RIEL seminar series

Australia’s Ecosystems at Scale: TERN Data, Collections and Drone Observations by Dr Donna Lewis (TERN)

Dr Donna Lewis showcases the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network's (TERN) program capabilities, with a focus on the Ecosystem Surveillance program — including long-term monitoring data, biological collections and environmental samples, and drone-based observations.

Mangroves and the rising tide by Dr Madeline Goddard

Madeline is a senior project coordinator with the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and a recent graduate of Charles Darwin University’s Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods and the Australian National University. In this seminar, Madeline discusses how long-term monitoring of mangrove surface elevation provides critical insight into the long-term persistence of mangroves and the ecosystem services they provide under rising sea levels.
 

MAGNT’s role in biodiversity and conservation research, education and industry by Dr Kirsti Abbott (Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory)

Kirsti is Head of Science at MAGNT, and is also an adjunct member of RIEL at Charles Darwin University. MAGNT operates seven sites across the Northern Territory and cares for objects, artefacts and specimens across 12 collections. In this talk, Kirsti walks through MAGNT’s role in supporting biodiversity and conservation research, and how researchers can access the collections for their research.

The AVISTEP tool: Giving birds a seat at the table for renewable energy planning by Dr Golo Maurer (Birdlife Australia)

Golo is Director of Bird Conservation Strategy at BirdLife Australia. Almost every bird conservation problem in Australia would be easier to solve without the negative impacts of climate change on top. Renewables can address climate change at the source, but they need to be planned and managed carefully to minimise risks to birds. AVISTEP is an online environmental planning tool using data collected by Birdata volunteers, created by BirdLife Australia with BirdLife International and others. 

Marine science in the NT: From research and monitoring to stock assessment by Dr Danilo Malara, Dr Deepak Pazhayamadom, Dr Laura Smith and Dr Alex Basford (NT Fisheries)

Danilo, Deepak, Laura and Alex are fisheries researchers specialising in stock assessment, fisheries monitoring, aquaculture, and applied research to support sustainable fisheries management in the Northern Territory. They work with the Fisheries Division of the Northern Territory Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. This seminar showcases current research projects, emerging challenges, and the role of science in supporting sustainable fisheries.

Last refugium of a critically endangered species: Three decades of conservation by Dr Mochamad Indrawan (University of Indonesia’s Research Centre for Climate Change)

Dr Mochamad Indrawan is a trained ecologist and conservation biologist with more than three decades of field experience. He works with the Research Center for Climate Change and the Department of Geography at Universitas Indonesia and is also a 2026 CDU Visiting Fellow. In this seminar, Indrawan shares conservation efforts for one of the world’s most threatened endemic species, the Banggai Crow, documenting the species' distribution, habitat, and main threats, including forest loss, farm-land expansion, and limited public awareness.

The Macroderma Initiative: Conserving ghost bats in a changing landscape by Dr Nicola Hanrahan (RIEL at Charles Darwin University)

Nicola is a postdoctoral research fellow at RIEL at CDU. The Macroderma Initiative is an Australian Research Council Linkage-funded project investigating ghost bat roosting and foraging habitat requirements, population dynamics, and conservation needs. In this seminar, Nicola presents some of the team's work to date and outlines future objectives aimed at improving conservation outcomes for the species.

Documenting diversity, preserving knowledge and informing science by Nick Cuff and Lou Elliott (Northern Territory Herbarium)

Nick is the chief botanist and Lou is a botanist at the NT Herbarium, which is part of the Flora and Fauna Division of the NT Government’s Department of Lands, Planning and Environment. The NT Herbarium houses a large collection of preserved plant specimens across two facilities in Darwin and Alice Springs. It provides information on the taxonomy, naming, ecology and classification of the NT’s flora, and is a key asset in working toward improving the overall understanding of the NT’s flora.

Genomics-based monitoring of ants and termites for ecosystem change by Allyson Malpartida (RIEL at Charles Darwin University)

Allyson is a PhD candidate and a Genomics Research Assistant within RIEL at CDU. Terrestrial invertebrates are valuable bioindicators in land management, but their wider use is limited by the time required for morphological identification and the shortage of taxonomic expertise. During this seminar, Allyson presents her PhD research exploring how DNA metabarcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) can help overcome this challenge in northern Australia.

The hidden value in crocodile carcasses: Collagen as the NT’s next bioindustry by Dr Padraig Strappe (CDU Menzies Medical Program)

Padraig is a teaching-research academic with the CDU Menzies Medical Program. He is actively engaged in teaching biomedical sciences within the CDU Faculty of Health and in developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and outreach activities. In this seminar, Padraig outlines a streamlined process for purifying collagen from crocodile carcass material – an underutilised byproduct of the Northern Territory’s aquaculture sector.

Can sensory deterrents reduce shark and ray bycatch in Australia's gillnet fisheries? by Emily Taljaard (RIEL at Charles Darwin University)

Emily is a PhD candidate within RIEL at CDU. Her PhD focuses on assessing and reducing shark and ray bycatch in commercial fisheries. In this seminar, Emily presents findings from laboratory and field research investigating whether visual and electrosensory deterrents can reduce shark and ray interactions with gillnets.

Behavioural drivers of Indonesian transboundary fishing in Australian waters by Prof Natasha Stacey (RIEL at Charles Darwin University)

Natasha is a marine social scientist and the leader of the Communities and Livelihoods Group at RIEL at CDU. In this seminar, Natasha shares results of a collaborative Australian-Indonesian research study on the drivers of high levels of illegal Indonesian transboundary fishing in northern Australian waters since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trophic dynamics of free-flowing tropical rivers by Colton Perna

Colton is a PhD candidate with RIEL at CDU. In this seminar, Colton presents key findings from his PhD research exploring how river flows and flooding shape freshwater fish communities.

Applying a gene knockout approach to cane toad management and research by Alex Funk (Macquarie University)

Alex is a PhD candidate at Macquarie University whose research blends herpetology, invasion biology, and conservation. The ability to cheaply and efficiently “knock out” genes with CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology has the potential to revolutionise conservation efforts worldwide. In this seminar, Alex discussed the pros and cons of knockout-based conservation and research before detailing the development and validation of a novel, knockout-based method for cane toad control that exploits the cannibalistic nature of invasive toad tadpoles in Australia.