My favourite thing about the University of Queensland’s pitch drop experiment is that if you check in on the livestream, sometimes you catch people who’ve stopped to watch it in person.
Like, this is an experiment that’s been running continuously since 1927. It’s literally one of the slowest-moving things on Earth – it only does something interesting about once per decade. Yet people who attend the university, and thus presumably see it on public display every day, still sometimes stop and stare at it for a while.
That strikes a chord for me. I’m not entirely sure what kind of chord, but it’s a chord.
Researchers at The University of Queensland, New Zealand, and the University of Münster, Germany, have gained insight into the photosynthesis process at a molecular level through understanding the cyclic electron flow supercomplex, which is a critical part of the photosynthetic machinery in plants. The discovery could help guide the development of next-generation solar biotechnologies.
The team purified and characterised the cyclic electron flow supercomplex from micro-algae, and analysed its structure using electron microscopy. The analysis showed how complexes that harvest light become supercomplexes that allow the plant to adapt to varying light conditions and energy requirements.
‘The cyclic electron flow supercomplex is an excellent example of an evolutionarily highly conserved structure,’ says Professor Hippler, the University of Münster. ‘By the year 2050, we will need 50% more fuel, 70% more food, and 50% more clean water. Technologies based on photosynthetic microalgae have the potential to play an important role in meeting these needs’, says Professor Ben Hankamer of the University of Queensland.
The discovery will help guide the design of next generation solar capture technologies based on micro-algae and a wide range of solar driven biotechnologies. This can help produce food, fuel and clean water.
MeetHeidy Cruz, polymer chemist and chemical engineer
1) What do you do?
I develop polymer-based materials tailored for nutrient recovery from domestic wastewater. Climate change, energy issues, limits in resource availability, and end of life of current infrastructures are driving a shift in societal production systems from linear to circular economy. Recovery of nutrients from used water has gained significant interest in the academic world, the water industry, and policy makers.
The goal of my research is to develop new technology for a more sustainable nitrogen recovery process from domestic wastewater– cutting back greenhouse gas emissions and providing a platform for a circular economy in the field of wastewater treatment.
2) Where do you work?
I’m in the 2nd year of my PhD at The University of Queensland in Australia. I work in two centers:
Center for Solid Waste Bioprocessing, Civil Engineering
Polymer Translational Research Group, Chemical Engineering
3) Tell us about the photos!
[Top:] At work at our laboratory at the Center for Solid Waste Bioprocessing
[Bottom:] By the lake inside campus– I always come here to relax my mind when research gets tough
4) Tell us about your academic career path so far.
HS: Statefields School Inc, Philippines (2007)
BS: University of Santo Tomas, Philippines (2012)
MS: Kongju University, South Korea (2016)
PhD: The University of Queensland, Australia (ongoing)
I’ve always wanted to pursue a research degree in another country to test my capabilities and expand my horizon. Luckily, I received a full scholarship from Kongju National University in South Korea where I did my Masters of Science in Advanced Materials Engineering. In July 2016, six months after graduation, I started my PhD. God-willing, I’ll be a doctor before I turn 30!
5) Anything else you’d like to share?
There are only a handful of us in the global arena, or at least here in Australia, but I believe that Filipino scientists are truly talented and globally competitive. I hope more Filipinos will be encouraged to pursue research and contribute the knowledge to the advancement of science and technology in the Philippines.
There is a common perception that scientists are still sitting in ivory towers– but times have changed. It’s a career that needs the same perseverance and collaboration as any other profession. The only difference is that scientists need to maintain a healthy dose of idealism that we can really change the world one data point at a time.
Researchers from The University of Queensland and AUREA are collaborating on a world first project exploring what it means to be aromantic or romantically diverse! This research is interested in understanding your perspectives as an aromantic, arospec, or romantically diverse person and how connecting with this identity influences areas of your life. The survey uses open-ended questions so you have free reign to say anything and everything that comes to mind. Importantly you can give as much or as little information as you feel comfortable providing. Due to ethical considerations, this survey is open to people aged 16 years or older only. Take the survey here!
[Image description: A white box that is framed with the aromantic flag. At the bottom of the white box there are logos for AUREA and the University of Queensland and a QR code. Under the QR code is the URL tinyurl.com/arouq1. The rest of the box is filled with 5 blocks of text reading “Do you identify as aromantic, arospec, or romantically diverse? Researchers from the University of Queensland in partnership with AUREA are working on a world first project exploring what it means to be aromantic or romantically diverse. We invite you to participate in our open-ended survey to provide your experiences as an aromantic, arospec, or romantically diverse person. Eligible participants are required to be aged 16 years or older and identify as any identity outside of alloromantic. Scan the QR code or follow the link to find out more and take the survey. Got more questions? Contact James at [email protected].”]
Thank you all so much for your engagement with this study, we already have far more participants than we expected! In order to keep the amount of data manageable for this study, we will be closing the survey tomorrow at 6am AEST.
