South West Creative Technology Network - Final report

This report highlights the research and development conducted during the 3-year South West Creative Technology Network. It outlines the creative knowledge exchange methodology developed through the programme and provides case studies of our Immersion, Automation and Data R&D themes

Ocean acidification: assessing the vulnerability of socioeconomic systems in Small Island Developing States

Ocean acidification poses an increasing threat to marine ecosystems and also interacts with other anthropogenic environmental drivers. A planned response strategy could minimize exposure of socioeconomic systems to potential hazards and may even offer wider advantages. Response strategies can be informed by understanding the hazards, assessing exposure and assessing risks and opportunities. This paper assesses exposure of key socioeconomic systems to the hazards of ocean acidification and analyzes the risks and opportunities of this exposure from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) perspectives. Key socioeconomic systems that are likely to be affected by ocean acidification are identified. A risk analysis matrix is developed to evaluate the risks or opportunities arising from ocean acidification. Analysis of the matrix reveals similarities and differences in potential adaptive responses at global and regional levels. For example, while ocean acidification poses significant threats to SIDS from more frequent toxic wild-caught seafood events and, potentially destruction of coral reef structure and habitat, SIDS may have a relative advantage in aquaculture and an important role to play in global marine ecosystem conservation.This work received funding from the ANU Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) to K.S and LD

Patient Error: A Preliminary Taxonomy

PURPOSE Current research on errors in health care focuses almost exclusively on system and clinician error. It tends to exclude how patients may create errors that influence their health. We aimed to identify the types of errors that patients can contribute and help manage, especially in primary care

Current fire regimes, impacts and the likely changes - VII: Australian fire regimes under climate change: impacts, risks and mitigation

Australia is the most fire-prone of all continents. Climate change will affect fire regimes in Australia through the effects of changes to temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind - the fire weather components - and through the effects of increases in atmospheric CO2, and changes in moisture, on vegetation, and therefore fuels. The outcomes of these processes on fuels, and hence fire regimes, are highly uncertain, and require further research

Engineering a future for amphibians under climate change

1.?Altered global climates in the 21st century pose serious threats for biological systems and practical actions are needed to mount a response for species at risk. 2.?We identify management actions from across the world and from diverse disciplines that are applicable to minimizing loss of amphibian biodiversity under climate change. Actions were grouped under three thematic areas of intervention: (i) installation of microclimate and microhabitat refuges; (ii) enhancement and restoration of breeding sites; and (iii) manipulation of hydroperiod or water levels at breeding sites. 3.?Synthesis and applications. There are currently few meaningful management actions that will tangibly impact the pervasive threat of climate change on amphibians. A host of potentially useful but poorly tested actions could be incorporated into local or regional management plans, programmes and activities for amphibians. Examples include: installation of irrigation sprayers to manipulate water potentials at breeding sites; retention or supplementation of natural and artificial shelters (e.g. logs, cover boards) to reduce desiccation and thermal stress; manipulation of canopy cover over ponds to reduce water temperature; and, creation of hydrologoically diverse wetland habitats capable of supporting larval development under variable rainfall regimes. We encourage researchers and managers to design, test and scale up new initiatives to respond to this emerging crisis