January 29, 2025 – Today, the University of Canberra and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry signed a three-year extension of their joint Partnering Arrangement Agreement, which initially began in January 2022 with the Department’s predecessor, the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment. This extension builds on the substantial achievements already made and advances our shared goals, extending our collaboration through to 2029. To date, our partnership has led to the establishment of the National eDNA Reference Centre (NRC), which has made significant progress in applying eDNA technologies for biosecurity. Notably, it is the first facility in the Southern Hemisphere to gain NATA accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025. Looking ahead, we aim to drive further innovation at the NRC, and we believe that continuing this partnership will provide significant benefits in safeguarding Australia’s natural environment, agricultural industries, and public health.

Researchers from the EcDNA team have developed a genetic test to detect saltwater crocodiles in waterways using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. Currently undergoing field trials, the test could be used to monitor saltwater crocodile populations in the future and even help prevent crocodile encounters. For more on this story, please follow this link: https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/media/newsroom/2024/july/uc-ecology-geneticists-develop-edna-test-to-make-croc-country-safer

Dr Alejandro Trujillo-Gonzalez receives the Faculty of Science and Technology award for Innovation in Research.

An expanded Trace DNA Lab for eDNA work at EcoDNA and the University of Canberra, will see new opportunities in both its work activities and talent pool to protect Australia from biohazards supporting important conservation work.

On 4 July 2022, the Scientific Advisory Board of the environmental DNA initiative convened for the first time, sharing crucial recommendations as UNESCO prepares the global roll-out of the citizen science initiative.

Professor Dianne Gleeson has been named Co-Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity, which will be led by Professor Peter Solomon of the Australian National University (ANU).

Dr Elise Furlan has been awarded the prestigious Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council and will receive $438,909 in funding.