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Examining Motivated Attribution of Responsibility for Natural Disaster Management – Links to Preparedness Intent in Tropical Queensland
No full textBackground Natural disasters have devastating effects on local communities and economies. Given the unavoidability of natural disasters in areas such as tropical Queensland, it is imperative to supplement large-scale government mitigation strategies with individual-level preparedness activities. It is well-documented that perception of threat and subjective ability to cope with a threat motivate individual preparedness. This study expanded on existing knowledge of preparedness motivators, including measures of responsibility placement on self or government, as well as level of trust in authorities, in order to capture thought processes specific to the unique context of ambiguous responsibility among individuals and government for disaster mitigation.
Aims This cross-sectional study aimed to explore whether responsibility attribution mediates effects of (a) threat perception and (b) perceived coping ability on disaster preparedness intent. Additionally, it assessed potential influence of trust in authorities on responsibility attribution, to begin exploring cognitive motivators of responsibility attribution.
Method A sample of participants (N = 74 to date) residing in non-metropolitan areas of Queensland completed an online survey, comprising evidence-based measures of threat perception, perceived coping ability, responsibility attribution, trust in authorities, and preparedness intent.
Results Data collection is ongoing as of 14 July 2025, and at this time sample size requirements for statistical power have not yet been met. We expect statistical power requirements will be met by the conclusion of data gathering. Preliminary data indicates tentative support for responsibility attribution as a mediator of the assessed variables. At present, data pertaining to trust in authorities is ambiguous.
-Conclusions Findings will address effects of responsibility attribution (as influenced by trust in authorities) on preparedness intent in natural-disaster prone areas. Study findings may assist with development of targeted campaigns addressing responsibility attribution and trust attitudes to promote individual engagement in preparedness activities
Examining interest in psychology subjects
No full textBackground: Psychology students tend to find research subjects less interesting and less valuable compared to non-research subjects. Additionally, they often believe research subjects are not relevant to their future study and career intentions. This may be because, as the Self-To-Prototype theory states, individuals are more likely to make a judgement or decision when they see a high similarity between themself and the typical representative of a group.
Aims: Through the lens of Self-to-Prototype-Matching, this study aims to understand how undergraduate psychology students view clinical psychologists, researchers, and themselves.
Methods: A sample of 27 undergraduate psychology students studying in Australia (n = 5) and Singapore (n = 22) have taken part in this qualitative online study to date. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their view of a researcher and a clinical psychologist. Their responses were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Preliminary findings indicate that undergraduates view a researcher as someone who works in labs and controlled settings to discover new ideas and engage in problem-solving. They also view researchers as serious and highly-focused, gathering information to make scientific evaluations. In contrast, students viewed a clinical psychologist as someone who works in a clinical or hospital setting to assist in understanding and reflecting on an individual’s feelings. They viewed clinical psychologists as people who are attentive, approachable, compassionate, and able to empathize. Moreover, the majority of participants stated they imagined a male researcher and female clinical psychologist, highlighting gender bias in professional role perception.
Conclusion: These perceptions underscore existing prototypes which may influence student’s ability to identify themselves in these roles and, consequently, their interest and perceived value in core undergraduate subjects. With practical implications for students’ learning and career intentions, addressing these assumptions may help improve psychology students’ engagement and success in research subjects
A Uses and Gratifications approach to understanding music listening formats people use most often
No full textWith the digitisation of music, consumption has shifted from traditional formats (e.g., vinyl and live performances) to internet-based formats (e.g., streaming). Krause and Brown (2021) used the Uses and Gratifications theory to examine why individuals choose specific music formats to listen to music, finding that different formats satisfy different needs (e.g., streaming satisfies convenience, and live music satisfies immersive atmospheres). However, their study excluded audio-visual platforms (e.g., TikTok, YouTube), which have become increasingly central to music discovery and consumption. Therefore, we undertook a replication-extension of Krause and Brown’s (2021) research by including audio-visual formats. Participants (N = 708) completed an online survey in which they identified their most used music format (selecting from 14 options), completed a 50-item