Issue 249

aerial view of coast with plume in water

Digging up the dirt on water quality on the Great Barrier Reef

A huge amount of effort is going into protecting the Great Barrier Reef - often the kilometres away from where the coral is actually living. Researchers now have a better understanding of the system of erosion and sediment transport processes connecting agricultural land with water quality in the Reef. Critical to improving land management practices.

students taking notes and water samples on the steps leading into a river

Testing the waters against antimicrobial resistance

Research exchange in India is expanding the investigation into what the World Health Organisation names as one of the greatest threats to human health – antimicrobial resistance.

sheep in a line eating grain with a bare hill behind

Oldman saltbush helps farm profits and ecosystem health

Oldman saltbush is a regular sight for regional tourists, and a CSIRO variety of the native shrub has been found to improve profitability for graziers in Australia’s most marginal regions.

chairman of the Asahi Glass Foundation Mr Kazuhiko Ishimura and CSIRO researcher Dr Brian Walker at thBlue Planet Prize 2018 ceremony in Tokyoe

International environment prize for resilience research

Dr Brian Walker received the Blue Planet Award in Tokyo for his work at the forefront of the interdisciplinary area of resilience of complex adaptive systems. With drought, typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis all in our region, the award is timely.