Australia tops environmental sciences in the Asia-Pacific and Sydney’s international hub for TB research

Bulletins, Media bulletins

Today we’re announcing a $2.5 million, six-nation initiative to fight tuberculosis that has opened in Sydney ahead of World TB Day on Sunday.

The Centre of Research Excellence in TB Control brings together over 14 institutes with the ultimate goal of eliminating TB transmission in Australia, and contributing to the world-wide campaign to eliminate TB by 2050.

There’s more to come on Australian efforts to fight TB in Vietnam, where 54,000 people die from the disease every year.

Also today, Nature Publishing figures rank Australia third in the Asia-Pacific for overall research, and top in earth and environmental sciences. The Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific was released this morning Australian time. Japan traditionally leads the Index followed by China and Australia. But China is closing fast and the top institution next year will most likely be the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

And the top five in Australia:

  1. The University of Melbourne holds top position
  2. Australian National University (ANU) up one place to second
  3. The University of Queensland dropped to third with a slightly decreased output
  4. The University of Sydney up from fifth in 2011, although its output declined slightly
  5. James Cook University (JCU) — the big improver— up from 58th in Australia in 2009 and tenth last year.

More below:


A boost in the fight against the killer on our doorstep

An initiative to stop the spread of TB in Australia, and reduce its impact on our neighbours.

A $2.5 million, six-nation initiative to fight tuberculosis has opened at the Centenary Institute, Sydney. It brings together over 14 institutes.

Tuberculosis (TB) once killed more Australians than cancer. In 2011 we saw just four deaths. But the fight against TB is getting harder, and our nearest neighbour, PNG, has more than 70 times the cases.

The Centre of Research Excellence in TB Control (TB-CRE) links researchers in six countries to improve TB control, with the ultimate goal of eliminating TB transmission in Australia, and contributing to the world-wide campaign to eliminate TB by 2050. It is funded by the NHMRC, the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The new Centre is working to:

  • develop new vaccines
  • improve TB prevention, particularly for vulnerable children
  • develop ways of finding new cases faster and start treatment sooner – reducing the risk of transmission
  • track, map and understand the spread of the disease
  • tackle the ethical and legal barriers of TB control such as establishing the rights of people with drug-resistant TB who pose a risk to others.

 The Centre is a collaboration between: Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Woolcock Institute for Medical Research, University of Melbourne, Vietnam, Indonesia, WHO/Fiji, China and New Zealand.

More details and a full list of collaborators at: www.tbcre.org.au and www.centenarynews.org.au.

Media contacts:

Toni Stevens on 0401 763 130 or toni@scienceinpublic.com.au

LauraBeth Albanese on 0450 798 089 or L.Albanese@centenary.org.au

Australia tops environmental and earth sciences

Australia ranks third in the Asia-Pacific for overall research, and top in earth and environmental sciences, according to the Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific released today.

The University of Melbourne cemented top spot in Australia and also improved its regional ranking to sixth across the Asia-Pacific.

The Australian National University (ANU) took second place nationally, rising above the University of Queensland, which dropped to third with a slightly decreased output.

Here’s the top 10:

  1. The University of Melbourne holds top position
  2. Australian National University (ANU) up one place to second
  3. The University of Queensland dropped to third with a slightly decreased output
  4. The University of Sydney up from fifth in 2011, although its output declined slightly
  5. James Cook University (JCU) — the big improver— up from 58th in Australia in 2009 and tenth last year.
  6. Monash University, dropping from fourth in 2011
  7. The University of New South Wales, moving up one spot to seventh
  8. CSIRO down one spot to eighth
  9. The University of Western Australia, dropping down from sixth in 2011
  10. The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, down to tenth but with a slightly improved output.

While Australia’s performance in 2012 improved on 2011, the country fell further behind the top two, Japan and China. On the other hand, Australia expanded its lead on South Korea in fourth place. The high output of Australia’s researchers is keeping the nation secure in third place.

The Nature Publishing Index 2012 Asia-Pacific has been released as a supplement to Nature today. It measures the output of research articles from nations and institutes published in the 18 Nature-branded primary research journals over the calendar year to provide a snapshot of research in the Asia-Pacific in 2012.

The full release will be available from 5 am Thursday at: http://www.scienceinpublic.com.au/nature

For more information:

Niall Byrne, 0417 131 977 or niall@scienceinpublic.com.au

Grace Baynes, (Head of Corporate Communications, Nature Publishing Group) + 44 20 7014 4063 or g.baynes@nature.com

Reforesting Australia with plastic

Embargoed until Launch: 10.30am Tuesday 26 March

Integrated Packaging, 83-85 Banbury Road, Reservoir, VIC with Minister Chris Bown

Integrated Packaging and Greening Australia are collaborating through the CRC for Polymers (CRC-P) to develop an improved process for native tree revegetation from seed in marginal low rainfall areas where practices used in higher rainfall areas typically give low germination and establishment.

