Supporting Charles Sturt Honours students

19 June 2026

The Hub’s 2026 Honours Research Support Scholarship program is supporting a new generation of researchers tackling pressing challenges across agriculture, environment and technology. This year’s recipients - three Charles Sturt Honours students - are undertaking research to build resilience to drought and climate variability. Their projects demonstrate innovative thinking across sustainable farming, ecological conservation and digital optimisation.

Meet the scholarship recipients:

Rachael Lee (School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Science) is exploring environmentally sustainable pest management in nut orchards. Her research focuses on the increasing impact of Carpophilus beetles, which have caused significant economic damage in pistachio and almond industries. Working within a commercial orchard, Rachael is assessing whether insectary plantings - targeted native vegetation designed to attract beneficial and parasitic insects—can reduce pest populations. By comparing sites with insectary plantings, natural scrub and no vegetation support, her study evaluates the effectiveness of this habitat manipulation facilitated conservation biological control approach. Her findings aim to show how enhancing biodiversity can reduce crop damage while lowering reliance on chemical pest control.

Matthew Parisi (School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering) is investigating how artificial intelligence can better support resilient farming systems while reducing environmental costs. His research addresses the growing energy and resource demands of AI by developing smaller, high-quality datasets that maintain predictive performance. Focusing on crop managementand climate resilience, Matthew is analysing multi-modal datasets that combine imagery, climate data and text. His work aims to improve accuracy, reduce bias and lower computational demands, contributing to more efficient and accessible decision-support tools for farmers navigating climate variability.

Kristian Shipard (School of Animal and Environmental Sciences) is examining the spatial ecology of lace monitors (Varanus varius), a key apex predator in New South Wales ecosystems. Using radio and GPS telemetry, his research tracks both hatchlings and adult lizards to better understand movement patterns and habitat use. A particular focus is identifying critical refuge habitats for juveniles, which are essential for population recruitment. By improving understanding of these ecological requirements, Kristian’s work supports efforts to maintain functional biodiversity and the ecosystem services these species provide.

We are pleased to provide $5,000 to each student this year, helping them complete their studies to a high standard and extend their research beyond university. Together, these projects highlight the breadth and impact of research fostered through the Hub, supporting solutions that benefit regional communities and the environment.