Found 456 matching student topics
Displaying 1–12 of 456 results
Designing technology to promote physical activity in families with young children
The aim of this project is to engage with families with young children to design technologies that promote physical activity spread across the day. To promote healthy growth and development, children aged 1-5 years should be physically active for at least three hours each day. This may include running, jumping and playful activities. In this project we will explore how parents currently promote an active lifestyle, the technologies that they use, and the obstacles they may face to find the …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Waste to wealth
This project relates to the conversion of waste products from the mining industry into useful products.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Biocatalysis of methane into high value products
There are numerous instances where methane is released into the atmosphere, or wasted as flare gas. Methane mitigation is of global concern, as it is at least 20 times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide.Methanotrophs are a unique set of bacteria capable of oxidising methane. Environmentally, they are responsible for sequestering an enormous volume of methane released from biological processes such as anaerobic digestion.From a Biotechnology perspective, they have great potential for generating products such as and represent …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Regulation of waste
The next looming environmental crisis is the waste crisis. Regulation is desperately needed to encourage a shift towards a circular economy - defined as a system-wide innovation that aims to redefine products and services to design waste out, while minimising negative impacts (Ellen Macarthur Foundation).Rowena is interested in supervising empirical research projects looking at the following topics:Waste reduction strategies of Australian governmentsRegulation needed for a circular economyInternational trade of waste and associated agreementsSustainable fashionFood wastePlastic reductionE-waste …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Queensland University of Technology
- Lead unit
- International Law and Global Governance program
Development of smart packaging materials from biomass
There are increasing environmental problem associated with the durable and long lasting plastics from fossil resources accumulating and not breaking down in the environment. The growing demand by the general public to reduce carbon footprints and issues surrounding the disposal of fossil-based plastics have led stringent government legislations that have driven manufacturers to increase investment in biodegradable compostable materials.Total consumption of biodegradable polymers is growing by 15% annually around the world. However, high prices and limited application have stifled growth.Smart …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Turning waste into value using biotechnology
Waste has become a key challenge in society for economic, social and environmental reasons. QUT has a long history of converting waste to more valuable products in agriculture industries and is now also focusing on livestock, fashion and domestic waste. We bring together transdisciplinary teams of researchers to solve the complex challenges associated with accessing, sorting, processing and transforming wastes with teams including scientists, engineers, designers, business people and lawyers.
- Study level
- Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Treatment of mine wastewaters
Mining processes create wastewater that is typically unsuitable for release into the environment without some form of treatment. Treatments will vary depending on the composition of the wastewater and where the water is to be reused.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Synthesis of robust desalination membranes with high water permeability
The aim of this project is to use in-situ polymerisation to create an interpenetrated network of hydrophilic polymer within the less hydrophilic support layer of desalination membranes. Increased hydrophilicity is expected to increase water flux and hence desalination efficiency without a negative effect on water permeability.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Synthesis of thin film composite membranes with high salt rejection for desalination
The aim of this project is to create a very thin layer of polyamide on ultrafiltration membrane supports. Ultrafiltration membranes will be fabricated and examined in laboratory scale mimicking virus removal process in the water industry.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Sustainable hydrogen production
The hydrogen economy is rapidly developing, especially in Japan and Australia.An attractive means of generating hydrogen is by splitting water using electrocatalysts. This project is focused on integration of concentrated solar photovoltaic systems with novel electrocatalysis systems with high efficiency for hydrogen production.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Encapsulation of adsorbents in polymeric beads
Not all adsorbent materials synthesised have the ideal physical properties for water treatment applications. Therefore, this research will investigate the performance of adsorbents encapsulated in polymeric beads and methods for improving capacity.
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy, Honours, Vacation research experience scheme
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty
Development of natural mineral based novel materials for water harvesting from the air
Development of novel materials for agricultural use with the aim to increase water availability from soil for plants in arid area has been one of the most important research topics. However, available products are very limited and more importantly, they are very expensive and not environmental friendly, which make them not practical for real use.In addition, most of these materials adsorb moisture at very high relative humidity (RH), consequently, we need a viable solution to the capture of water from …
- Study level
- PhD, Master of Philosophy
- Faculty
- Science and Engineering Faculty
- Lead unit
- Science and Engineering Faculty