Deakin Research

30/04/2026

A major new review of dietary interventions has confirmed traditional plant-heavy diets are the best pathway to good health while some popular, new diets may not be so great for our gut.

Led by the Deakin Food & Mood Centre, the study analysed 80 clinical trials across 13 dietary interventions, making it the most comprehensive review of its kind to date.

Read more about the study findings 🔗

Large review finds plant-rich diets best for gut health, boosting beneficial bacteria and lowering inflammation, while some popular diets may reduce key microbes.

28/11/2025

Meet the minds behind Deakin University’s 'Three Minute Thesis' mini-doco 🎬

Each year, Deakin’s brightest PhD researchers take on the challenge of sharing years of research in just three minutes. Our new mini-documentary shines a light on the people behind the ideas and their journey throughout the competition.

Among this year’s inspiring researchers is Tjasa Savoric, who is exploring how gamified virtual reality (VR) can help people manage stress and anxiety in isolated environments.

Tjasa’s research looks at how immersive technologies and interactive design can support mental well-being in settings where social connection is limited, such as in healthcare or space missions. Her work brings together digital media, human-centred design, and psychological insight to create meaningful, restorative experiences through VR.

Read more about Tjasa's research at: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study-research-and-career-stories/research/how-can-virtual-reality-be-used-in-a-medical-setting

30/10/2025

Have you ever wondered how forensic scientists determine a person’s time of death in a criminal investigation? 🔍

Deakin’s entomology expert, Professor Michelle Harvey, is at the forefront of this fascinating research, exploring how blowflies and maggots interact with human remains.

It’s high-stakes work as the interaction between insects and decomposing flesh can pin-point a person’s time of death and even ‘crack’ challenging crimes.

Professor Harvey also assists as a consultant to various external agencies including law enforcement where she applies her expertise to forensic scenarios.

Read more about Prof Harvey's fascinating 'after dark' research: https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news-and-publications/article/2025/deakin-after-dark-nocturnal-research-helps-crack-criminal-cases

Step inside Professor Harvey's science lab on Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQq_zeQpShI&t=4s

28/10/2025

Meet the minds behind Deakin University’s 'Three Minute Thesis' mini-doco 🎬

Each year, Deakin’s brightest PhD researchers take on the challenge of sharing years of research in just three minutes. Our new mini-documentary shines a light on the people behind the ideas and their journey throughout the competition.

One of those standout voices is Matthew Crocker, who’s asking a big question: Where does the Australian Government’s money really come from?

Matthew’s research explores how government spending actually works, and why understanding it might change how we think about public finance and the economy itself.

Read more about Matthew's research at: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study-research-and-career-stories/research/where-does-the-federal-governments-money-come-from

To watch the Three Minute Thesis, head to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEUtZZOOwXI&list=PLDE983D2C29DB73E0&index=4

20/10/2025

Deakin's Professor Euan Ritchie and Dr Anthony Rendall share a passion for at-risk Australian mammals and conserving their precious ecosystems.

As well as being ecologists and teachers, Euan is an award-winning science communicator, winner of a 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prize, and Anthony is a brilliant statistician and PhD mentor.

But it’s the 15 year-long personal and research connection they share that is truly inspiring and helping to protect under-threat species such as Long-nosed potoroos and Eastern barred bandicoots on French Island in Western Port Bay.

Read more about Euan and Anthony’s research relationship and watch them working in the field: https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/research-news-and-publications/article/2025/between-us-professor-euan-ritchie-and-dr-anthony-rendall

30/07/2025

What if your old T-shirt could help change the future? 👕

Institute for Frontier Materials Associate Research Fellow Lucas Rosson is turning textile waste into sustainable solutions and challenging the way we think about fashion, industry and innovation.

Lucas is experimenting with new ways to turn textile waste into something useful, with the goal of rethinking how we deal with the huge amount of clothing that ends up in landfill.

Lucas Rosson is making a big difference to the world of sustainable textiles. Rosson shares his unique journey with the Stories of Wonder podcast.

26/05/2025

Long-term marine protection is proving to be a game-changer for lobster populations along Victoria’s coastline, with a new Deakin University Marine Research and Innovation Centre study revealing dramatic increases in both the number and size of lobsters inside marine protected areas (MPAs).

Conducted in partnership with Parks Victoria, this research highlights the long-term value of Victoria’s marine parks network, and offers a compelling example of how science and policy can work together to protect our oceans.

09/05/2025

We're celebrating over 15 years of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at Deakin University! 👏

During a short, three-minute shower, a professor from the University of Queensland came up with the concept for Three Minute Thesis (3MT) – graduate researchers would compete to share their thesis in under 3 minutes.

Over the years, 3MT has become a cornerstone of our commitment to research excellence and public engagement. It not only hones research communication skills but also fosters a deeper connection between researchers and the community.

In 2021, a new competition called Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) was introduced to challenge Deakin students in a different way. Competitors have 60 seconds to present a visual ‘elevator pitch’ of their thesis ⏲

You can read more about how the 3MT and VYT competitions have helped build a strong cohort of emerging researchers at Deakin — or register to share your own research story in the next 3MT or VYT competition: https://50years.deakin.edu.au/story/15-years-of-competing-to-showcase-research-in-minutes/

20/03/2025

Can training your memory through your sense of smell boost overall brain power? 🧠

For over 15 years, Assoc Prof Alex Bahar-Fuchs, a clinical neuropsychologist at Deakin University's SEED Lifespan, has been exploring how memory training and cognitive skills can be enhanced through vision and hearing. But recently, his research has taken an intriguing turn – towards the power of scent.

In the Mind Your Nose study, funded by the Alzheimer's Association®, Assoc Prof Bahar-Fuchs and his team created game-like tasks designed to train memory through smell.

The challenge? Participants needed to recall the location of these paired stimuli and remove them from the board in as few steps as possible.

New research tells us that smell therapy for dementia patients is proving effective. Associate Professor Alex Bahar-Fuchs explains.

07/03/2025