Latest News
Saturday 22 August 2026 1.00 pm (AEST)
Online and in person at James Cook University Brisbane Campus, Level 3, 349 Queen Street, Brisbane.
Held during Queensland National Science Week 2026, this seminar brings together researchers and innovators showcasing how emerging technologies are transforming conservation science, biosecurity and environmental management.
Our speakers will present cutting-edge research on environmental DNA (eDNA) for detecting invasive invertebrates and strengthening biosecurity surveillance in northern Australia (Dr Cecilia Villacorta-Rath), fungal ecology and ecosystem health, exploring how eucalypt-fungi relationships can provide new indicators of forest health in landscapes affected by lantana (Braden Willows), and underwater robotics and AI, demonstrating how autonomous drones are being used to control invasive sea urchins, protect marine habitats, and develop the world’s first underwater marine debris-collecting drone (Alicia Dunn).
Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/fungi-drones-and-edna
We hope you can join us for what promises to be an engaging afternoon highlighting innovative Australian conservation research and technology.
Best wishes
Dr Andrew Grodecki
President
The Royal Society of Queensland
Related Images:
Geography Writing Competition – closes 30 June 2025
Geography Writing Competition This is your opportunity to write a short story set in Queensland using imagination, creativity and with a wide interpretation. Opening date: 21 April 2025 Closing Date: […]
Various Queensland funding opportunities and awards
Check the websites of these earlier announcements for currency. Innovate to Grow program A self-paced and virtually delivered program designed to help small to medium sized businesses learn more about […]
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science
The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science award Australian scientists and innovators with prizes to recognise outstanding achievements in science and research-based innovation. Closing date: Thursday 9 February 2023 5:00pm AEDT […]
Standing opportunities
Astronomical Association of Queensland
The Edward Corbould Research Fund of the AAQ was established in 1987 with a grant of $50,000. The fund is to support research projects by amateur astronomers. The Association welcomes interest from secondary school students and amateur astronomers who would like to contribute to astronomy, but are unsure about how to prepare a research proposal. Be not afraid! AAQ has experienced amateur astronomical researchers who would be only too happy to assist you. Make contact with AAQ and discuss what is possible.
Queensland Frog Society’s Public Trust Fund
Students and researchers from secondary and tertiary institutes can apply for grants through this fund. These grants fund research projects that aim to uncover valuable information and help better understand Queensland’s frogs, which would not be possible without financial support from the fund. Details can be found on the Ric Nattrass Research Grant page of the QFS website.
Australian Academy of Science Grant opportunities from the Australian Academy of Science.
Australian Wildlife Society University Grants.
Australian Citizen Science Association
Many citizen science projects generate information that should be preserved and made widely available, but don’t necessarily meet the restrictive criteria for scholarly scientific publication. Citizen scientists and naturalists can browse the attached guide Publishing Opportunities on how to choose an outlet for their material. For more detail see the page on Sharing Scientific Information
Would you like to publish your citizen science research in an open access journal for maximum public benefit but can’t quite afford the fees? There are no author charges to publish in the Proceedings of The Royal Society of Queensland, an open access journal.
Commonwealth Government
Grant opportunities from the Commonwealth Government.
Landcare
The periodic newsletter of Queensland Water and Land Carers includes announcements of grants in the landcare and environmental restoration fields.
Related Images:
The Bureau of Rural Sciences published a series of guides entitled Science for Decision Makers in 2006-2007.
Plantations and Water: Plantation Impacts on Stream Flow
Managing Connected Surface Water and Groundwater Resources
Managing Non-renewable Groundwater Resources.
Related Images:
QSN is indebted to transport planner Wally Wight for making available a number of reports on transport planning in South East Queensland. Some of these reports are quite dated but will be useful to researchers and contemporary planners. Reports from prior to 2012 – when the unit responsible for regional land use planning was summarily dismissed – are likely to retain contemporary relevance.
Brisbane City Transport Plan 2002-2016 (Draft) – submission by W. Wight.
Sunshine Motorway 2032 – submission by NORSROC planners.
