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You’ve probably seen one if you’ve snorkelled a reef but little do people know that the beautiful feather star and sea-lily could one day be the source of new medicines.
Griffith University scientists Dr Yunjiang Feng, Dr Shahan Khokhar and Associate Professor Rohan Davis have undertaken an in-depth study of the chemical makeup of feather stars and sea-lilies – the first since the 1970s – in an effort to comprehensively document the chemistry and biological activity of these unique sea creatures.
The work aims to help future researchers worldwide in their quest for new natural products and potential drugs from these marine sources.
Their comprehensive review, published on the front cover of the prestigious international journal Natural Product Reports, revealed the chemistry, biology, and taxonomy of more than 50 feather stars and sea-lilies – collectively known as crinoids.
Researchers also highlighted current challenges associated with studying these organisms, and provided insights and directions into

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How might future development impact the important ecosystem linkages between rivers, floodplains and estuaries in north Queensland’s Mitchell River catchment?
The answers to that question will be crucial to inform water allocation decisions that facilitate environmentally sustainable development in the region.
Flowing into the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Mitchell River catchment supports many assets that are of great importance to local communities and have national significance, including commercial and recreational fisheries, threatened species and wetlands.
With considerable interest in agricultural expansion and water resource development in the catchment, there’s concern these assets may be impacted.
To help protect them, we need a greater understanding of the critical water linkages, as well as the environmental flow requirements within the catchment.
A Northern Hub project, led by Professor Stuart Bunn, Director of Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute, will generate information to help inform the sustainable management of freshwater ecosystems in the catchment.
“In particular, our project aims to aims

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Following the release of the results of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) report into sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities, Griffith University has committed to implementing the report’s recommendations in full.
The wide ranging report, commissioned by Universities Australia (UA) on behalf of universities including Griffith, has made a total of nine recommendations – eight pertaining to universities and one to on-site residential colleges.
To view the AHRC report in full.
For details on Griffith University’s survey results.
Griffith University would like to thank all students who participated in the survey and for sharing their stories.
Griffith University has in place a range of support and safety services for students and staff including around-the clock phone and text support including weekends and public holidays.
Other support measures include on campus counselling, a Harassment and Discrimination Contact Officer Network as well as an on-campus security escort service available for students and staff to

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By Andrew O’Neil, Professor of Political Science
As chaos reigns in the Trump White House with the resignation of President Trump’s Chief of Staff, North Korea has for the second time within a month tested a missile that can strike US territory.
Professor Andrew O’Neil
While the July 4 test demonstrated a missile capable of hitting Alaska, reliable reports indicate yesterday’s test affirmed a strike radius that can hit the west coast of the United States.
The significance of this can’t be underestimated.
This latest ICBM test places increasingly intense pressure on the US to carry out decisive action to degrade or destroy Pyongyang’s weapons of mass destruction.
Senior American military officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joe Dunford, have been candid in recent weeks about the potential inevitability of military action against North Korea.
If North Korea follows up the latest missile tests with a nuclear test – which is entirely plausible given

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A Griffith University research team are finalists in the 2017 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes for their work aimed at improving Great Barrier Reef water quality.
The team, led by Associate Professor Andrew Brooks of the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management, has transformed how sediment sources are identified and targeted, resulting in a significant shift in government policy and practice.
As finalists in the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Eureka Prize for Environmental Research category, the team will attend the Award Dinner in Sydney in late August.
Along with climate change, poor water quality from catchment runoff is a key threat to the Great Barrier Reef.
Associate Professor Brooks said catchment models had been central to focusing management efforts but models were only as good as the data they were built on.
Griffith undertook a comprehensive research program, funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Rescue program, within the Normanby Basin in Cape York, the fourth largest catchment draining to the Reef.
The

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Are you part of the next generation of game-changing, responsible business leaders?
Griffith Business School, in partnership with The Courier Mail’s Queensland Business Monthly, is today launching the QBM Griffith MBA Responsible Leadership scholarships.
Aligning with the program’s core values of sustainable business practices, responsible leadership and an Asia-Pacific perspective, it awards the winner a full Griffith MBA scholarship valued at approximately $51,000.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP

Entrants are encouraged to demonstrate that they measure success in sense, rather than dollars.
“We look for someone who can clearly articulate how the scholarship will enable them to influence the organisations where they work for the better, and thus their communities too,” said Griffith MBA Director, Associate Professor Chris Fleming.
Griffith MBA Director Chris Fleming
“Last year, our first year of running this scholarship, we had an amazing array of outstanding candidates – it made our job very hard!”
Assoc Prof Fleming added that he hoped the

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