Understanding power, social capital and trust alongside near real-time water quality monitoring and technological development collaboration

We report on qualitative social research conducted with stakeholders in a local agricultural knowledge and advice network associated with a collaborative water quality monitoring project. These farmers, advisors and researchers allude to existing social dynamics, technological developments, and (more general) social evolution which is analysed against a novel analytical framework. This framework considers notions of power, social capital, and trust as related and dynamic, forming the basis of our contribution to knowledge. We then probe the data to understand perceived impacts of the collaborative project and social interaction associated with this research project, which involved cutting edge automated and frequent water quality monitoring that allowed for near real-time access to data visualisation displayed via a bespoke mobile or web ‘app’ (1622WQ). Our findings indicate that a multi-faceted approach to assessing and intervening based on consideration of multiple social dimensions holds promise in terms of creating conditions that allow for individual and group learning to encourage changes in thinking required to result in improved land management practice

Grasping at digitalisation: turning imagination into fact in the sugarcane farming community

Nutrient runoff from catchments that drain into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a significant source of stress for this World Heritage Area. An alliance of collaborative on-ground water quality monitoring (Project 25) and technologically driven digital application development (Digiscape GBR) projects were formulated to provide data that highlighted the contribution of a network of Australian sugar cane farmers, amongst other sources, to nutrient runoff. This environmental data and subsequent information were extended to the farming community through scientist-led feedback sessions and the development of specialised digital technology (1622 (TM) WQ) that help build an understanding of the nutrient movements, in this case nitrogen, such that farmers might think about and eventually act to alter their fertilizer application practices. This paper reflects on a socio-environmental sustainability challenge that emerged during this case study, by utilising the nascent concept of digi-grasping. We highlight the importance of the entire agricultural knowledge and advice network being part of an innovation journey to increase the utility of digital agricultural technologies developed to increase overall sustainability. We develop the digi-MAST analytical framework, which explores modes of being and doing in the digital world, ranging from 'the everyday mystery of the digital world (M)', through digital 'awareness (A)', digitally 'sparked' being/s (S), and finally the ability of individuals and/or groups to 'transform (T)' utilising digital technologies and human imaginations. Our digi-MAST framework allows us to compare agricultural actors, in this case, to understand present modes of digi-grasping to help determine the resources and actions likely to be required to achieve impact from the development of various forms of digital technological research outputs

Performance of a dual tine and presswheel seeding module for a range of speeds, presswheels and sowing tine alignments

The performance of a dual tine and presswheel seeding module was compared when using a range of settings and options under soil bin conditions. The parameters measured were the soil furrow profile, the placement of seeds and their effect on germination of triticale (variety Tahara - Xtriticosecale sp.). The tests were undertaken using the soil bin facilities at the University of South Australia using a sandy-loam soil. The seeding module had a deeper working front tine fitted with a winged narrow point followed by a narrow point, seed delivery tube and presswheel which were attached by a parallelogram to provide ground contour following for control of seeding depth. The tests showed that 55 mm wide presswheels with either a flat or wedge profile placed the seeds deeper and gave a reduced mean emergence time of 9.8 days compared to 12.6 days for the 80 and 110 mm wide wedge profile presswheels. The next most important factor affecting mean emergence time was the seeding tine alignment with the seeding tine offset 24 mm to the side of the leading tine giving a faster mean time to emergence of 10.7 days compared to center seeding which had 11.6 days. Increasing the speed of seeding from 8 to 13 km/h had no significant affect on the mean emergence time but the higher speeds were measured to place the seeds with less depth of soil cover, throw more soil from the furrow and throw soil wider from the furrow. © 2015, National Centre for Agrarian Sciences. All Rights reserved

The Phylogenetic-Relationships of the Genus Eimeria Based On Comparison of Partial Sequences of 18s Ribosomal-Rna

