University of Tasmania, Australia

Description

The biophysics research group began before the Second World War under the inspiration of the creative and versatile Professor A L McAulay. The group continued under the leadership of Dr B I H Scott and then Dr I A Newman, who is now the sole member of the research group. Its graduates include several of Australia's leading plant biophysicists. The group has focussed on important issues or problems in plant biology, with the aim of understanding the basic biophysical processes central to the issue or problem. These issues include nutrient movement (chemical and radio-tracer measurements, cell membrane voltage, ion fluxes, membrane transporter models), root and shoot growth and bending (phototropic and other spectra, surface electric voltages, angle and growth rates), circadian and other rhythms (position measurements, light and hormone entrainment, mathematical modelling).

The innovative MIFE™ system for measuring fluxes of ions or neutral molecules into living tissue was invented by the group and is being further developed. It has its own MIFE web site. Flux measurement and transporter modelling work continues. A definitive review of ion flux measurements and the applications of the MIFE™ system has been published in Plant, Cell & Environment in January 2001. 

More information on biophysics research at the University of Tasmania can be found on the research group home page. 

Contact: Ian.Newman@utas.edu.au