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Research that Contributes to Animal Protection
WINNER - Non-invasive DNA methods for studying wildlife populations
Thanks from the brush-tailed rock-wallaby
Research undertaken to conserve endangered species can sometimes cause more harm than good. Scientists trapping and handling animals to monitor population trends can cause stress, injury - even death. A scientist responsible for developing a non-invasive, DNA-based method to study wildlife populations without animal capture or handling has won the Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection.
This prize is part of the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, the Oscars of Australian science. Coveted among science prizes, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes were announced at a glittering event in Sydney on 19 August attended by a ‘who's who' of Australian science, government, academia and industry.
Post Doctoral Fellow at Monash University, Maxine Piggott, has developed non-invasive methods of species and individual identification, using faeces and hair to obtain DNA. The methods remove the need to capture or handle wild animals, eliminating the risk of stress, injury or death to the animals.
Extracted DNA can identify species and gender, and distinguish individuals with a unique ‘genetic tag'. The resulting data can be used to monitor trends in population size and sex ratio, study aspects of animal behaviour such as habitat use, and conduct genetic analyses on such things as mating systems and genetic variation.
Over the past five years, Dr Piggott has been at the forefront of international research to refine this DNA sampling methodology. She has established reliable protocols for the extraction of usable DNA that include optimal time and conditions for sample collection, storage and processing.
The collection of DNA information not only spares animals discomfort and harm, it provides more information than obtained through conventional capture and tagging. And animals don't even need to be sighted.
"Dr Piggott's methods for non-invasive genetic analysis of Australian mammals will revolutionise how we monitor and study endangered species. Her work will have a significant impact on the conservation programs of many endangered species across the country," says Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth.
Apart from causing physical trauma, trapping animals can also alter animal behaviour. Trapping the highly-endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat can cause the animal to lose weight and temporarily leave its habitat. Females have been known to abandon their young after being handled and becoming stressed.
Dr Piggott has already applied her newly developed methods to the conservation of the brush-tailed rock wallaby, an endangered species for which trapping is too difficult and risky. She has also demonstrated the technique in the management of feral pests, such as the red fox.
The $10,000 Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is awarded for scientific research that has contributed, or has the potential to contribute, to animal protection.
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Sponsor
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is sponsored by Voiceless.
Description
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is awarded to an individual or team for scientific research that has contributed, or has the potential to contribute, to animal protection.
prize
$10,000
Purpose
The Voiceless Eureka Prize for Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection is designed to encourage scientific research that makes a contribution to the protection of animals.
Research entered for this prize could cover a range of scientific disciplines, including:
• Scientific research that reduces or eliminates the use of animals or animal products in laboratory-based research, education and testing - for example:
- research into the development, testing, application and validation of alternatives to the use of animals or animal products for scientific or teaching purposes
- research that supports efforts to reduce the numbers of animals used through better experimental design, or that refines procedures so that the suffering of animals is minimised.
• Scientific research that reduces suffering of wild animals - including native animals, pest species or feral animals - for example:
- research into non-lethal management of over-populated or feral species.
- research into the effects of hunting or poisoning on animal welfare
- research into the development of systems to manage disease in populations of native animals (eg for instance, in relation to the treatment of sarcoptic mange in wombats or the facial tumour disease affecting Tasmanian devils)
• Scientific research that reduces suffering of farm animals - for example:
- research into the effects of factory farming (intensive farming) on animals physical or psychological well-being such as mutilations without pain relief, solitary confinement, confinement indoors etc
• Research that addresses community values, attitudes or behaviour towards animals or animal protection.
• Scientific research in other applicable fields including, inter alia, biomedical science, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary sciences and psychology.
Judging Criteria
Entries should specifically address how their work meets the following judging criteria:
1) Innovation
Describe to what extent the research and/or the results of the research are novel.
Explain how the research has developed or extended techniques or methods not normally used.
2) Rigour of the research program and scholarly excellence
Describe and give examples of how your research exemplifies scientific rigour and scholarly excellence.
Preference will be given to work published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed communication forum.
3) Impact
Describe what contribution the research will make to animal protection.
Explain how effectively the research has been communicated to appropriate audiences.
Conditions of entry
Research which has been obtained by deliberately inflicting pain or suffering on an animal and which the Judges determine has compromised an animal's welfare in an inappropriate, unjustifiable, or improper manner, will not be considered. The purpose of this prize is to alleviate animal suffering. It is recognised, however, that the process of genuine scientific research can involve the establishment of control groups, and that judges may be required to make assessments on this issue on a case-by-case basis.
The prize is open to individuals or groups. Entrants can either enter themselves or be nominated by others.
Research entered for this prize must have been undertaken in Australia by an Australian citizen(s) or Australian resident(s). Where the entry is by a research team, all members of the team must meet this criterion.
The research entered must have been undertaken no more than five (5) years prior to the closing date for entries.
Online entry forms close 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online Entry Form has been completed.
Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Hard copy entries delivered to the Australian Museum after this time will not be considered.
Entries with insufficient sets of documentation will not be considered. Submitted material will not be returned.
The research entered/nominated for this prize may not be entered/nominated for another Australian Museum Eureka Prize.
The deliberations of the judging panel remain confidential. All recommendations and decisions taken are binding and final and no correspondence will be entered into on such matters.
Information provided by the entrant(s) in relation to the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes (including photos), may be used by the Australian Museum for promotional/publicity purposes.
Personal information provided in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will be used only by the Australian Museum and only in connection with the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.
How to enter
1. Complete an online entry form
Submit the online entry form before 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Make sure you print out a copy.
2. Prepare five (5) sets of the entry, with each set consisting of:
1. a printed copy of the online entry form as submitted
2. a brief description of the research entered, including objectives and results to date (two page maximum)
3. a brief description of how the research entered addresses each of the judging criteria (two page maximum)
4. a maximum of four (4) written reports addressing each of the judging criteria from assessors who are familiar with the entered research. NOTE: Judges rely on assessor's reports to provide additional perspective and informed opinion on the entry. Assessors should not be personally or directly involved in the work entered in this prize.
Details of the research from at least one externally-refereed scientific publication may be included with each entry set if desired.
3. Submit the entry
Submit five (5) complete and separate sets of the entry clipped together (not bound). Please do NOT bother with elaborate presentation when submitting the entry. This will be removed before material is sent to judges. The five (5) sets of the entry should be sent to:
Voiceless Eureka Prize
Australian Museum
6 College Street
SYDNEY NSW 2010
4. DEADLINE for submission of entries
The five (5) sets of the entry must be received at the Australian Museum by 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
