Content
New appointments to boost forestry research
Forestry research at the University of the Sunshine Coast has been significantly boosted by the appointment of three Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) researchers as associate professors.
Plant geneticist Dr David Lee and forestry ecologist Dr Mark Hunt joined the scientific research team at USC last month, while plant scientist Dr Stephen Trueman has been jointly employed by the University for two years.
Two further QPIF researchers, landscape ecologist Dr Valerie Debuse and forestry nutritionist Dr Tim Smith, also will be co-located on the USC campus.
In recent years, the collaboration between the two organisations has resulted in joint forestry projects between the University, QPIF (formerly the DPI&F) and the CSIRO worth more than $7 million.
To celebrate the new appointments, senior officials of the QPIF – which is now within the State Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation – visited USC on Friday 15 May.
QPIF’s Associate Director-General Rob Setter led a government delegation that watched presentations by six researchers from both USC and QPIF, before touring USC’s new scientific facilities.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas said he was delighted by the collaborative efforts and by the prospect of future joint research projects with QPIF and other partners.
— Terry Walsh