A new CRC for tomorrow's foods
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The Hawkesbury Institute confirms its place in world research excellence:
31 July 2019
Ground-breaking Western Sydney University research reveals adding silicon to wheat crops (Triticum aestivum) increases leaf silicon levels, enhancing tolerance to attacks by chewing insects.
18 July 2019
Western Sydney University researchers will undertake world-first research into sterile insect technology thanks to a $10 million collaborative project managed by Hort Innovation, with significant cash contributions by the University and the Government of South Australia.
4 July 2019
Parasitic Varroa mites magnify the damage from a common virus in honeybees that can cause deformities in the bees’ wings, according to a review published in the Annual Review of Virology.
26 June 2019
New evidence that a species of passerine bird, the native Superb Fairy-wren, can employ torpor that reduces their energy needs in cold conditions.
Participants at our Soil Biology Masterclass will learn how to adopt practices and strategies to enhance the life in soils and use the power of plant-soil-microbial relationships to unlock soil nutrients, produce healthier and more nutritious plants and understand how microbes drive modern farming success.
Future makers is the University's research showcase magazine, told through informative storytelling and multimedia. These four stories in Edition Two capture the Hawkesbury Institute's diverse and multidisciplinary expertise...
Dr Ben Moore and Dr Michaela Blyton found that the microbial community of a koala’s intestine can be artificially altered. Read More...
Prof Sally Power explains that ‘extreme’ could become the new normal for pastoral conditions within the next 30 years. Read More...
Assoc Prof Scott Johnson and Dr Ben Moore found that silicon strengthens plants and that plants under attack took up extra silicon from the soil to defend themselves. Read More...
Assoc Prof Brendan Choat is investigating the physiological underpinnings of the widespread die-off of mangroves. Read More...
85% of the University's assessed research has been ranked at world class or better in the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) national report.
Out of the University's eleven 5-Star Rankings in ERA4, HIE contributed strongly to much of the research that produced the 5-Star result.
Ecological Applications, Soil Sciences, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Microbiology, Plant Biology, Zoology, Forestry Sciences
Environmental Science & Management
Western Sydney University is ranked in the top 2% of universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Our research was rated at 5 Stars for Ecological Applications, Soil Sciences, Ecology, Plant Biology, Forestry Sciences by the 2015 Excellence In Research Australia rankings conducted by the Australian Research Council (ARC).
Western Sydney University is ranked among the top 20 Australian universities for achievements in the prestigious Australian Research Council major grants. Nearly a third of the University's ARC grant income is achieved by the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. Find out more...
Our Soil Biology and Genomics theme focuses on how environmental change influences the amazing diversity of life in soils, including its fungi, bacteria and animals... Read more about Soil Biology And Genomics
Our Plants, Animals and Interactions theme explores how these changes affect the ecology and physiology of plants and animals... Read more about Plants, Animals and Interactions
We explore how changes in climate, land use and cover affect the exchanges of carbon, nutrients, water, and energy. Using models, we integrate processes at scales ranging from leaf to globe. Read more about Ecosystem Function and Integration
