interactions can work to exacerbate Recognising the critical importance people’s sense of vulnerability and environmental health of governments and communities inequality, and it’s the degree to which they understanding how to prepare for this feel that cumulative pressure that shapes and biodiversity are social upheaval, the University of Adelaide their migration behaviour and intent. has led pioneering research in two of the “Ironically, conducting state-led climate- stark. But the issues most instructive regions in the world: change mitigation and adaptation projects don’t stop there. China’s desertifying west, and the sea-level- actually increased population displacement rise-prone Yangtze delta. and resettlement, as it raised people’s Collaborating with colleagues from awareness of their vulnerability.” Lanzhou University and the Chinese This population mobility was found to have Academy of Sciences, the University’s team significant impacts in terms of people’s live- investigated the theoretical, behavioural lihoods; the need to reconstruct social and and policy dimensions of climate change cultural systems; and the provision of infra- and population mobility in these regions structure and social services. It even created of China between 2011 and 2015. According environmental consequences of its own. to lead researcher Associate Professor Yan Although focused on specific Chinese ASSOCIATE Tan, the findings show a relationship that’s regions, adds Tan, the research offers salient PROFESSOR YAN TAN far from simple. lessons for authorities worldwide. “There’s Lead researcher an urgent need for provincial and local “If there was one thing governments to plan cohesive development programs in which local urbanisation and that stood out to us, it was human resettlement are integral. that this one thing—climate “We need to facilitate, rather than inhibit, change—is not causing people’s willingness to take responsibility for their own livelihoods and improve their migration on its own. adaptive capacity.”

in sight | 25 AGRICULTURE, FOOD & WINE targeting taint Vision of the wholesale destruction to life and property wrought by the Australian bushfires of 2019-20 shocked the world. But for some of our winemakers, the fires’ most damaging impacts were inflicted on assets left standing.

Right: Professor Kerry Wilkinson

26 | in sight Where smoke-exposed grapes were rendered incapable adsorbents to mitigate the intensity of smoke aromas and of producing wine without unpalatable smoky and flavours in wine made from smoke-exposed grapes.” ashy characters, fruit went unharvested—and an entire Methods will also be explored for rapidly quantifying vintage was lost. grapes’ levels of smoke taint, to enable accelerated To put the issue in financial perspective, 2007 bushfires decision-making during vintage. affecting the state of Victoria alone caused smoke-taint “We’re developing new analytical tools of our own for losses in excess of AUD$100 million. The 2019-20 blazes monitoring grapevines’ real-time smoke exposure,” spanned prominent wine regions in Victoria, New continues Wilkinson. “This again builds on some of South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital my previous work2, which demonstrated the use of a Territory. Although still not fully known, their economic commercial sensor that measures particulate matter as toll could feasibly approach half a billion dollars. a way of monitoring vineyard smoke exposure.” Recognising the urgent need for action, the Australian Finally, the team will investigate alternative uses for Government has invested heavily in a major collaborative wine that retains its smoke taint, such as distillation industry-university research project to develop new for use in spirits. smoke-taint-management tools and strategies for the Australian wine industry. The University of Adelaide is With the incidence of bushfire predicted to increase as a taking the scientific lead. result of climate change, and many Australian producers already struggling to cope with drought, the magnitude “This is an incredibly important project,” says head of the situation is not lost on Wilkinson. researcher Professor Kerry Wilkinson, “not just for our domestic wine industry’s sustainability, but for those in fire-affected wine regions all over the world, including “The last thing we want to see the US, Canada, South Africa and Chile.” in our wine regions is hard- Much of the biochemistry underlying smoke taint has been established over the last decade, in many cases working producers pushed by Wilkinson herself. The way in which smoke affects grapevine physiology, and the composition and sensory even closer to the edge by properties of grapes and wine, is all well understood. bushfires and smoke taint. Now, the University’s team, collaborating closely with the project’s industry lead, Cassegrain Wines, and research We’re doing everything we can partners at the Australian Wine Research Institute and international technology companies Ligar and VA to help mitigate the impact.” Filtration, is taking the next step: applying the science to overcome the problem. 1Fudge, A, Ristic, R, Wollan, D, Wilkinson, K 2011, Amelioration of Smoke According to Wilkinson, numerous promising Taint in Wine by Reverse Osmosis and Solid Phase Adsorption, Australian innovations are being pursued. “One direction we’re Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 17, S41-S38 taking will evaluate novel technologies for removing 2Szeto, C, Ristic, R, Capone, D, Puglisi, C, Pagay, V, Culbert, J, Jiang, W, smoke taint compounds during winemaking, such as Herderich, M, Tuke, J, Wilkinson, K 2020, Uptake and Glycosylation of Smoke-Derived Volatile Phenols by Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes and Ligar’s molecularly imprinted polymers. This builds Their Subsequent Fate during Winemaking, Molecules, 25, 3720 on a previous project that I was involved in1, in which we demonstrated the use of membrane filtration and

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

University of Adelaide Lost production due to The risk of bush- research is developing smoke taint following fires, and therefore new tools and strategies the 2019-20 Australian smoke taint, to help grape growers bushfires could is expected to and winemakers avoid, approach half a increase with or mitigate, smoke taint. billion dollars (AUD). climate change.

