DoctorJeffrey Oalmann

Project Total: $0; This application is to support work being done as part of my Future Fellowship in which I aim to develop new tree-ring chronologies from new species in Australia. In this case, I want to establish whether or not the terminal parenchyma bands observed in the Australian Boab (Adansonia gregorii) are annual, and therefore useful for generating long annual chronologies that may be linked with the region's hydroclimate. I also wish to test whether some of the spikes in various trace elements (as per preliminary ICPMS results) can be associated with fire events also observed in a nearby speleothem (this aspect of the work is a collaboration with Dr Rhawn Denniston from the USA). The work would also complement some previous work done on the African species which has found the African Baobab species to be extremely long-lived (up to over 1000 years), and which has also highlighted some of the challenges of dealing with the African species. Some of these issues, including regrowth after elephants have burrowed into the trees, do exist in Australia. This makes an examination of the species also of interest for better understanding the growth habit and rate of growth, as well as the potential of the genus for palaeoclimate work more generally, in both African as well as Australia. We are requesting 12 bomb-spike 14C dates (xylem and parenchyma) in two core samples as well as 12 13C dates in the xylem and parenchyma of the 14C samples to contend with possible issues in different 'reservoir age' associated with slow and fast carbon cycling pools in the two different elements of the wood. It appears - in the African species - that the parenchyma remains active for much longer than the xylem and this may distort the 14C dates obtained. Funded by: Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation - Grant-Access to Major Research Facilities Program; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $800,000; The AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) is a consortium of eleven university laboratories across Australia that provide specialised analyses of earth and environmental samples. Curtin has been involved with the AGN since 2010 and is specifically involved with the operation of a geospatial data platform AusGeochem which aggregates AGN data at a continental scale. Under the Participant Agreement dated 9 August 2023 between AuScope Pty Ltd and Curtin (the Participant Agreement), Curtin has received funding from AuScope Pty Ltd for a research project entitled EarthBank: An Australian geochemistry network activity enabling the analysis, preservation and discoverability of nationally significant Earth & environmental collections. The Project represents a new phase in AGNs growth, focusing on enhancing the analytical capabilities and accessibility of nationally significant Earth and environmental collections. The Project aims to: Boost the capacity and capabilities of national Earth and environmental laboratories.Facilitate research translation by improving access to research facilities for end users.Increase the user base and impact of the AusGeochem platform Curtin is proposing to fund a postdoctoral position at the University of Tasmania for a promising Early Career Scientist with interests in geochemistry and data science, to be employed as an EarthBank Research Fellow. This person and the project will be supervised jointly by the Chief Investigators on this project. An additional $300000 will be provided as a co-investment towards replacement or purchase of a nominated infrastructure item. Funded by: National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy; Curtin University; University of Tasmania ($300,000).