UniSA leads industry linked research
by
Michéle Nardelli
In
their most successful showing on record, UniSA researchers have won just
over $6.5 million in funding to support 14 industry linked research
projects – more than double that of any other university in South
Australia.
About $2.8 million of the funding comes from the Federal Government’s Australian Research Council Linkage Grants and the matching $3.6 million is provided by industry.
UniSA is now ranked seventh in Australia in industry partnered research with researchers exploring real world issues in many fields from social policy areas right through to water sciences, biochemistry, human health and wellbeing, nanotechnology and minerals processing.
Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley said the results were a reflection of the University’s commitment to vibrant, relevant research and to the strength of its partnerships with industry, both locally and internationally.
“Winning support for projects that industry partners need for them to remain competitive is particularly rewarding,” Prof Bradley said.”Such relationships ensure our people can work to solve real problems in the community, make their research relevant and current, and strengthen the education environment for our students.”
Key projects include a partnership with the SA Department of Education and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
This project will look at childhood obesity and how children understand fitness, exercise and activity so that better interventions and health messages can be developed that will be meaningful to children.
The study will research three to 13 year olds and develop a broader knowledge of how they understand physical activity.
And in an innovative environmental engineering project, researchers at UniSA will work with the Australian Water Quality Centre to develop a biotechnological treatment process for the wine industry that could take waste water to produce a by-product protein rich animal food, treat waste water, allowing for reuse in farm irrigation and reduce pollution in natural watercourses.
Projects also include research into getting unfit adults more active; how we can ensure improved health information technology is used by GPs; an evaluation of the effectiveness of domestic violence programs for men; and advanced drug delivery technology using nanotechnology.
Other research involves exploring nanotechnology as a part of wastewater reuse systems; new technologies for improved early detection of missiles; a longitudinal exploration of the factors that lead to work stress; new systems for stormwater management; research into human vaccines for infections and allergies, and research into improved minerals separation for the mining industry.
More information about UniSA’s success is available at: www.arc.gov.au/funded_grants/selection_linkage_projects.htm