Welcome to Fearless Research

Research growth supporting our prosperity.

At Flinders University, we have long understood the role that research plays in preparing us for evolutionary and disruptive change. Just as each generation before us has had their eureka moments, so too shall we, and it is through knowledge creation, invention and discovery that we will continue to advance society for the benefit of humankind. 

From the emergence of artificial intelligence to the ever-growing threat of global warming, from conflicts around the world to the economic challenges here at home, we will be remembered for the actions we choose to take now to secure the future for all.

Flinders University has an important part to play in equipping society with the knowledge and the solutions that will help identify and address these challenges. 

Our work spans an incredible range of fields, as diverse as the contribution AI may make to the written word, finding ways to make health care more accessible and equitable for all, and unlocking the secrets of microbes; Flinders University researchers are uncovering solutions that will improves lives around the world today, and for generations to come.

And as society’s need for answers has grown, so too has Flinders research activity. Our research income continues to grow, increasing some 140% in five years, representing the fastest growth rate of any Australian university. Our international reputation as a leader in industry partnerships has seen us expand and deepen our close collaborations with industry in key sectors that will enhance Australia’s sovereign capabilities.  

While our success is due to the hard work of many talented researchers, I’d also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the leadership of Professor Robert Saint AM who retires from the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at the end of the year. During his tenure Professor Saint has overseen a period of transformative change during which our research performance has gone from strength to strength. On behalf of Flinders University, I would like to thank Professor Saint for his contributions that leave a legacy that will benefit Flinders for years to come.

I also warmly welcome Professor Raymond Chan as our new Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research from January 2024, and look forward to working with him to spearhead Flinders University’s research outcomes to the next level. A multi-award-winning researcher in nursing and cancer care, Professor Chan’s selection is testament to the talent that Flinders University attracts and fosters, in appointing ‘one of our own’ to this important role after an extensive international search.

As you will see in these pages, the work being undertaken by Flinders University fearless researchers is changing lives and changing the world, ensuring that the history books will remember this time as an era of action and transformation.

Fearless research, shaping our future.

Why does research matter?

It’s a question which underpins the value we place on knowledge, as we work to discover new ways to think, extend our understanding of the world around us and seek to advance society. 

Knowledge and our response to it shapes what we do and how we live, influencing the quality of our lives.

And just as the universe is constantly changing, so too is our knowledge of it.

That’s why Flinders University will never stop fearlessly researching the things that matter.  

In this edition of Fearless Research, you’ll hear from a wide-ranging array of our innovative researchers who are uncovering the truths behind some of the world’s most pressing concerns. 

From the dirt beneath our feet that is home to nearly 60% of the world’s species, Associate Professor Martin Breed is making important connections between the health of an ecosystem and the health of the soil upon which the system relies. 

Amidst the increasing use, manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs, Associate Professor Caitlin Hughes is examining the alternatives to criminalisation for drug use and possession, to uncover a fresh solution for a growing epidemic.

The growing national concern of our relationship to digital technology is being addressed by Associate Professor Daniel King, who is investigating how a person’s use of their phone, especially in online gaming, may help identify people at risk of technology addiction. 

Professor Melissa Brown is finding ways to disable bacteria’s ability to fight antibiotics, while Professor Robert Edwards is using sewerage as an unlikely ally in the battle against multi-drug resistant microbes. 

As you delve into these stories and more in this edition of Fearless Research, I hope they inspire you to continue your own pursuit of fearless knowledge in your own lives.

It has been an honour to work alongside the fearless researchers of Flinders University for the last eight years, and I look forward to seeing the remarkable work they do and the positive impact they have on our lives continue well into the future.