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Professor Almond’s current research interests include apocalypticism in early modern England; and demonic possession, exorcism and witchcraft in early modern England. He has particular interests in themes in religious cultural history in the early modern period.

Professor Almond holds the following qualifications: B.D. (Hons.) (London), M.A. (Lancaster), Ph.D. (Adelaide), F.A.H.A.

He is the author of The British Discovery of Buddhism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, paperback edition); The Witches of Warboys: An extraordinary Story of Sorcery, Sadism, and Satanic Possession (London: I.B.Tauris, in press); Demonic Possession & Exorcism in Early Modern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004); Adam and Eve in Seventeenth-Century Thought (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), Heaven and Hell in Enlightenment England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994); The British Discovery of Buddhism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988); Heretic and Hero: Muhammad and the Victorians (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1989); Rudolf Otto: An Introduction to his Philosophical Theology (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1984); Mystical Experience and Religious Doctrine: An Investigation of the Study of Mysticism in World Religions (Berlin: Mouton, 1982).

Recent articles include “Adam, Pre-Adamites, and Extra-Terrestrial Beings in Early Modern Europe,” Journal of Religious History 30(2006), 163-74; “‘The Witches of Warboys’: A Bibliographical Note,” in Notes and Queries 52 (2005), 192-3; “Western Images of Islam, 1700-1900, Australian Journal of Politics and History 49(2003), 412-24; “Modern Imaginings of Islam,” St Mark’s Review 192(2003), pp.24-9, reprinted in The Sceptic 24(2004), 6-10. “Fundamentalism, Christianity, and Religion,” The 2001 Sir Robert Madgwick Lecture, Armidale: The University of New England, 2002, Broadcast on ABC Radio National, Encounter, 7.4.02, www.abc.net.au/rn.relig/enc/stories/s520400.htm; " Druids, Patriarchs, and the Primordial Religion”, The Journal of Contemporary Religion 15(2000), 379-94.

He is currently working on a book on apocalypticism in early modern England.

I am primarily interested in how we, as scientists, can make meaningful contributions to halting and reversing the ongoing global biodiversity crisis. I am particularly committed to tackling gaps in our knowledge needed for biodiversity conservation, focusing on the following three aspects.

(i) Identifying gaps in existing information and their drivers: I have been working on how information on biodiversity is distributed over space, time and taxa, and what causes the existing gaps in information availability.

(ii) Overcoming information gaps with modelling approaches: I have been applying modelling approaches to better inform conservation initiatives through the use of available, imperfect data. For this I have intensively worked on assessing long-term changes in global waterbird diversity (see for example our recent papers in Nature (also see my blog post) and Nature Climate Change (blog post))

(iii) Bridging the research-implementation gap: I am also keen to provide scientific information for conservation in a more accessible way and have been involved in the Conservation Evidence project as a statistical editor, with the aim of contributing to the implementation of evidence-based decision making in conservation.

I am leading the translatE project (transcending language barriers to environmental sciences), funded by the Australian Research Council, which incorporates the above three aspects in order to understand the consequences of language barriers in biodiversity conservation. The project aims to:

• assess the importance of scientific knowledge that is available in non-English languages,
• understand how language barriers impede the application of science in decision making,
• quantify language barriers to the career development of non-native English speaking scientists, and
• devise solutions for exchanging information across languages and cultures in an effective manner.

See my interview in Nature's Changemakers series: Biologist Tatsuya Amano works to make science a fairer place for non-fluent speakers.

Our work on language barriers in science has also been featured in Nature in 2019 and July and August in 2023, Science in 2020 and 2023, The Conversation in 2021 and 2023, The Guardian, and The Economist, and my presentation on findings from the project (plenary at the 2022 Joint Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Society for Conservation Biology Oceania: from 48:48).

Also see the website of Kaizen Conservation Group for our research, members and latest publications.

I am also an affiliated researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science.

Noorul Amin is SAAFE CRC's foundational Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the data analytics program. His research focuses on advanced computational techniques in biological data, including omics data analysis and tools development. With a background in applying machine learning and data mining approaches to biological challenges, Noorul's current work centres on the intersection of data analytics and antimicrobial resistance, particularly in agribusiness, food security, and the environment.

He is seeking Honours and PhD students interested in applying machine learning, cloud computing, and big data approaches to biological research problems.