Reverse transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was used to obtain partial sequences of the small subunit rRNA (ssrRNA) of three species of Eimeria: Eimeria maxima, Eimeria stiedae and Eimeria tenella. These sequences were aligned with the homologous ssrRNA sequence segments of a range of other organisms in the phylum Apicomplexa, along with representatives of the ciliates, fungi, flagellates, higher plants and higher eukaryotes. Two phylogenetic tree building methods were used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among the Eimeria species, and between the Eimeria and the other organisms represented, using Vairimorpha necatrix as an outgroup. The results show that Eimeria is almost certainly monophyletic with the apicomplexans Sarcocystis, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium. The three species of Eimeria differ among each other at a maximum of 9 out of 600 nucleotides at the ssrRNA locus. Such intrageneric variation is high by vertebrate standards, but low by protist standards

The changing face of science communication, technology, extension and improved decision-making at the farm-water quality interface

In recent decades, significant advances have been made in understanding the generation, fates and consequences of water quality pollutants in the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. However, skepticism and lack of trust in water quality science by farming stakeholders has emerged as a significant challenge. The ongoing failures of both compulsory and particularly voluntary practices to improve land management and reduce diffuse agricultural pollution from the Great Barrier Reef catchment underlines the need for more effective communication of water quality issues at appropriate decision-making scales to landholders. Using recent Great Barrier Reef catchment experiences as examples, we highlight several emerging themes and opportunities in using technology to better communicate land use-water quality impacts and delivery of actionable knowledge to farmers, specifically supporting decision-making, behavior change, and the spatial identification of nutrient generation ‘hotspots’ in intensive agriculture catchments. We also make recommendations for co-designed monitoring-extension platforms involving farmers, governments, researchers, and related agencies, to cut across stakeholder skepticism, and achieve desired water quality and ecosystem outcomes

Enhancing engineering qualities by adopting the total design approach in final year projects

Context: The final year project is an important part of an engineer’s education. This segment of the curriculum provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to apply and extend their skills and knowledge. It provides students with an opportunity to undertake an extensiveindependent exploration of a particular topic. In addition to applying the skills that are developed in the undergraduate courses, students will develop skills in research, project management and technical communication. The contemporary availability of advancedcomputerised platforms allows students to experience the comparative analysis of viable solutions in engineering design.Purpose Or Goal: This paper presents a pilot study on a new approach to final year projects based on the ‘total design approach’. This new approach hypothesises that analytical thinking and creativity is enhanced by a holistic approach to engineering design. This paper investigates theenhancements in the learning experience and graduate qualities of students once they are introduced to this new approach.Approach: The main methodology used for data collection was a quiz that was undertaken by different cohorts of final year mechanical engineering students. In addition, observations were recorded by instructors, and selective interviews enabled deeper investigation of the mostcharacteristic inferences.Actual or Anticipated Outcomes: The outcome of this study showed that enhancement in graduate qualities was acknowledged by students who were introduced to this new approach. This was measured by responses across different cohorts of students.CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS/SUMMARYThis study concludes that this new approach to final year projects should be implemented as it promotes quality learning experiences and improves the engineering qualities of students

Small vertebrate captures two years after prescribed fire in stringybark open forest at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, Robe, South Australia

Post-fire fauna surveys are important for monitoring populations of rare and threatened species, as well as those considered to be of pest significance. We conducted a small vertebrate survey in April 2013, setting 32 pitfall traps and 122 Elliott traps over four days at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve. The aim of the survey was to compare populations of small ground-dwelling vertebrates between a site burnt two years previously in 2011, and an unburnt adjacent one. Significantly more exotic House Mice (Mus musculus) were trapped in the burnt site than in the unburnt. The Western Pygmy-possum (Cercartetus concinnus), which has 'rare' regional conservation status, was only trapped in unburnt habitat. Small numbers of reptiles were captured in both burnt and unburnt sites without apparent preferences, but juvenile reptiles were restricted to the burnt site, including the critically endangered Bardick snake Echiopsis curta.Barbara P. Murphy, Tegan Underwood, Makyla Halliday, Tara Forbes, Josh Fielke, Tom Suljagic, Anton Drummond, Michael Heath, Joan Gibbs, Manfred Jusaitis and Sophie Peti