Professor Nick Paul is a biologist in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering. He leads applied R&D on seaweed and algae for new product development, based upon a platform of sustainable production. He is the project leader on two international research for development projects, focussed on domesticating new species, creating new culture techniques and developing bio products for farmed seaweed in the Indo-Pacific region. His interests in Australia revolve around high-value products, including functional food and nutraceuticals for human health as well as bio actives for livestock and agriculture. Because of its sustainability focus, this research has led to some unusual deviations from traditional aquaculture, working with sewage, coal-fired power stations and mining and mineral wastes.
Nicholas’s current role combines research expertise with a strong focus on industry partnerships, innovation, intellectual property development and commercialisation. This is reflected in his diverse funding sources including Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Department of Science, Innovation and Industry (Entrepreneurs’ Programme – Research Connections), Advance Queensland (Innovation Partnership), CSIRO Carbon Farming Futures, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Advanced Manufacturing CRC and direct funding from industry for contract research.
After completing his PhD and BSc at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Nicholas was a post-doctoral researcher, lecturer in aquaculture and ultimately Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University in Townsville. His earlier work in Far North Queensland using algae to clean wastewater for fish and prawn farms led to the commercialisation of land-based seaweed farming in Australia. This work was integral to recent expansion of aquaculture adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. Nicholas is currently a councillor for the Asian Fisheries Society and is a member of the National Seaweed Taskforce of Fiji. He is regularly invited as speaker to international conferences and as a technical panellist for aquaculture and fisheries workshops.
Awards
- Winner "Excellence in Sustainable Water Management" Category – United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards, 2015.
- Best Paper – Queensland Water Innovation Forum, 2015.
- Runner up – ‘Reperio’ Innovation Pitching Competition, James Cook University, 2014.
- Finalist – The Australian Innovation Challenge 2013.
Research grants
| Year | Researchers | Grant | Funding amount | Project name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2020 | Paul, N.A., Rimmer, M., Stoeckl, N. | ACIAR | A$1,600,000 | Improving seaweed production and processing opportunities in Indonesia. |
| 2017-2021 | Rimmer, M., Paul, N.A. | ACIAR | A$950,000 | Accelerating the development of finfish mariculture in Cambodia through south-south research cooperation with Indonesia. |
| 2013-2018 | Paul, N.A., Southgate, P.C., Pickering, T. | ACIAR | A$1,200,000 | Diversification of seaweed industries in Pacific Island Countries. |
Research areas
- aquaculture of seaweed and other algae
- functional food, feed and nutraceuticals
- wastewater treatment and waste-to-resource biotechnology
- sustainable aquaculture and environmental science
- commercialisation of algal production systems and bioactives
Key Publications
- Cultivating Seaweed. Publication number: AU2010224354. Expiry: 2030, Paul, Nicholas Andrew; de Nys, Peter Canisius.
- Method for reducing total gas production and/or methane production in a ruminant animal. Publication number: AU201520866. Expiry: 2035, De Nys, Peter Canisius; Kinley, Robert Douglas; Machado, Lorenna; Magnusson, Marie Elisabeth; Paul, Nicholas Andrew; Tomkins, Nigel William.
- Methods for the cultivation and production of macroalgae. Publication number: AU2014901160. Filed: 2014, Carl, Christina; Paul, Nicholas; de Nys, Rocky.
- Seaweed aquaculture: an innovation platform for the Blue Economy (Blog piece).
- Who gives a s**t about sewage anymore. TEDxJCUCairns (11 minutes).
- Full list of publications at Google Scholar
Professor Nicholas Paul is a biologist in the School of Science and Engineering. His interests in Australia revolve around high-value products, including functional food and nutraceuticals for human health as well as bioactives for livestock and agriculture.