Associate Professor Aminossadati completed BEng in 1989, MEng in 1994 and PhD in 1999 in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He is a highly accomplished academic with a wealth of experience in Mechanical and Mining engineering research and academia. He has made significant contributions to advancing collaborative research in this field and has gained national and international recognition for his research on flows in porous underground media thermofluids, flow simulations in pipes, pumps, turbines and compressors, fibre-optic sensing systems and underground mine ventilation systems. He has secured 16 research grants totalling $2,650,000, published 180 journal and conference papers, resulting in 2850 citations and an H-Index of 35. Additionally, he has produced 3 industry reports, served as academic advisor for 18 RHD students who have graduated and 8 current RHD students, and is a reviewer for 30 international journals. He has also been invited as a keynote speaker at the Mine Vent Conference in Brisbane in 2009 and the Fibre Optic Conference in China in 2015.

I am a quantitative wildlife ecologist who uses and develops novel statistical methods coupled with research computing to understand species interactions and how wildlife communities are impacted by a wide range of contemporary disturbances.

I am currently a Principal Data Scientist working on developing the Wildlife Observatory of Australia (WildObs) that aims to bring together siloed camera trap data into a user-friendly continental database. I recently completed my PhD in wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Queensland in the Ecological Cascades Lab where I studied food web dynamics among Southeast Asian tropical forest vertebrates. Before moving to Australia, I worked towards the conservation of several different threatend reptile and amphibian species in the USA. When I am not stuck behind my computer, you can find me outdoors looking for wildlife, biking, hiking, camping, and surfing.

I am the Group Leader of Bio-inspired Materials Research at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland. My research focuses on transforming agricultural waste into innovative solutions for tackling plastic and food waste issues. My mission extends beyond research and into commercialisation. I am dedicated to fostering partnerships across industry, academia, community and government, utilising waste as a valuable resource for advancements in the environment, food and health sectors. My approach is clear: turning challenges into opportunities for a sustainable future.

I am a strong advocate for cultural diversity and equity, and support staff and students to grow as more effective leaders and create social good.

In recognition of my contribution to the field of nanomaterials engineering and research excellence, I have received several awards including one of the winners of AgriFutures Australia and growAG.Catalyst Program(2024), one of the Queelsnand Tall Poppy Award winners(2024), The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking up the World Of Science (Marie Claire, 2020), one of Australia’s Top 5 Scientists (ABC/UNSW, 2018), Queensland Women in STEM Prize- judges choice award (2017), Women in Technology Life Sciences and/or Infotech Rising Star Award (2016), AIBN Research Excellence Award (2016), a Class of 2014 Future Leader award and Best poster prize at the Australian Nanotechnology Network ECR Entrepreneurship workshop(2015).

Esinam is currently working on a multidisciplinary project (led by Prof. David Jordan) aimed at dissecting the genetics and physiology of lodging in sorghum. Her focus is on developing genomic prediction models and strategies to select for lodging without compromising on other important production traits.

Esinam is a strong research professional with a demonstrated history of working on quantitative and statistical genomic analyses of large datasets. She holds a joint PhD from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands and the Swedish University of Life Sciences, and double-degree MSc from Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Austria.

Dr Feng (Chris) An completed his Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at the Tsinghua University in 2023. He joined the Power & Energy Systems Research Group with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Queensland in 2024. His research interests include renewable energy power conversion, topology and control of power electronic converters, optimized operation and modeling of power systems integrating power electronic equipment. He is also the reviewer of many top journals, such as: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Power System, etc. Dr. Feng made the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List 2024.

Welcome undergraduate/graduate students interested in renewable energy and power conversion to contact and participate in the research work.

Dr Yoon-Kyo An is the “Head of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)” at Mater Hospital Brisbane and the “Clinical Lead of the IBD Clinical Trials Unit” at Mater Research, a world class centre of clinical and research excellence. The centre is among the largest IBD clinical research units in Australia. She is also a gastroenterologist who specialises in IBD, combining public and private practices at Mater Hospital Brisbane, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, and Mater Private Hospital Redland. She holds a senior lecturer position at the University of Queensland. Dr An is a co-founder of digital healthcare education platform ‘GutTalk’, which aims to empower patients and communities by closing the communication and knowledge gap in Gut Health.

Dr An completed her Medical Science degree (BMedSc) at the University of Sydney and her Medical degree (MBBS) at the University of Queensland. She undertook her physician and advanced gastroenterology training at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Mater Hospital Brisbane. She completed a clinical and research fellowship in IBD at Mater Hospital Brisbane and completed the executive business and leadership program at the University of Oxford Said Business School. She is currently pursuing a PhD through the University of Queensland and an MBA through Griffith University.

