Research focuses on innovative, rapid, automated technologies and advanced sampling and statistical design and analysis for the assessment of biodiversity, especially invertebrates and micro-organisms. Applications of these technologies include environmental monitoring and impact assessment, natural resource management and conservation evaluation. The Key Centre consults with State and Commonwealth agencies, local governments and a variety of environmentally-oriented industries. Evolutionary Trend Analysis, developed by the Key Centre, is applied to the exploration of biodiversity for novel biological resources targeted to a variety of medical, agricultural and industrial applications. Education programs of the Centre focus on units in biodiversity, conservation biology, ecology, genetics, microbiology and microbial biodiversity.
Students receive training at undergraduate, MSc and PhD levels.
Advanced training workshops and professional development programs are offered for managers, professionals and students who need to understand biodiversity and interpret or apply biodiversity information. Professor Andrew J. Beattie , BSc Liv. Associate Professor David A. Briscoe , BSc Edin. Currently the staff of the Centre comprises a Director, a Visiting Professor, a Centre Administrator, a Systems Officer, four Research Officers, eight postdoctoral fellows, and seven doctoral students. The Centre's purpose is to carry out basic research and research training in cognitive science.