Microchips Boost Monkey Business Behind Bars

Improving the life of captive animals in zoos may be as easy as microchipping them and automating individual care routines.

Scientists at The University of Queensland (UQ) are developing an enrichment and husbandry system that can dispense food, toys and medicine depending on the needs of individually microchipped animals.

Lead researcher PhD student Julia Hoy said the system consisted of the microchips linked with scanners and other automated equipment that zoo keepers could set to release items at random times.

Miss Hoy said this unpredictability would help enrich caged life.

“The automated system involves microchipping animals so when they come to a scanner it will recognise each animal and then release food, sounds, smells, medications, toys or open a door controlling access to various parts of the enclosure,” Miss Hoy said.

“This has great potential for improving welfare which in turn increases breeding rates and possibilities for reintroduction to the wild.”

Miss Hoy said zoos around the world were interested in the enrichment system after she visited 19 zoos in the United Kingdom, United States and Singapore last year asking them about the limitations of current enrichment programs.

The 24-year-old will visit and survey a further 10 zoos in Australia and New Zealand this year.

Julia Hoy first studied at UQ for her Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) with a major in animal studies before commencing her PhD.

UQ researchers push the boundaries of research discovery

UQ is one of the leading research universities in Australia and leads industry collaboration and research funding.

Recently named 2006 Australian of the Year, Professor Ian Frazer is just one of the many experts leading research at UQ.

Professor Frazer’s research led to his development of the world’s first vaccine for cervical cancer – a cancer that affects over 500,000 women each year.

Professor Frazer says that Australia and other developed nations have effective Pap smear programs to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, but despite this “cervical cancer continues to be a shocking disease for women in the developed word.”

“Women living in poverty in the developing world, where Pap smears are not widely available, account for most of the 250,000 deaths from cervical cancer each year. So this vaccine has the potential to do most good in the developing world, where it could help lift women out of poverty by relieving the burden of disease.”

Professor Frazer heads the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, one of over 130 research centres hosted by UQ. Other world-class centres include the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) and the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).

Marine Science at UQ

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reefas part of your studies at UQ.

UQ is a centre for excellence in marine science studies and research. Study Marine Science at UQ, and travel to the Great Barrier Reef and our other world-class research stations to learn from some of the world’s leading experts on marine biology, coastal zone management, aquaculture and coastal ecosystems.

Choose from undergraduate and postgraduate degrees or short courses that take you to some of the world’s most pristine marine environments.

UQ researcher named Australian of the Year

UQ researcher Professor Frazer Professor Ian Frazer received the nation's top honour of 2006 Australian of the Year recently.

Professor Frazer said he will use his profile as Australian of the Year to help ensure his cancer vaccine reaches those who need it most - women and girls living in poverty.

"It's a marvellous honour, especially as I follow in the footsteps of distinguished medical scientists who are recent Australians of the Year, including Professor Peter Doherty, Sir Gus Nossal and Professor Fiona Wood," Professor Frazer said.

"Gus, Fiona and I all chose to be Australians and to make this country the cradle of research that aims to improve the lives of millions of people.

"It's a great privilege to be recognised by Australia as the 2006 Australian of the Year.

"But it's an even greater privilege to be able to do something tangible for the health of Australian women, and for women throughout the world," Professor Frazer said.

Professor Frazer and Dr Jian Zhou made a discovery at UQ more than 15 years ago that has led to the development of a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine, known as Gardasil(tm) and Cervarix(tm), is expected to become available in the developed world in mid-2006.

UQ one of the top 50 universities in the world

The University of Queensland has climbed further up the rankings of the best universities in the world according to a new report.

The annual top 200 ranking, produced by the UK's Times Higher Education Supplement, has seen UQ climb two spots to 47th, cementing its reputation as the top university in Queensland and one of the top in Australia.

UQ is the only Queensland university to be included in the top 50 in the world and one of only six around the country.