format-specific uses and gratifications measure, and responded to an open-ended question comparing their most and least used formats. The majority of participants (n = 432) reported using paid-for streaming (e.g., Spotify) most often, demonstrating a shift away from owned, digital files. A factor analysis revealed eight Uses and Gratification dimensions: usability and intention to use, discovery and social sharing, emotional engagement and immersion, social norms, convenience and compatibility, value for money, visual aesthetics and sampling, and diversity. Additionally, while thematic analysis findings largely aligned with the factor analysis, it also revealed that paid-for streaming does not satisfy all needs. Live music, physical media, and radio are better suited to creating a tangible and immersive experience, and discovery beyond algorithmic recommendations. Interestingly, with regard to the added audiovisual formats, the video component of listening did not emerge as a stand-alone gratification, but was embedded within a broader dimension encompassing visual appeal and the ability to sample tracks. Thus, additional research is needed to continue to explore the multi-sensory nature of music consumption to better understand contemporary music engagement
Not Mary Watson’s cottage: A reassessment of the ruined stone building, Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group), northern Great Barrier Reef
No full textThe remains of a nineteenth century stone building at Watson’s Bay, Lizard Island, Jiigurru (Lizard Island Group), are referred to today as ‘Mary Watson’s Cottage’. As such, the ruin provides a tangible link to the young woman who fled Lizard Island in 1881 with her infant son and Chinese employee, only to die of thirst on nearby Howick No. 5 Island. The association of the extant stone structure and the historic personage of Mary Watson has become a powerful, seemingly unbreakable, association. However, an historical archaeological reassessment of the evidence provides an enriched history of the stone building that counters the current narrative. The stone building was built in 1860 by members of the Paddon and Co. bêche-de-mer station (1860-1861) during their 15 month stay on the island. Nearly two decades later, in a state of disrepair, it was rebuilt by Robert Watson and Percy Fuller of the Watson and Fuller bêche-de-mer station (1879-1881). The likelihood is that it was never the home of the Watsons. Instead, it fulfilled its original purpose as a storeroom and bêche-de-mer curing house. Yet, since the twentieth century, emotive forces have enmeshed the Mary Watson story with the visible ruin on Lizard Island as the ‘home’ she fought to defend against attack. It is time to acknowledge the building’s true past, and time to acknowledge Paddon and Co.’s stone building. By doing so, the ruin’s narrative is extended and its role in the nineteenth century bêche-de-mer industry is elevated, while continuing to honour the building’s symbolic association with Mary Watson
The Reef Island Geomorphic Activity Assessment: A new approach to quantify cay geomorphic change
No full textCays (low-lying reef islands) are dynamic, unconsolidated sedimentary landforms which adjust their shape and position on a reef in response to hydrodynamic conditions and sediment supply. Quantifying meaningful cay geomorphic change is necessary to understand their natural variability and detect change patterns and trajectories. Shoreline movements on cays have been quantified globally using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) which records shoreline movements at regularly spaced shore-normal transects. However, DSAS was developed for relatively straight coasts and is less suited to cays which have 360° shorelines. Here we introduce the Reef Island Geomorphic Activity Assessment (RIGAA), an alternative approach to quantify changes to cay area and shape, orientation, and position that uses the entire cay footprint. To compare the RIGAA to the DSAS, we used digitised cay shorelines captured monthly for three cays on the Great Barrier Reef to quantify cay geomorphic change over almost a decade (2015–2023). Both approaches yield comparable assessments of net cay shoreline change but the DSAS overall Net Shoreline Movement metric suggests progradation (4.14–13.12 m) dominates at all cays whereas the RIGAA indicates more diverse behaviours, including shoreline contraction (Taylor Cay −32.8 %), expansion (Bushy Islet +22.9 %) and stability (Masthead Island +2.9 %). The RIGAA approach accounts for the frequency and magnitude of shoreline perturbations and provides a comprehensive assessment of cay morphodynamic behaviour applied to the entire cay footprint. The outputs provide meaningful metrics for a range of users, including key information about overall cay area and morphological change, and movement
How to conduct post-atrocity research – key insights from practitioners in the field
No full textFrom Gaza to Myanmar and Sudan, communities around the globe continue to suffer the consequences of war, civil strife and sectarian violence. Indeed in 2024, 111 countries experienced some form of mass atrocity against civilians.
While it is crucial to support these communities now through humanitarian aid and pressure on parties to end the violence, it is also important to continue the work once the fighting has ended by documenting the atrocities and elevating the voices of victims and survivors. Doing so helps the process of reconciliation and peace-building.
