Event Overview
The University of Newcastle Grand Challenge will bring together multidisciplinary minds from across our community to explore solutions around one of the more perplexing problems of our time.
Grand Challenge Mosquito Expert Panel
The unloved bug: problems and solutions in mosquito control at home and abroad
As nuisance biters and vectors of diseases such as malaria and dengue, mosquitoes are unloved and even feared around the world. Northern Australia is currently experiencing one of its worst outbreaks of dengue fever ever.
At the same time, only a handful of species of mosquito are actually capable of spreading disease, and the vast majority of species do not feed on humans. In fact, mosquitoes are an integral part of healthy wetland ecosystems.
So how might we better understand the pressing problems posed by mosquitoes? What is happening at the cutting edge of mosquito-related research? And what role can environmental management play?
Join leading experts in mosquito, health and environmental management as they discuss current projects and future challenges.
Confirmed Panellists:
- Professor Ary Hoffman, University of Melbourne
- Dr Paul De Barro, CSIRO
- Dr Brendan Trewin, CSIRO
- Associate Professor Nancy Cushing, University of Newcastle
- Professor Brett Neilan, University of Newcastle
More panellists to be announced.
To find the venue for this event, go to the campus map.
What is the Grand Challenge?
A combined $50,000 in funding is available to teams who submit the most innovative proposals addressing the challenge of controlling mosquitoes. There are two problem statements to this Challenge. Proposals should include responses to one or both of the following questions:
- How might we reduce the health risks that certain species of mosquitoes pose to humans?
- How might we lessen the nuisance factor imposed by urban and invading mosquito populations?
All proposals are required to be socially and environmentally responsible and work towards the benefit of either local or global communities.
The Grand Challenge is a great way to meet new people, be exposed to fresh ideas, learn new skills and build creative, original work while having real-world impact. Great ideas come from everywhere, so no matter your background or experience you’ve got everything to gain by participating.
For more details on the University of Newcastle's Grand Challenge go to www.newcastle.edu.au/grand-challenge
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What is I2N?
The University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) fuels the success of innovators and entrepreneurs to build great businesses by connecting them with community, coaching, customers and capital. We do this through a range of programs across our I2N Hubs at Hunter Street, Williamtown, Muswellbrook and Honeysuckle (opening 2021).
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