The technology will help Australian manufacturers stay in front of their competitors and is a highlight of the extended CRC for Polymers to be announced next week by Innovation Minister Chris Bowen.

With Federal Science Minister Chris Bowen, farmers, conservationists, business leaders, giant plastic blowers, and tree planting.

HD footage of the technology in action is available.

The CRC for Polymers conducts polymer research to deliver the technically advanced polymeric materials and polymer engineering required to transform Australian industries and to establish and expand companies in emerging high-growth areas of the economy.

For more information: AJ Epstein on 0417 131 977 or aj@scienceinpublic.com.au

2000 young world leaders march with a message for the United Nations

Photo opportunity 1pm Friday 22 March: 2000 students from 80 countries will wear their flags in a march along the Yarra from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to Queensbridge Square.

They’ve got a message for the United Nations – they’re demanding a seat at the table for young people as world leaders debate future plans for international aid and development.

This week in Melbourne, 2000 young change-makers from 80 countries have been figuring out how to change the world at WorldMUN – the Harvard World Model United Nations.

This year’s conference has asked what will come after the UN’s Millennium Development Goals – eight targets in health, education, finance and human rights – and has given students the tools they need to fight the good fight back home.

A high-level group of 20 students, including representatives from Ghana, Fiji, Costa Rica and Indonesia, has prepared a resolution which will be officially received by the United Nations and will form part of their discussions about the goals which will replace the MDGs after the 2015 deadline.

“We’re thrilled that the UN has officially recognized the impact that my generation can have,” says 21-year-old conference president Siamak Loni. “We are the next generation of leaders, and many of us are already making an impact in our local communities.”

Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, the Asia-Pacific branch of the UN, says young voices are vital, and that young people need to be recognized not just as future leaders, but also as today’s partners.

“It is clear that the next big challenge for the United Nations and the peoples of the world – especially our young people – is to ensure a future which is both inclusive and sustainable. Getting it right in Asia-Pacific means getting it right for two-thirds of humanity.”

The world’s largest international student-led youth conference, WorldMUN puts students in the place of world leaders, sitting in a mock version of the UN General Assembly.

They also sit on various UN committees including the World Health Organisation, the International Criminal Court, the World Bank, UNESCO, the Human Rights Council and the Chinese Politburo.

WorldMUN 2013 is supported by: the United Nations, UNESCAP, the City of Melbourne, the Victorian State government, Study Melbourne, RMIT University, the Harvard World Model United Nations, UNICEF, Monash University, AusAID and working in collaboration with One Just World.

We are helping with media for the conference.

For more information: Tamzin Byrne 0432 974 400 or tamzin@scienceinpublic.com.au

2012 climate was anything but average

At first glance, 2012 might have looked like a return to normal following Australia’s biggest two-year drenching on record. However the annual figures conceal a year of contrasts.

The nationally-averaged rainfall was just 11 mm above average and the temperature only 0.1 of a degree above the mean.

But the first three months of 2012 were more than half a degree below average and the last three were the third hottest on record.

For the first time, the Bureau of Meteorology has released a video to accompany its Annual Climate Summary.

The video is presented by Climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins and aims to expand the reach of the Summary to a broader audience of interested Australians.

The Summary provides a national overview of temperature, rainfall and significant events, and reports essential information for all climate-affected industries and anyone interested in Australia’s climate.

Watch the video or read the full report here: www.bom.gov.au/climate/annual_sum/2012

For more information: Erin Dale, BoM Industry Liaison and Communication Manager, on (03) 9616-8348 or E.Dale@bom.gov.au

The end of absolute poverty – Gates Foundation policy maker to visit Australia

Geoffrey Lamb, Gates Foundation President of Global Policy and Advocacy will give the 2013 Graeme Clark Oration on Monday 29 April in Melbourne.

He will have some time for a small number of high impact interviews while he’s here.

If you’ll be in Melbourne, you’re also invited to the Oration at the Melbourne Convention Centre at 5.30pm on 29 April. Let me know if you’re planning to come along.

In his Oration, Geoff will review the extraordinary successes of the past half century in reducing mortality and disease. He will show how investments in health have been critical for economic growth and the reduction of global poverty – and have helped bring the goal of an end to absolute global poverty within generational sight. “In retrospect the huge basic health advances of recent decades may have been the easy part,” Geoff says.

“What needs to be done to ensure the next transformation in global health, and make the end of absolute poverty attainable?”

Geoff leads the foundation’s international policy and advocacy team, and its engagement with governments and international institutions.

The Graeme Clark Oration is a free public lecture established to honour Professor Graeme Clark, inventor of the bionic ear. The Oration celebrates the new possibilities emerging from the convergence of biology, computing and engineering. It is hosted by the ICT for Life Sciences Forum, collaboration between Melbourne’s leading medical research institutes, hospitals and universities to share ideas about the convergence of biology and computer science.

More details about the Graeme Clark Oration at: http://www.graemeclarkoration.org.au/

For interviews: Niall Byrne on 0417 131 977 orniall@scienceinpublic.com.au

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