Research Success

Improving farmer livelihoods (PDF File 98.9 KB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Bill Bellotti of the School of Natural Sciences and a multidisciplinary team of researchers and policy analysts are collaborating to help Chinese farmers improve their land and water resource management and farming efficiency practices. This research is supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Good foundations (PDF File 88.9 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Samanthika Liyanapathirana from the School of Engineering, along with Professor Harry Poulos and Dr Richard Kelly of Coffey Geotechnics, is developing and testing new, safer and more stable designs for the engineering of embankments built on soft ground. This research is funded by Coffey Geotechnics and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Project grants scheme.

Community engagement in water (PDF File 79.1 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Tony Webb and Professor Shelley Burgin from the School of Natural Sciences, together with Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) have been awarded a UWS Research Partnerships grant to investigate how best to stimulate community engagement to address regional water issues.

Green roofs (PDF File 92.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Charles Morris from the Centre for Plants and the Environment is researching which type of growing media produces the strongest plant growth and health for plants and gardens on roof tops (green roofs). This research is funded by The Hills Bark Blower.

Addressing terrorism challenges (PDF File 89.6 KB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Beverley Raphael from the Disaster, Response and Resilience Research Group is examining communication methods with the community that may be used in the event of a major emergency involving CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incidents. This research is funded by the Research Support for National Security program, which is managed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Responding to catastrophies (PDF File 85.3 KB) (opens in a new window)
Professor Beverley Raphael from the Disaster, Response and Resilience Research Group is researching the responses and perceptions of people when their society is subject to large scale catastrophic events. This research is funded by the Research Support for National Security program, which is managed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Crossing thresholds in school biology (PDF File 84.1 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professors Pauline Ross and Roy Tasker from the School of Natural Sciences, Dr Betty Gill, College of Health and Science, Dr Charlotte Taylor from University of Sydney and Lachlan Macquarie College, together with NSW Department of Education & Training have been awarded a UWS Research Partnerships grant to investigate threshold concepts in biology in order to develop teaching approaches that are appropriate for diverse learners.

The impact of psychosocial assessments on mothers (PDF File 78.2 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Virginia Schmied from the Family & Community Health Research Group is investigating the process and impact of psychosocial assessments on women by midwives and child and family health nurses during their prenatal and postnatal visits. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage program in partnership with Karitane.

Service engagement for infants and their young mothers (PDF File 82.6 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professors Virginia Schmied and Hannah Dahlen, and Dr Christine Taylor from the Family & Community Health Research Group, with Jenni Hutchins from the Benevolent Society, have been awarded a UWS Research Partnerships grant to investigate the characteristics of young mothers who seek support from services and fare well and those who are at risk of poorer outcomes.

Breastfeeding and first-times mums (PDF File 82.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Virginia Schmied from the Family and Community Health Research Group and School of Nursing and Midwifery is researching what factors influence breastfeeding and other parenting decisions of first-time mothers. This research is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage program in partnership with the Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation.

On a sound footing (PDF File 88.4 KB) (opens in a new window)
Associate Professor Chin Jian Leo and Dr Jia Zou from the Civionics Research Centre in collaboration a team of researchers are investigating a new method for assessing the quality of compacted soil fills. This research is funded by Penrith Lakes Development Corporation, Coffey Geotechnics and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Project grant scheme.

Caring and social capital (PDF File 81.2 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Debbie Horsfall from the School of Social Sciences and Associate Professor Rosemary Leonard from the Social Justice Social Change Research Group are exploring the effects of how caring for the elderly and terminally ill can contribute to the growth of relationships within a community. This research has been funded by NSW Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care (DADHC).

Closing the gap for Indigenous students (PDF File 100.8 KB) (opens in a new window)
Ms Virginia O'Rourke, Professor Rhonda Craven, Associate Professor Geoff Munns and Dr Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews from the Centre for Educational Research are investigating how including Indigenous cultures into teaching can help Indigenous students achieve positive results. This research is supported through an Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development grant.

Motherhood and rheumatoid arthritis - yes or no (PDF File 79.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
Dr Tanya Covic from the School of Psychology and a team of researchers are collaborating with Diana Aspinall from the Arthritis Foundation of NSW to develop a decision aid tool to assist women with rheumatoid arthritis to make motherhood decisions. This research is funded by the Arthritis Foundation of NSW and the Australian Research Council through its Linkage Program.

Community Housing (PDF File 91.2 KB) (opens in a new window)
Housing NSW has engaged Professor Peter Phibbs of the Urban Research Centre, along with research and management consultants Dr Alison Ziller and Ms Robin Hill, to write an Industry Development Framework for improved operations and services in the NSW community housing system. The project is funded by Housing NSW.