Latest news with #ECU
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
Health professionals and community members to address evolving needs of regional communities at ECU forum
Health professionals, researchers and community members will converge at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury on Friday in a bid to address the evolving needs of southern regional communities in WA. The South Regional Health Research Forum 2025 on June 6 — hosted by the South Regional Health Research Collaborative — will focus on health research tailored for the region. South Regional Health Research Collaborative chair and ECU professor Beth Armstrong said the theme of this year's forum was Improving Rural Health Our Way — Partnering Together in Research. 'The forum provides a unique opportunity to learn about research projects, share insights and contribute to impactful health initiatives across the southern regions,' she said. 'A local approach of targeted health research, collaboration and action facilitates better health outcomes for regional communities.' Themes to be explored include ageing well in the South West, researching long-term health conditions in the regions, improving access to mental health support and culturally secure research in Aboriginal health. The community as well as health professionals are invited to attend the event which will run from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets are available online.
Belfast Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Dark chocolate and tea among foods that could lead to longer life, Queen's University study finds
New research conducted by Queens University Belfast (QUB) has found that consuming a diverse range of foods rich in flavonoids like dark chocolate and tea may help extend your life. The study tracked over 120,000 people aged between 40 and 70 for over a decade. It's research was led by a team of academics from QUB, alongside Edith Cowan University Perth (ECU), and the Medical University of Vienna and Universitat Wien. Their findings revealed that diversifying the consumption of plant compounds called flavonoids could help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Flavonoids are a group of naturally occurring substances found in plant foods like tea, berries, oranges, grapes, dark chocolate and even red wine. It is the first study to suggest that there is a benefit for those who eat a wide range of these foods beyond consuming a high quantity of them. Co-leading the research was Professor Adeín Cassidy who called the findings 'significant' in helping to increase the chance of reducing ill-health. Professor Cassidy from the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Institute for Global Food Security at QUB said: 'We have known for some time that higher intakes of dietary flavonoids, powerful bioactives naturally present in many foods and drinks, can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and neurological conditions like Parkinson's. 'We also know from lab data and clinical studies that different flavonoids work in different ways, some improve blood pressure, others help with cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation. 'This study is significant as the results indicate that consuming a higher quantity and wider diversity has the potential to lead to a greater reduction in ill health than just a single source.' He added that the results provide 'a clear and public health message' for basic dietary swaps which can help improve health in the long-term. Also co-leading the paper was ECU Research Fellow Dr Benjamin Parmenter who explained how just two cups of tea was enough to reduce all-cause mortality by 16%. 'However, those who consumed the widest diversity of flavonoids, had an even lower risk of these diseases, even when consuming the same total amount.' Dr Parmenter explained: 'So for example, instead of just drinking tea, it's better to eat a range of flavonoid-rich foods to make up your intake, because different flavonoids come from different foods.' Professor Tilman Kuhn from QUB and the partnering Austrian university's highlighted the diversity aspect of flavonoid consumption has never been explored until now. The study co-lead said: 'The importance of diversity of flavonoid intake has never been investigated until now, so our study is very significant as the findings align with popular claims that eating colourful foods are invaluable to maintain good health. 'Eating fruits and vegetables in a variety of colours, including those rich in flavonoids, means you're more likely to get the vitamins and nutrients you need to sustain a healthier lifestyle.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts make bold suggestion for thousands of tons of outdated used EV batteries: 'It's not going to be easy'