Yet fieldwork in post-atrocity settings is never straightforward. It is complex, emotionally demanding and marked by ethical risks
Integrating Serological and Genomic Data to Elucidate Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Diversity in Cattle from Bangladesh
No full textLumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a transboundary pathogen threatening cattle health in South and Southeast Asia, presents growing challenges for disease control. This study combined serological, molecular, and genomic approaches to investigate LSDV in Barura Upazila, Bangladesh. Serological screening of 424 cattle using a commercial ELISA revealed a high seroprevalence of 55.5% (95% CI: 50.7–60.3), indicating widespread exposure. Although differences were observed by age and breed, no significant associations were found with seropositivity, suggesting broad regional circulation. Real-time PCR confirmed LSDV DNA in all 20 clinically infected animals, with consistent P32 gene amplification. Two samples with low Cq values underwent whole-genome sequencing. The complete genomes of LSDV-L2/2024 and LSDV-L3/2024 showed >99.6% identity with the reference strain LSDV-29, yet carried unique genomic features, including truncated or variant ORFs and immune-related gene differences. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA polymerase gene revealed distinct clustering: L2/2024 aligned with South Asian isolates, while L3/2024 grouped with strains from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. These results highlight co-circulation of genetically diverse strains and possible cross-regional introductions. Overall, our findings underscore the evolutionary plasticity of LSDV and the critical need for ongoing genomic surveillance to guide targeted vaccine development and disease control strategies
An archaeological record of late Holocene activity and colonial impacts in the New England Tableland, New South Wales, Australia
No full textSince the 1970s, the New England Tableland—an extensive geological upland in New South Wales—has seen limited archaeological investigation. We present the results of a compliance-based archaeological excavation along the upper reaches of Dungowan Creek, 55 km southeast of Tamworth, which provides further insight into late Holocene regional human activity and the impacts of colonial invasion in the mid-19th Century on Indigenous people. Investigations included 216 m2 of discrete test pits extending some 4 km along the creek’s edge, and two open area excavations (totalling 41 m2) focussing on key archaeological deposits. A total of 3,490 stone artefacts were recovered from the upper ∼50 cm of sediment, deposited from ∼5,500 years ago (5.5 ka) into the mid-20th Century, based on 20 optically stimulated luminescence ages. Artefact analysis indicates ongoing exploitation of regionally rare raw materials (serpentine, jasper and high-quality chalcedony) sourced from cobbles in the creek bed and used in tool-making, hunting, wood-working and regional trade. Activity peaked just prior to colonial invasion, followed by a rapid collapse in the early 19th Century corresponding with the arrival of introduced disease (e.g. smallpox) and intense frontier violence. Within ∼40 years, the archaeological record clearly reflects colonial impacts that resulted in the disruption to traditional lifeways, trade networks and seasonal movement, as well as population loss. This disruption persisted into the 20th Century, driven by the establishment of missions and reserves that forcibly removed Indigenous people from their Country. Importantly, contemporary oral history reveals continued use of the valley in the mid- and late-20th Century, representing a remarkable story of resilience and cultural revival. We highlight the importance of increased archaeological focus to the early colonial period to support reconciliation and truth-telling with Indigenous communities
Acclimation of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Calypso) to canopy light gradients—scaling from leaf to canopy
No full textMango (Mangifera indica L.), a leading tropical fruit crop, is a prime candidate for intensification through modern orchard-management techniques, including canopy manipulation to improve light interception. This study investigated how leaf-level acclimation to light gradients within the canopy of a high-yield, dwarfing mango cultivar (Calypso™) could be used to examine integrated canopy-scale responses. We quantified foliar morphological, biochemical and physiological traits across a range of canopy positions using this information to model canopy-scale productivity within digital-twin representations of mango under both conventional (i.e., open-vase) and espalier-trellis training canopy systems. Key findings demonstrated that leaves exposed to higher light exhibited increased leaf mass per unit area, nitrogen content and photosynthetic capacity (Asat ), but decreased chlorophyll-to-nitrogen ratios and photochemical reflectance indices, reflecting trade-offs between light capture and photoprotection. Phenolic content increased under high irradiance, indicating investment in photoprotective compounds at the expense of net carbon gain. Modelled leaf-level productivity increased with light availability, following a Michaelis–Menten saturating response, with diminishing returns under high light. Digital modelling of canopy light interception revealed that espalier-trellis training enhanced light distribution efficiency per unit leaf area but resulted in a 6.5% reduction in total canopy productivity due to a smaller total canopy leaf area. However, when normalized by total canopy leaf area, the espalier-trellis system showed a 3.6% productivity advantage over conventional canopies at the time of year modelled. These results highlight the role of canopy structure and light-use efficiency in determining orchard productivity. Integrating spatially explicit mechanistic models with LiDAR-derived canopy data offers a promising pathway for designing high-density, resource-efficient mango orchards. Future work should expand modelling to account for dynamic canopy shape throughout the growing season and evaluate the interaction of modified canopy structures with environmental stressors, particularly under climate variability
Aspiration versus outcome: the career intentions of PhD students in an Australian university
No full textPurpose – While PhD qualifications were commonly viewed as preparation for academic careers, graduates are increasingly finding employment beyond the university sector. This study aims to examine the relationship between the career aspirations and confidence levels of PhD students and alumni at an Australian university, and their likely career outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach – To determine career intentions and outcomes of past and present PhD students, the authors conducted a survey at a single Australian university, reaching 445 students and 175 alumni. The survey compares students’ career goals, confidence levels, career development training, disciplinary focus, age and experiences in the course using descriptive and statistical analysis.
Findings – The survey revealed that 55% of current students aspired to university roles, with 67% expressing confidence in achieving their desired outcomes. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between confidence in attaining career goals and experiential factors, such as time management skills and a sense of connection within the learning community. However, these factors did not significantly influence the type of career goal itself. A gap remains between students’ aspirations and the likelihood of achieving their desired career outcomes, particularly in academic roles.
Practical implications – The research findings emphasise the need for comprehensive career support and realistic career guidance for PhD students, aligning their aspirations with the broader job market.
Originality/value – This study contributes to understanding the evolving career landscape for PhD graduates and underscores the importance of preparing students for diverse career paths