Biosecurity

Biosecurity safeguards our industries, our environment, our livelihoods, and our way of life. Yet we are constantly challenged by biosecurity risks which are dynamic and evolving in an ever-changing world. Risks that require us to innovate, integrate, and communicate across disciplines and perspectives. A significant biosecurity outbreak could for example decimate grain yields, impact export markets, and severely affect supply chains. In addition, it could have negative impact on land and sea that has important cultural and heritage values to Indigenous Australians. This course provides a transdisciplinary approach to biosecurity integrating multiple disciplines (e.g. biology, epidemiology, public health, and science communication) and perspectives (e.g. government organisations, Indigenous knowledge frameworks, and the public). The course is delivered by staff from Research School Biology, the National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. It draws on relevant expert knowledge from government representatives, Indigenous rangers, industry researchers, and industry peak bodies. This course starts off with providing an introduction to policies and legislation that frame the collective biosecurity discussions in Australia. It follows on with on country engagement with local Indigenous rangers that provide a unique perspective on biosecurity and caring for country. It moves on to introduce the science of plant pathogens that pose biosecurity risks and provides hands on experience with diagnosing plant diseases using various approaches. It explores novel technologies that improve detection and identification of organisms that pose biosecurity risks. The second half of the course dives into biosecurity in relation to public health and the One Health concept. It provides opportunities to learn and practice effective (science) communication skills. It introduces risk management frameworks that will be used to quantify biosecurity risks of specific real-world scenarios. It finishes off with a panel discussion of experts from academic, industry, and governments who provide the opportunity to explore future challenges of and employment opportunities in the biosecurity sector. Honours Pathway Option (HPO) Entry to this option will be subject to approval by the course convener. Students who take this option will have to attend two additional tutorials (one in week 4 and one in week 10) with a focus on primary research literature on biosecurity topics and journal club presentations thereof.