ScienceNetwork WA

A NEW strain of the deadly water mould Phytophthora may be the key to combating the spread of European blackberry – an invasive weed taking hold in the south-west.

IN HIS new role as Minister for Science, Premier Colin Barnett took time to brief ScienceNetwork on his vision for science in WA.

A NATIONAL surveillance study of hospitalised cases with chicken pox before and after the introduction of the freely available varicella vaccine in Australia has reported a drop of almost 70 per cent in cases with complications needing medical attention.

AN article by Western Australian and American environmental scientists is putting forward a new way of looking at the native versus non-native species debate and proposes species origin is no longer the best judgement tool in the ever-changing environment.

AN INTERNATIONAL research project involving a local scientist has presented the results of a study which used the first non-destructive, three dimensional method of documenting binding attachments in fossil vertebrates.

SCIENTISTS researching light stress indicators in seagrass have gathered and analysed international research in the field to narrow-down 119 variables to 19 robust bioindicators of light stress that can be incorporated into monitoring programs. 

UNIVERSITIES have welcomed Premier Colin Barnett’s move to raise the profile of science within government by taking ministerial responsibility for science policy.

A NEW study has shown reducing rates of herbicide use on annual ryegrass may lead to increases in herbicide resistance affecting Australian crops.

WESTERN Australian Department of Agriculture and Food researcher Richard Fennessy is investigating the nuances of the ‘cold soak’ process on the quality of West Australian reds.

HIGH-income earners and breastfeeding women have lower levels of pesticides in their bodies, an Edith Cowan University (ECU) study has revealed.

MURDOCH University researchers are researching a solutions to possible environmental management problems stemming from inland saline aquaculture.

THE United Nations has set a target to restore 150 million hectares of degraded land globally by 2020, but a UWA study has cautioned there are significant challenges facing global landscape-scale restoration efforts.

FARMERS, emergency service agencies and agriculture students are benefitting from the rollout of 70 new weather stations across the south-west by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA).

AN INTERNATIONAL study looking at the reasons for changes in threat categories of native plants has found an increased knowledge of the plants is the most common cause for the change.

A GROUNDBREAKING study has shown by-products from mining and mineral processing could provide a cost-effective solution for water treatment, as Western Australia tries to find an answer for stockpiling mining by-products.

MURDOCH University scientists have spearheaded international research into creating pest resistant varieties of wheat and barley crops which could be available to Australian grain growers as early as May 2014.

FOREST health scientists at Murdoch University hope collaboration with Canadian remote sensing experts will help attract research funding for projects in south-west WA.

RESEARCHERS have shown combining zero tillage with stubble retention farming practices can help water infiltrate sandy, water repellent soils in Western Australia.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN pig farmers have successfully grown and milled the first pig-specific food to be developed and released in Australia.

A SIGNIGICANT freshwater fish kill 15km west of Albany earlier this month has been attributed to a large bloom of blue-green algae affecting the waterway.