Current Projects

On the production side of things, we are in early development of a new project addressing themes of epidemiology and population health, specifically in regard to multidrug-resistant bacteria.

As a result of widespread over-prescription of antibiotics and their use at sub-remedial doses in farm animals, almost every type of harmful bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to treatment. Antibiotics that were once reserved as drugs of last resort are now being routinely used, and as a result bacteria are now showing resistance to these medicines. Genes for drug resistance are passed between different species of bacteria, and evolution occurs rapidly. Discoveries of new treatments have slowed, and outside of widespread prohibition of livestock and non-critical antimicrobial use there are limited long-term strategies available to combat the problem. An excellent article on multidrug resistant bacteria can be found here.

We’re extremely fortunate that Dr David Newth, of the CSIRO’s Marine and Atmospheric Research Division, has agreed to provide specialist consultancy and guidance throughout the development period of this work.

We’ll be working on this project throughout 2012, with support from ArtsACT, with a view towards full-scale production (whatever form that winds up taking) in the future. In the coming months throughout the development we’ll be asking for interested folk to come along to help playtest the ideas we come up with – we’ll ply you with wine and hefty lashings of gratitude – if you’re keen you can like or follow us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll keep you posted.