UQ gets on track with new research centres

Researchers from The University of Queensland will help improve Australia’s vast rail network as part of a newly announced Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).

Grants of $310 million under the Australian Government’s CRC Program were announced late last year with 14 new research centres announced in the 2006 round.

UQ researchers will be a part of three of the 14 CRCs, including the Rail CRC that will include work on the more traditional mechanical engineering areas related to operations and safety, as well as more socioeconomic research on policy development and projects examining human factors related to safety and efficient operations.

The other two CRCs UQ will be associated with are:

HEARing CRC: Audiology researchers at UQ will be involved in a number of major research projects in the new CRC, these will include work on rehabilitation services for older people as well as hearing screening for neonates and young children.

CRC for Advanced Composite Structures (Supplementary): In a major Queensland based thrust on helicopter component manufacturing, repair and design, UQ researchers will be involved in projects examining non-destructive inspection methods and modeling.