Mrs Heather Robson ~ Senior Lecturer
College of Science & Engineering
- About
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- Teaching
- Interests
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- Research
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- environmental DNA, invasive species, Start-Up Companies, Technology & Innovation, Diffusion of Innovation, STEM education,
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
I am an Academic within College of Science and Engineering and an inventor. I have fulfilled several roles at JCU as Associate Dean Teaching & Learning, Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Technology and Innovation, Academic Adviser, Course Coordinator for the BSc, and Manager of Undergraduate teaching in the former College of Marine & Environmental Science.
Prior to commencing at JCU in 2005, I travelled throughout Queensland and Australia designing and teaching hands-on science experiences for primary and secondary students while working at CSIRO Education. I am an active participant in the Scientist in Schools program and have been working extensively in local primary schools for the last 10 years to try to inspire young scientists, to increase “science literacy” within the general public and to promote the uptake of science subjects to students within the region.
I am a trained high school science teacher and am passionate about STEM education, curriculum development and promoting science within north Queensland and the wider community.
My research uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to monitor tropical freshwater biodiversity. I am particulary interested in using eDNA techniques to detect invasive fish, such as tilapia and rare and critically endangered species.
Through my research at JCU and my participation in the National CSIRO OnAccelerate program, we launched a company, Grover Scientific that sells environmental (eDNA) sampling devices. Check out our website at www.groverscientific.com.au
You can check out a video of our eDNA work on the ABC Catalyst website.(www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4122587.htm)
- Honours
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- Awards
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- 2011 - JCU Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
- 2009 - JCU Award for Excellence-Client Service
- 1997 - Protect the Planet Scholar
- 1997 - Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship ($29,000)
- Publications
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These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.
- Journal Articles
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- Huerlimann R, Cooper M, Edmunds R, Villacorta-Rath C, Le Port A, Robson H, Strugnell J, Burrows D and Jerry D (in press) Enhancing tropical conservation and ecology research with aquatic environmental DNA methods: an introduction for non-environmental DNA specialists. Animal Conservation, , DOI:10.1111.acv.12583.
- Chambers I, Roberts J, Urbaniak S, Gibson D, Durant G, Cerini B, Maulloo A, Applasawmy B, Barrett R, Nelson C, Robson H, Sangha K, Russell-Smith J, Flintoff K, Buchholz J, Stafford Smith M and Gordon I (2019) Education for sustainable development: a study in adolescent perception changes towards sustainability following a strategic planning-based intervention-the young persons' plan for the planet program. Sustainability, 11 (20), Article: 5817, DOI:10.3390/su11205817.
- Robson H, Noble T, Saunders R, Robson S, Burrows D and Jerry D (2016) Fine-tuning for the tropics: application of eDNA technology for invasive fish detection in tropical freshwater ecosystems. Molecular Ecology, 16 (4), pp. 922-932, DOI:10.1111/1755-0998.12505.
- Waycott M, Jones B, Van Dijk J, Robson H and Calladine A (2011) Microsatellite markers in the Australian desert plant, Solanum centrale (Solanaceae). American Journal of Botany, 98 (4), pp. e81-e83, DOI:10.3732/ajb.1000356.
- Jones B, Waycott M, Robson H, Calladine A and Page T (2010) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Santalum lanceolatum and Santalum leptocladum (Santalaceae). American Journal of Botany, 2010, pp. e97-e98, DOI:10.3732/ajb.1000213.
- Other research outputs
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- Robson H, Basiita R, Noble T, Burrows D and Jerry D (2015) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Tilapia on the mid coast (Geraldton region) of Western Australia. [monograph]
- Robson H, Basiita R, Noble T, Burrows D and Jerry D (2015) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Tilapia in northern NSW. [monograph]
- Jerry D, Noble T, Basiita R, Robson H and Burrows D (2015) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Tilapia infestations in the Moranbah/Isaac region. [monograph]
- Jerry D, Noble T, Robson H and Burrows D (2015) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of the Tilapia in the Cudgeon Region, NSW. [monograph]
- Noble T, Robson H, Saunders R and Jerry D (2015) The utility of eDNA as a tilapia surveillance tool. [monograph]
- Jerry D, Noble T, Robson H and Burrows D (2014) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Tilapia in the lower Pioneer catchment. [monograph]
- Jerry D, Noble T, Robson H and Burrows D (2014) Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Tilapia infestations in the Fitzroy River Basin. [monograph]
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 14+ research outputs authored by Mrs Heather Robson from 2009 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
CSIRO - On Accelerate
eDNA Field Pump (ON Accelerate4)
- Indicative Funding
- $22,727
- Summary
- There is a pressing need for more information on the health and biodiversity status of our aquatic environments. To acquire this knowledge, monitoring of species and populations is essential to obtain reliable distribution patterns in space and time. However, sampling is expensive and poses many resourcing, safety and logistical challenges. We have developed an innovative method to extract DNA directly from a water sample without having to catch the target organism. This eDNA Pump makes field sampling affordable to researchers, managers and citizen-scientists alike with a more reliable and cost-e3ffecgtive approach for environmental monitoring of aquatic resources.
- Investigators
- Heather Robson and Wendy Morris in collaboration with Anthony Tucker (College of Science & Engineering and JCU Connect)
- Keywords
- Environmental Dna; Environmental Monitoring; Invasive Species; metabarcoding; Endangered Species; Conservation
- Data
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These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.
- Robson, H. (2017) Tilapia eDNA (environmental DNA) data. James Cook University
- Collaboration
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The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.- 5+ collaborations
- 4 collaborations
- 3 collaborations
- 2 collaborations
- 1 collaboration
- Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)
My research areas
Similar to me
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Dr Roger HuerlimannCollege of Science & Engineering
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Dr Agnes Le PortCollege of Science & Engineering
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Prof Dean JerryCollege of Science & Engineering
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Dr Gregory MaesCollege of Science & Engineering
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Dr Cecilia Villacorta RathTropWATER