Related Images:
Dr Alexander Gofton of CSIRO Health and Biosecurity presented to QSN member body the Entomological Society of Queensland on “How ticks cause turmoil: The surprising ways that Australia’s ticks are making us sick“. His address was published in the Society’s Newsletter 54[3] of May 2026. The Society and the author have generously agreed to allow QSN to re-publish the article, given its medical importance and the general lack of knowledge of the Australian status of Lyme Disease.
Related Images:
In 2024 a group of enthusiasts embarked on a journey across 1000 km of stock routes by horseback and on foot from Goondiwindi to Tocumwal under the banner “Azadi” with a view to publicising the value of the stock route network for outdoor recreation. They have produced an account of their ride Azadi Far Ride to the Murray 2024 in the form of a feasibility study for development of the stock route network for livestock and tourism.
“This feasibility report explores the potential of recreational slow-travel eco-tourism initiatives along Australian stock routes. Drawing insights from the successful completion of the Azadi Far Ride… the report assesses the opportunities and challenges associated with promoting slow travel along these historic cultural pathways. By leveraging slow travel as a sustainable approach to tourism, the report aims to enhance cultural preservation, support local economies, and ensure the long-term preservation and viability of Australian stock routes.”
Author Shané Steffen has advised QSN that “The award winning documentary and feasibility report we created from that journey became reference documents for the next five year NSW Stock Route State Management Plan”. The documentary has been uploaded to Youtube – it is an unlisted link (can’t search for it) but anyone with the link can view it. https://youtu.be/p5qNtPJ8Zvc.
Also that the group proposes four forthcoming expeditions including a dedicated geotrail focusing on the values stock routes bring: environmental significance; geotourism potential; cultural heritage (both pastoral and First Nations; and economic impact.
The group has also written a submission to the Queensland Government (Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport) titled Destination 2045.
“The Azadi Far Ride project is an initiative dedicated to promoting slow travel tourism in Australia, with a particular focus on leveraging the state’s unique cultural, historical, and natural asset – the stock routes. Our submission provides feedback on the development of Queensland’s next 20-year
tourism plan, with a focus on the key areas of ecotourism, 2032 legacy, investment attraction, tourism experience development, access and connectivity, and events delivery.”
Related Images:
See Events calendar – Friday 22 May, 9:00 to 12:30 at Samford Valley.
Related Images:
QSN has received an invitation to the 11th Annual Global Congress of Knowledge Economy (GCKE-2026), which will take place in July 22-24, 2026, in the “vibrant, innovation-driven city” of Helsinki, Finland.
GCKE-2026 is more than a scientific congress – it’s a platform where the global community comes together to exchange knowledge, share perspectives, and strengthen lasting professional connections.
With preparations well underway, we would like to share the latest updates for those planning to actively take part in the scientific program. We will gather a distinguished community of global researchers, industry leaders, and innovators, uniting to explore critical themes such as Green Economy & Sustainable Practices, Fintech, Knowledge Finance, and Digital Commerce, AI, Automation, and Converging Technologies (Blockchain, 5G/6G, Big Data), Smart Cities, Telemedicine, and Future Networks, Education, Energy, Climate Action, and Beyond.
For further information, contact Ms. Bonnie Tan, Event Coordinator, bonnie05 AT SYMBOL gcke-2026congress.com.
Related Images:
The World Science Festival is hosted by Queensland Museum by arrangement with the pioneers in the USA.
The Deception Bay Environmental Hub is organising a major presence on behalf of citizen science at the 2026 Festival. Its flyer explains the activities available.
Related Images:
Dan Daly, an officer of the Department of Primary Industries, compiled this critique of drought policy after being transferred to the Department’s Drought Secretariat. Qualified originally in agriculture and latterly in economics, his analysis was inconsistent with the conventional wisdom of the day.
” The potential for a drought begins on the first day after rain. As dry day follows dry day, the possibility of a drought developing increases. It can become difficult to distinguish
between ‘normal weather’ and ‘drought’. The distinction between what is normal and what is not blurs with each passing day.”
Society President Charles Nason was acquainted with Dan Daly. “Dan Daly was brave enough to speak out about his concerns about drought subsidies , was stood down as a result… It took a brave man to speak up in Qld those days.”
Mr Day was removed from the Secretariat in 1989 and his analysis came to an end. The book was published in 1994.