Dr Carolyn Hogg with friend.
Program co-investigator Dr Carolyn Hogg from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney said: “This project is developing a genome survey map for koalas across their range. We can use the information to discover and protect those populations that have important genetic variants, which are essential for koalas to be able to adapt to a changing environment.
“By collaborating with AWS Open Data Sets we are able to make the data publicly available as soon as we have sequenced the samples to help accelerate research for this iconic species.”
Iain Rouse, AWS ANZ country director for the public sector, said: "The University of Sydney’s koala genome library project is an incredible example of how cloud technology and open data can accelerate the processing of research data from weeks to hours, and enable Australian researchers to collaborate on insights with the global conservation community to speed up research outcomes.
“It would be a tragedy if Australia lost an animal as iconic as the koala. We’re proud that the AWS Open Data sponsorship program has enabled, not only the fantastic work of Dr Carolyn Hogg and the University of Sydney team, but is also making data more accessible here at home and overseas, which will accelerate outcomes for koalas and other at-risk species.”
Announced in February 2021, the program received $674,000 in funding from the NSW Government and $348,450 from the Commonwealth Government.
Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the program was part of an $18 million investment in koala initiatives by the Morrison Government.
“As the Threatened Species Committee reviews the protection status for koalas and as we work to map populations and restore habitat, the University of Sydney research team is sharing data so that others in the scientific community can help provide new insights to help unlock information about the health and resilience of koala populations,” Minister Ley said.
