New book tops the bestseller list

Professor John Long’s new book, The Secret History of Sharks, was recently released in North America, and is already on the bestseller list! Ranked #1 in Ichthyology and #13 for all biological sciences on Amazon, Sharks will be released in Australia early next year. The book and its launch were covered in an article in NY Post.

Forensic funding boost

Forensic science research at Flinders has received a boost with a new $150,000 ARC Linkage grant to further investigate development of a standardised shedder test to estimate how many cells and DNA a person can leave when making a contact with a surface including surfaces sampled at crime scenes.

Flinders University College of Science and Engineering Senior lecturer Dr Mariya Goray, with colleagues Professor Adrian Linacre, Dr Duncan Taylor (also Forensic Science SA) and Dr Roland van Oorschot from the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department will collect more data on individual levels of DNA deposited during a contact event, or a potential perpetrator’s ‘shedder’ status, to bolster the range of forensic evidence available in criminal court cases.

Shedder status can guide an investigator as to the propensity of an individual to pass on their DNA to an item via contact with the hand. This information can be used in a likelihood ratio to evaluate the probability of finding a person’s DNA on an item.

“There remains conflicting data on shedder status depending on the tests performed,” says chief investigator Dr Goray. “There is a varying propensity between individuals for the deposition of both cellular material and DNA, with shedder propensity is a real phenomenon,” researchers say.

International connections promote digital technologies

Dr John McCarthy, of the Flinders University Maritime Archaeology Program, gave an invited lecture to the staff of the Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum in Bremerhaven, Germany, on the value of digital methodologies for maritime archaeology.

WHO is in Geneva

Professor Paul Arbon was in Geneva recently to take part in the Health Security Interface – Technical Advisory Group of WHO. The HSI-TAG provides independent advice to WHO related to strategic priorities and plans of action on specific topics relating to the health-security interface. HSI-TAG members have expertise in a range of areas including, but not limited to, the following:

• Public Health Intelligence
• Chemical and Biological preparedness and readiness
• Civil-military relations
• Risk communications
• Misinformation/disinformation
• Biosafety and biosecurity
• National and international policy, regulation and guidance.

The members serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to the health-security interface. For more information click here.

Advancing the careers of women in health sciences

The College of Medicine and Public Health has been announced as a 2024 partner of Franklin Women, a grassroots social enterprise that is advancing the careers of women in health sciences.

The Franklin Women Partner Organisation alliance unites diverse stakeholders to address the gender imbalance in the sector by providing meaningful support to women in their organisations, while also offering opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing with respect to building more diverse, inclusive and safe workplaces in the sector.

The partnership with the College will allow Franklin Women to expand its reach and impact.

“We are thrilled that Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health is the first partner in SA and NT to join Franklin Women, demonstrating our commitment to gender equity. Our partnership with Franklin Women offers many benefits for our incredible researchers and staff, particularly our women whose work contributes so valuably to the health and medical research ecosystem,” said Professor Billie Bonevski, Director and Dean (Research) of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute.