Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Ever wondered why some dogs have curly coats and some have straight coats? There are 7 main dog coat types, from short and straight to long and curly. These variations are caused by just 3 genes 3️⃣. One gene affects hair length, another controls curliness, and the last influences features like mustaches and eyebrows, which are called 'furnishings'. Did you know that double coats, like the one Labradors have, are a result of mutation? This is why double coated breeds tend to shed more and can struggle in hot weather. ☀️ Want to learn more about dog coat types? Associate Professor Susan Hazel (School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences) contributes in this article from The Conversation Australia NZ. Read more: https://bit.ly/468b2di

Last week, Haide College celebrated a significant milestone, holding a special event to acknowledge the conferral of the first cohort of Bachelor (Honours) students to articulate in Adelaide in 2022, and to welcome new commencing students transferring to Adelaide to pursue their Bachelor (Honours) or Master's degree. After the event, new students were then taken on a campus tour. The event was attended by a delegation from the Ocean University of China (OUC), led by their President, Professor Zhang Junfeng; and attended by Professor Wang Min, Dean of Haide College (OUC); and University of Adelaide representatives President Professor Suzanne Le Mire, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning); Professor David Lewis, Acting Executive Dean, SET; Professor Scott Smith, Deputy Dean (International), SET; and Associate Professor Braden Phillips, Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching), SET. Haide College is a joint education institute between the University of Adelaide and 中国海洋大学 (Ocean University of China). Haide College gives students access to leading learning and teaching resources in mathematics, biotechnology, and food science and engineering in both China and Australia.

Applications for 2025 Westpac Future Leaders Scholarships are now open! Apply now and you could receive up to $120,000 in funding, along with leadership development and overseas travel experiences. 2021 scholarship recipient and Engineering PhD candidate Doug Radford says “The Westpac scholarship has provided me with a network of colleagues and friends who continue to encourage, support and challenge me to be the best version of myself. The scholarship transformed my PhD experience and allowed me to go places that wouldn’t have been otherwise possible. I highly encourage all PhD applicants to see themselves as a potential Future Leader and apply.” 🔗 Find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/4fhsosq Applications close 29 August.

A new training centre has been funded by the Australian Research Council to train the next generation of quantum tech leaders. Researchers will be trained in engineering, physics and biology. This collaboration between the University of Adelaide, RMIT University and The University of Queensland is a great step forward for Australia's position in this exciting field. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cFdJ8K

A landmark collaborative study co-led by the University of Adelaide and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) has revealed the distribution of modern dingoes across Australia pre-dates European colonisation and interventions like the dingo-proof fence. The multidisciplinary research team generated a first-of-its-kind collection of 42 ancient dingo specimens, dating from 400 to 2,746 years ago, and compared the data with DNA from modern dingoes, as well as ancient and modern dogs worldwide. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cXQrKR

Acidic oceans are driving fish away from coral reefs. 🐠 A new study lead by our school of Biological Sciences shows that ocean acidification, caused by carbon dioxide emissions, is making coral reefs less hospitable to fish. This could lead to a loss of biodiversity and productivity on these vital ecosystems. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cp0tou

Last week we were thrilled to attend the opening of our new state-of-the-art research facility at Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island. Come along with Professor Andrew Lowe Lowe, Director of the Environment Institute, and Associate Professor Diego Garcia-Bellido Capdevila from our School of Biological Sciences, as they take a tour of this fantastic new facility.

Future risk of coral bleaching is set to intensify globally due to rising water temperatures. Coral reefs are crucial to marine ecosystems and millions of people depend on them for food and income. An international team of researchers, led by the Environment Institute, have created an online data portal to help identify areas at lower risk of bleaching. Read more: https://bit.ly/4buD8Ai

Calling all aspiring distillers! Back by popular demand, this 5-day intensive course uses a practical, industry-oriented approach to deliver the essentials in spirit production including distillation theory and practice.   This experiential program dives deep into the world of spirits, from distillation theory to crafting delicious drinks using various raw materials. Here’s what you’ll do: 💡 Hands-on experience: undertake guided tastings, run a small-scale pot still, participate in a gin masterclass, and visit distilleries. 💡 Expert-led learning: gain valuable insights from award-winning teachers and industry professionals on crafting gin, whisky, rum, and vodka, and aspects of licencing and excise. 💡 Network with fellow spirit makers: establish connections and share your passion for all things distilled.   This course is perfect for beginners wanting to learn the ropes and experienced distillers looking to refine their craft.   Limited places available. Read more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/gguRwmkq  

In parts of South Australia, stretches of beach are often blanketed in large patches of pink sand. Strong swells can dump drifts of reddish grains of garnet along the shore – but the origin of these colourful crystals has until now been a mystery. Garnet is rare in beach sand, as it is destroyed by prolonged exposure to the waves and currents of the ocean. If we find large amounts of garnet in beach sand, it means there must be a local source of garnet-bearing rock. But where is this rock? The hunt for the source of South Australia’s pink sand took us thousands of kilometres and half a billion years back in time, to a previously undiscovered mountain range we believe is now buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Read more in this article from The Conversation Australia NZ, authored by Stijn Glorie, Jack Mulder, and Sharmaine Verhaert from the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences: https://lnkd.in/gB5mMkyW