Queensland Science making a difference

Queensland science makes a difference in Queensland and globally. We focus on science that is important for ourselves, our region and the planet. Find out more about Queensland science and join us in making a difference.

Queensland Science is addressing some of the biggest challenges the world faces—the health of our communities, and environments; the quality and quantity of food available; abundant clean energy; and sustainable economies.

Queensland has great strength across all the fields of science. But we’re particularly strong in applying that in the real world. So the eco-sciences, the agricultural sciences, health sciences, are areas where we have clear strength.

The human population is rapidly expanding and it's a challenge to have enough nutritious food growing and available where it's most needed. In the face of a changing climate we are making crops more resilient, making them more drought and more disease tolerant.

Helping farmers to be more adaptable to the ever-changing conditions. Harnessing information technology plays another big role. Farmers here and across the Asia Pacific region use our tools to make decisions about when and what to plant. We are helping farmers to produce more food that is healthier with fewer inputs. Getting better results for the food industry, consumers and the environment.

Visit the Queensland Government website to learn more about Queensland science, view the capability directory, locate major science precincts, and watch the latest Queensland Science making a difference videos produced by the Queensland Government.

The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland supported by the Queensland Government via the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Featured UQ researchers:

Professor Ian Frazer AC, Faculty of Medicine
Professor Neena Mitter, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)
Professor Margaret Mayfield, School of Biological Sciences
Professor Peta Ashworth OAM, School of Chemical Engineering

Queensland Science making a difference video - View transcript

Video transcript

Professor Ian Frazer AC

School of Medicine | The University of Queensland

Queensland has great strength across all the fields of science. But we’re particularly strong in applying that in the real world. So the Ecosciences, the agricultural sciences, health sciences, are areas where we have clear strength.

[Caption:Qld Science making a difference]

Professor Katherine Andrews

Director

Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD)

Griffith University

We live in a globally connected world. The challenges we face here are some of the same challenges faced across the world. Aging populations, increased need for health care, and how we can improve quality of life.

[Caption: Healthy communities]

In Queensland, we're extremely well positioned to meet global challenges. We have the right expertise and infrastructure to respond rapidly including developing new diagnostics, new drugs and new vaccines.

We’re translating our discoveries and we have the contract manufacturing capacity to make products that are ready to go into patients and this presents a real opportunity with our national and international partners – to help save lives.

Professor Neena Mitter

Director

Centre for Horticulture Science

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI)

Good food produced sustainably is what the world needs as 10 billion people will walk on planet earth by 2050. Protein security is a challenge. In the face of climate change we are helping farmers to produce more food that is healthier with fewer inputs.

[Caption: Feeding the world]

And we are making crops more resilient by making them drought and disease tolerant.

Harnessing information technology plays another big role. Helping farmers to be more adaptable to the ever-changing conditions. All this means smarter farming options getting better results for the food industry, consumers and the environment.

Professor Margaret Mayfield

Head of School

School of Biological Sciences

The University of Queensland

Queensland is a really exciting place to do environmental science. And a big part of that is because it has examples of many of the world's ecosystems all in this one special place.

[Caption: Healthy environment]

It really represents a tremendous opportunity for scientists to expand their knowledge. Queensland has knowledgeable locals managing their lands and we're working with them and learning more which helps in their protection.

Queensland's unique biodiversity is offering exciting new solutions with potential in the drug development area or even in the development of novel materials. And what we're finding here, we're taking to the world.

Dr Paul Bertsch

Science Director, Land and Water, CSIRO

All of us want to live in a healthy environment, free from pollution. It's a challenge
but it's also critical not only for us but for generations to come. Businesses across the world are looking for new ways of doing things.

[Caption: Sustainable economies]

The 2020 shock to the global economy has given us the opportunity to reset and rethink how we actually do things but also create huge economic growth benefits and jobs in the future.

Our science is contributing to understanding how we transform to a circular economy. An area of research that's very exciting, that's transforming industries known as synthetic biology. We used bacteria, yeast, and other single cell organisms to be factories, to produce pharmaceuticals, food and advanced materials – biologically and sustainably.

Our research community here in Queensland is playing a critical role to greatly reduce the environmental footprint of our industries and move towards a global sustainable system.

Professor Peta Ashworth OAM

Chair of Sustainable Energy Futures

School of Chemical Engineering

The University of Queensland

We know that approximately one billion people currently lack access to electricity. We're seeing industry work with Queensland scientists on this energy challenge to really make a difference and lower emissions. Doing it in the lab is one thing but connecting it to large scale demonstrations. That's how we really make an impact. It presents a real opportunity to decarbonise the overall energy sector more broadly.

[Caption: Energy]

We're already helping bring a widespread hydrogen energy system closer to reality, particularly for transport and export opportunities.

Professor Neena Mitter

Smarter innovative science, that’s what we Queenslanders do.