in sight | 27 AGRICULTURE, FOOD & WINE PROFESSOR ANDY LOWE Project supervisor

PROFESSOR SETH WESTRA vines’ Lead researcher smart-tech “We’re producing an automated, ‘smart’ irrigation system for wine lifeline grapes that lowers labour and water costs, but increases the crop’s value Australia’s winegrape production is facing a trifecta of challenges: a drying climate, increasing water costs by optimising water delivery at every and more expensive labour. Consequently, growers stage of the vines’ growth.” from South Australia’s Riverland, the country’s largest wine region, are looking to use digital technologies to The project brings together expertise from across the enhance their resource efficiency and bottom lines— University—in viticulture, plant physiology, machine and the University of Adelaide is converting their learning, computer vision, robotics, engineering, hopes to reality. hydrology, systems analysis, modelling, economics In consultation with Riverland growers, the and producer behaviour. University’s researchers have established the VitiVisor “‘Hands-free hectares’ is a term applied to farming project—developing a viticultural information, systems that seek to reduce the amount of labour prediction and advisory platform that will help required by growers, and this is the approach supported lower the cost of winegrape production. by VitiVisor,” says lead researcher Professor Seth Westra. “In the first phase, the project is focusing on one of “Historically, vine management requires intensive labour viticulture’s most costly resources—water—and and energy, with a lot of tractor use for spraying and its management within the vine canopy during pruning. With VitiVisor, we want growers to have the the growing season,” says project supervisor confidence to use water efficiency as a management Professor Andy Lowe. tool to control canopy growth, lowering the cost of “The objective is to develop an integrated system production by reducing water costs and tractor use.” supported by the latest technologies, such as machine The project is supported by Wine Australia and learning, computer vision, analytics and robotics. industry representative body Riverland Wine, with growers as core members of the design team.

28 | in sight AGRICULTURE, FOOD & WINE

PROFESSOR MICHELLE future- WIRTHENSOHN proofing Program leader have greater water-use efficiency and With the new trees now available, are significantly higher yielding than orchard productivity can again accelerate. almonds established breeds, such as Nonpareil, When considered together with gains Carmel and Price. offered by other new varieties released by the program, the new genetics could 1 This combination of traits, says program Arguably the most nutritious of all foods , leader Dr Michelle Wirthensohn, is boost production by up to 15 per cent. almonds are an incredibly beneficial part timely for all growers, but particularly “Based on today’s prices, that could of the world’s diet. They’re also a valuable those in Australia—the world’s second equate to increased revenue of around industry for many nations. But for some largest almond producer. AUD$133 million.” time, clouds have been gathering over the 1 global crop; the vast majority of almond “Our almond industry has grown steadily Kim, S, Sung, J, Foo, M, Jin, Y-S & Kim, P-J 2015, since 2010,” she says. “Today in 2020 it covers Uncovering the Nutritional Landscape of Food, PLoS ONE varieties require pollination by bees, 10(3): e0118697, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118697 which are in serious decline. 53,000 hectares, enabling us to produce around seven per cent of the world’s crop. Recently, however, the Australian Almond Breeding Program, industry- “But the majority of that production is based funded via Hort Innovation and led on varieties developed over 100 years ago by the University of Adelaide, has in California, all of which require comple- presented answers. The program has mentary plantings and bee pollination; successfully developed four new almond water stress is also an increasing issue. varieties capable of self-fertilising—an Consequently, up to half the trees in some Australian first. All require fewer bees orchards are starting to lose productivity, for pollination. What’s more, they and many older orchards will require replanting in the coming decade.”

A University of Adelaide-led project is “We wanted to understand what more cream helping to turn the tide. The IndoDairy could lead to behaviour change, project, with support from the ultimately addressing the project goals for indonesian Indonesian Government and Australian of increased dairy production and Centre for International Agricultural improved milk quality and safety,” says Research, is delivering improvements Umberger. “And I’m delighted to say the dairy farmers in both smallholders’ productivity and initiatives we’ve recommended to date their families’ livelihoods. have had outstanding impact.” “To keep up with this growing demand Across the industry, she adds, for dairy in Indonesia, there have been there’s been new investment in PROFESSOR a variety of extension programs aiming farm infrastructure, farmers are WENDY UMBERGER Research to bridge the gap between new science collaborating and learning from each project leader and the local farmers,” says research other, receiving greater support for project leader Professor Wendy Umberger. farmers from dairy cooperatives, and “But they haven’t always been effective taking up enhanced extension and at introducing the right technology to training opportunities. Indonesia’s dairy demand is soaring. address the farmers’ unique needs or “We’ve also seen significant increases Fuelled by a burgeoning middle class, business goals. This has consequences in farmers’ adoption of, and intent to consumption has more than doubled throughout the value chain—from the adopt, eight key dairy management in the past two decades. But local smallholder farmers to the end consumer.” practices, including teat dipping, producers, the majority of whom The University of Adelaide team making silage, record-keeping, and operate smallholder farms, have feeding calves colostrum. struggled to keep up; local production researched both innovative extension provides less than 20 per cent of the methods and business models that “They’re now well positioned to meet country’s supply. incorporated meaningful incentives that growing consumer demand.” for smallholder dairy farmers.

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