Clean energy experts in Australia say reusing and recycling old electric vehicle batteries could be the key to reducing electronic waste across the globe. Researchers from Edith Cowan University studied predictions of how much e-waste comes from used EV batteries, per The Conversation. Right now, an estimated 100,000 EVs are on Australia's roads. Experts with the University of Technology Sydney suggest that by 2030, this could produce around 30,000 tons of e-waste, spiking to 360,000 tons by 2040. They warn that e-waste in landfills increases human health risks and the risk of fire. The experts at ECU proposed a new scale for assessing the health of EV batteries at the end of their initial use. A battery health assessment of at least 80% of the original capacity means batteries can be reused for things like smaller EVs, scooters, and golf carts. An assessment of 60% to 80% would make a battery eligible to be reused for different applications, like stationary power storage. All batteries under 60% would be mined for precious minerals to be used in new batteries. Adopting this scale would require manufacturers to make battery data accessible. Batteries are typically sealed shut, preventing access to specific data. "Old EV batteries have huge potential," wrote the creators of the EV battery health assessment scale, per The Conversation. "But it's not going to be easy to realize this." Recycling companies have proved that up to 95% of EV battery parts can be recycled. But the experts at ECU say batteries in Australia are designed with performance and safety at the forefront, with recyclability as an afterthought. In the meantime, other nations are requiring manufacturers to provide EV battery data for recyclers. The European Union will begin requiring a digital passport for all EVs in January 2027. In 2021, California passed a law requiring manufacturers to provide reports on battery health to recyclers. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts make bold suggestion for thousands of tons of outdated used EV batteries: 'It's not going to be easy'
Clean energy experts in Australia say reusing and recycling old electric vehicle batteries could be the key to reducing electronic waste across the globe. Researchers from Edith Cowan University studied predictions of how much e-waste comes from used EV batteries, per The Conversation. Right now, an estimated 100,000 EVs are on Australia's roads. Experts with the University of Technology Sydney suggest that by 2030, this could produce around 30,000 tons of e-waste, spiking to 360,000 tons by 2040. They warn that e-waste in landfills increases human health risks and the risk of fire. The experts at ECU proposed a new scale for assessing the health of EV batteries at the end of their initial use. A battery health assessment of at least 80% of the original capacity means batteries can be reused for things like smaller EVs, scooters, and golf carts. An assessment of 60% to 80% would make a battery eligible to be reused for different applications, like stationary power storage. All batteries under 60% would be mined for precious minerals to be used in new batteries. Adopting this scale would require manufacturers to make battery data accessible. Batteries are typically sealed shut, preventing access to specific data. "Old EV batteries have huge potential," wrote the creators of the EV battery health assessment scale, per The Conversation. "But it's not going to be easy to realize this." Recycling companies have proved that up to 95% of EV battery parts can be recycled. But the experts at ECU say batteries in Australia are designed with performance and safety at the forefront, with recyclability as an afterthought. In the meantime, other nations are requiring manufacturers to provide EV battery data for recyclers. The European Union will begin requiring a digital passport for all EVs in January 2027. In 2021, California passed a law requiring manufacturers to provide reports on battery health to recyclers. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Marvellous Miss Markham: Bunbury author to launch debut novel at 86 years old
An 86-year-old Bunbury woman is set to launch her debut novel, despite a busy life of completing her PhD at 75, being a farmer's wife, a teacher and a psychologist. Dr Helen Byles-Drage's new book, titled Marvellous Miss Markham, is a historical romance set in England during the reign of George IV. Going by pen name Helen BeDe, she is a farmer's wife, teacher, psychologist and sociologist who went back to university when she was 75, after retiring from her day job at Bunbury Regional Prison. She has won multiple prizes for her writing in the past, many of which she achieved while doing a PhD when she returned to university as a mature student. 'I had to find something to fill 24 hours a day,' she said. 'Initially I tried artwork up at ECU here in Bunbury, but I found I could get better marks if I wrote than I did painting, so I switched over to creative writing. 'I began to develop this story, and it was set right at the very beginning of the 19th century. 'I thought, 'gee, I don't know enough about this' — so I did a University Of The Third Age course in social life in the 18th century.' Byles-Drage said the course opened her eyes to the lack of legal rights women had during the time. 'The fact that women had no legal existence, they were property, they belonged to their father, until he with a dowry, managed to buy them a husband,' she said. 'I knew women were expected to be little house mice at home, but it just rocked me the extent to which they were kept under. 'The fact that a man was perfectly legal to beat a wife, his children or his servants, so long as the rod he used was not thicker than an inch.' While the novel is set in a historical period, it still deals with contemporary concerns such as 'the need and desire to belong, to be loved, to have some personal power and importance to cope well with life', the writer said. On Saturday, Byles-Drage will celebrate the book with a launch at the Bunbury Public Library from 10am, with morning tea and book signing opportunities. 'It's quite a moment when you hold your own book in your hands,' she said. 'I do want to encourage people to explore and make the most of themselves and try the things they want to do — that are legal of course.'
