Helping war-torn countries get back on track, further professionalising teachers, demystifying how the beak and feather disease virus works and protecting pine plantations from climate change and exotic pests are four Charles Sturt University (CSU) administered projects to benefit from prestigious national grants.

 

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded the University $951 000 for three Discovery projects and one Linkage project.

 

The projects are among 1 145 around Australia which recently secured a total of almost $400 million from the ARC through this prestigious competitive grants program. The ARC is a statutory authority within the Australian Government's Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.

 

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University, Professor Ian Goulter, said the news highlighted that importance of each of the research projects to national priorities.

 

“As the university of inland Australia, Charles Sturt University continues to build research strengths in areas of rural, regional, national and global importance.

 

“We’re a leading research institution in professional practice – which is where one of the Discovery Projects is focusing. Professor Stephen Kemmis from the School of Education at CSU at Wagga Wagga will lead this project to refine the theory of teacher professional development and leadership.

 

“The Linkage Grant to Professor Geoff Gurr from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU at Orange for forestry research is expected to cut pine production losses due to the sirex wood wasp by 10 per cent which would save the industry a massive $180 million a year.”

Each project is funded for three years.

 

 

 

Key researcher: Professor Larry May, Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics

The project will bring scholars of the Just War tradition in political philosophy and political theory together to talk with international legal theorists and practitioners to build a set of clear principles. These will guide decision making about compensation, reconstruction and restoration of peace and justice in war-ravaged societies. It will develop much-needed tools to arbitrate challenging transnational issues relevant to how the Australian government and military forces conduct post war operations.

 

Key researcher: Associate Professor Shane Raidal, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, at Wagga Wagga

This project will create new knowledge into how persistent, chronic viral diseases work in a wide range of animal hosts. It will focus on beak and feather disease, which is listed as a key Threatening Process under the Endangered Species Protection Act affecting at least 16 endangered Australian bird species.

 

Key researcher: Professor Stephen Kemmis

This study will investigate how practices of education leadership beyond and within schools create conditions for professional learning practices. The project aims to see how these two influence changes to teaching practices and students’ learning. It will contribute to the theory of teaching professional development and leadership and will focus on the Riverina district in NSW. It may also lead to educational outcomes which would enhance social, political, environmental and economic growth and development of Australia.

 

 

Key researcher: Professor Geoff Gurr, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

This project will improve protection of pine plantations (representing 57% of Australia's $3.3 billion pa forestry industry) from the dual threat of exotic pests and climate change. It will further understanding of the ips bark beetle, which is affecting biological control of a pest attacking pine plantations – the sirex wood wasp.

 

Click here for a link to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr’s media release announcing the funding.