Dr An is a passionate advocate for optimising patient outcomes through a holistic approach to care including personalised treatment plans to manage digestive health and incorporation of clinical and translational research. She is an active IBD clinician and researcher as well as a patient advocate. Her own research focusses on real-world effectiveness of biologic therapy in IBD and the use of intestinal ultrasound to monitor disease activity and predict responses to therapy. She drives collaborative research projects throughout Australia and is actively involved with the Australia New Zealand Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consortium (ANZIBDC), the Gastroenterology Network for Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS) and the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA).

Dr An has been successful in competitive research funding from industry and philanthropic organisations. She was the recipient of the inaugural GENIUS fellowship. She has affiliations with many Gastroenterology and IBD societies and has a national presence through her numerous symposia and conference presentations. She also serves on several Medical Advisory Boards including Chiesi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and NPS Medicine Wise as well as sitting on the Council of Therapeutic Advisory Group. She is a GESA representative on the GP Aware Program committee and works collaboratively with Crohn’s and Colitis Australia (CCA).

Current Appointments

• 2021 – current: Executive Committee Member – Secretary, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Australia and New Zealand Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consortium (ANZIBDC)
• 2020 – current: Scientific Committee Member, Australia and New Zealand Inflammatory Bowel Disease Consortium (ANZIBDC)
• 2020 – current: Board Member – Research Officer, Gastroenterology Network for Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS)
• 2020 – current: Executive Committee Member – IBD Liaison Officer, Young GESA Network, Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA)
• 2020 – current: Expert Advisory Group member, The Council of Therapeutic Advisory Groups (CATAG)
• 2020 – current: GESA representative, CCA-GESA GP Aware Program Committee, Crohn’s and Colitis Australia (CCA)
• 2020 – current: Expert Working Group Member, bDMARDs Gastroenterology Design Forum, NPS Medicine Wise
• 2020 – current: Stakeholder Panel (GESA representative), Value in Prescribing bDMARDs Program, NPS Medicine Wise

Associate Professor Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is a constitutional law scholar, Executive Director of Public Law with the Centre for Public International and Comparative Law (CPICL), and Chief Editor of the University of Queensland Law Journal. Her research focuses on courts, national security and press freedom and she has published widely in these fields, including more than 25 journal articles and 4 books. Her research interests focus on the separation of judicial power, the constitutional role and nature of courts, national security law and policy, and press freedom in security contexts.

Rebecca is an Honorary Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School and has been a visiting scholar at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Prior to joining UQ, She held positions at UNSW Law with the Laureate Fellowship Project 'Anti-Terror Laws and the Democratic Challenge' and the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law's Terrorism & Law Project, as a litigation solicitor with global law firm DLA Piper, and as a legal officer with the Federal Attorney-General's Department Canberra.

Ramprakash is focused on advancing hypersonic technology through innovative experimental techniques and strong industry collaboration. His expertise includes supersonic and hypersonic experimental studies, scramjet engine research, shock tunnel testing, and implimenting noval optical diagnostics, all of which aim to push the boundaries of aerospace engineering. His work is dedicated to bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical applications in aerospace, making significant contributions to both academic and industrial sectors.

Dr Kate Anderson is a researcher based on the Sunshine Coast who has worked as an ally in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and communities for more than 15 years across the areas of cancer, kidney disease and wellbeing. Her current program of research at FNCWR is focused on understanding and measuring the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the lifespan.

Kate has extensive qualitative research skills and experience, with >50 peer-reviewed journal publications, 22 in the past five years alone. She is currently a Chief/Associate Investigator on grants totalling over $14 million, including:

• What Matters to Kids (WM2Kids) Study: https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/what-matters-2-kids
• Co-design in Health with First Nations Peoples: https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/co-design-health-first-nations-peoples
• Supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in out-of-home care: https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/health-wellbeing-indigenous-youth-out-home-care Understanding the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and wellbeing to health: Implementation of the What Matters 2 Adults Wellbeing Measure: https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/implementing-what-matters-2-adults
• What Matters to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youths' Wellbeing: Developing a wellbeing measure for youth (WM2Y Project): https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/what-matters-2-youth
• Yarning About Cultural Safety (YACS): https://public-health.uq.edu.au/project/yarning-about-cultural-safety-yacs