Swinburne University of Technology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

The Australian Emulation Network: Born Digital Cultural Collections Access. This project aims to conserve and render born digital artefacts widely accessible by establishing an Australian Emulation Network. High value cultural collections from university archives and the GLAM sector requiring legacy computer environments will be targeted. The project expects to generate new knowledge across media arts, design, and architecture. Expected outcomes include stabilising and providing researchers with emulated access to born digital cultural artefacts, sharing legacy computer environments across the network, and establishing an Australian software preservation community of practice, building skills in preserving and emulating digital cultural artefacts with substantial future applications also in scientific preservation. Field of research: 1902 - Film, Television and Digital Media The Australian Emulation Network will deliver cultural benefits to researchers, galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) organisations, and the community at large. A national, cross-sector consortium will assemble ‘end-to-end’ software preservation infrastructure in Australian university and cultural institutions. The project leverages collective effort and investment to build nationally significant digital infrastructure, rendering digital cultural heritage accessible. Through a combination of technical infrastructure, collaboration and human knowledge transfer, the project will deliver software preservation and emulation capabilities across 6 of the 8 states and territories, with potential for expansion. The project will help to ensure that Australia's cultural heritage that resides in digital records across arts, cultural and indigenous organisations is not lost.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Transportable high-power blue laser for processing of reflective materials. This project aims to setup Australia's first experimental platform based on new high-power blue laser technology. It is expected to generate new knowledge in precision processing of reflective materials which are difficult to treat with current infrared lasers. Expected outcomes include improved techniques not only in additive manufacturing (AM) by wire arc or direct energy deposition, but also non-AM areas such as recycling, surface modification, joining, hybrid laser assisted technologies. Expected benefits include savings in energy and materials usage via innovations in applications of strategic metals (e.g. nickel for high temperature and corrosion resistance; copper for electrification, anti-fouling; or aluminium for light weighting). Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering The proposed blue laser facility is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It will be capable of processing materials with drastically greater energy efficiency than high-power infra-red lasers that are commonly used today in the fabrication of many industrial metal products. The facility will allow us to study current and future advanced alloys and processing routes, especially metals of strategic importance to Australia, such as aluminium, titanium, copper, nickel and magnesium. With the blue laser, one of the major innovations for these metals is to overcome their high reflectivity for minimal thermal, chemical and/or mechanical processing to achieve novel properties, savings in energy and materials usage, and short lead times. The outcomes of this research will support the development of existing and new modern metal manufacturing industries in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Child victims: Providing protection from re-victimisation and offending. This project aims to improve understanding of the impact of child abuse, neglect and exposure to domestic violence on young people’s future experiences of re-victimisation and offending. It expects to generate new evidence about the maltreatment experiences that increase risk of youth re-victimisation and offending, potential causal mechanisms and factors that might aggravate or buffer children from these harmful effects. Expected outcomes include increased knowledge to inform effective policy and interventions aimed at identifying at-risk children and meeting young people’s needs related to adverse legal outcomes. This should help improve public safety, reduce the economic impact of maltreatment and support vulnerable children to thrive. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Too many Australian children endure abuse, neglect and domestic violence. The costs of maltreatment in Australia are in the billions of dollars annually with a substantial portion due to victims’ increased likelihood of re-victimisation and offending. Through greater understanding of the causal processes linking maltreatment to youth re-victimisation and offending, the factors signalling which children are most vulnerable and the conditions that are protective, findings can inform improved policy and practice responses to help break intergenerational cycles of violence and offending. Effective interventions to reduce re-victimisation and offending in at-risk children would result in less human suffering and increased public safety and wellbeing through fewer victims and offenders. This would benefit Australian society by limiting the economic burden on criminal justice and related systems. Findings can ultimately contribute to improved life-courses for Australian children who endure maltreatment: through reduced future justice system contacts and related benefits to social and economic potential.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Developing serial crystallography for room temperature structure & dynamics. This project aims to uncover the molecular structural dynamics of a bacterial enzyme responsible for protein folding in bacteria. This project expects to generate new knowledge to guide the development of a new type of antibacterial to circumvent antibiotic resistance. Expected outcomes of this project include new experimental, computational and simulation tools for dynamic X-ray crystallography including new capabilities at the Australian Synchrotron for very small microcrystals of any biomolecule. This would provide a powerful new tool for the Australian structural biology community that should accelerate fundamental discoveries, including facilitating high-resolution structure determination of membrane proteins and drug development. Field of research: 5110 - Synchrotrons and Accelerators Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing globally, and the discovery of new antimicrobials has severely stagnated. By 2050, the impact of AMR on healthcare costs is forecast to reach an estimated USD $300 billion to $1 trillion annually, worldwide. The outcomes of this project can help mitigate this dire impact on health and the economy by providing unique critical insight into a bacterial protein that is the target of a new type of resistance-proof antibacterial drug. This project also builds on Australia’s significant investment in X-ray science by establishing new, broadly applicable capabilities at the Australian Synchrotron that will enable the study of dynamics of such enzymes (biological catalysts) as well as advanced high-performance materials. Future applications of this work will contribute to Australia’s national well-being and economic growth, delivering (a) more effective pharmaceutical drugs with fewer side effects, (b) new materials with unique properties for industrial use such as catalysis, toxin removal, desalination, artificial photosynthesis for carbon capture and clean energy generation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Discovering the origin of gravitational waves. This project aims to discover the astrophysical origin of gravitational waves. This project expects to calculate the properties of neutron stars and black holes in binaries, using state-of-the-art simulations performed on the largest Australian supercomputers. Expected outcomes of this project include comparisons between gravitational-wave observations and theory using advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, providing new and unique insights into the most massive stars in the Universe. This project should provide significant benefits such as answering key questions about the Universe, cementing Australia's place in the international astronomical community and inspiring and training future generations of Australia's workforce. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences Gravitational waves are an exciting scientific discovery, and Australian scientists play a leading role in this field of astronomy. This project aims to discover the origin of gravitational waves, using Australian supercomputers combined with advanced machine-learning techniques. It will generate a positive cultural and social impact through producing high-impact, high-engagement scientific results that engage the Australian public. The findings will help cement Australia’s lead in understanding the big questions of astronomy, informing new discoveries that add to the scientific wealth of the country, and providing a return on the Australian government’s investment in astronomical science. The innovative data analysis techniques researched during this project may also have significant commercial benefits for Australian businesses and industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Energy absorption and impact mechanics of origami structures and materials. This project aims to understand the dynamic behaviour of origami structures and metamaterials by utilising interdisciplinary approaches. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of origami engineering and structural mechanics. The success of this project will form a foundation for studying energy absorption and impact mechanics of origami family; the fundamental physics and mechanics will be applied to characterise microstructures and design novel metamaterials and offer a way of exploring new materials with superior and tuneable performance. This should provide significant benefits to improvement of their safety, stability and reliability performance in applications such as vehicles, warships and offshore engineering. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering This project studies the properties of origami to inform the development of structures and materials that can safely absorb kinetic energy from impacts. These energy-absorbing materials will have significant benefits for Australian industry, allowing the development of safer and more reliable equipment for use in mining, construction, manufacturing and many other local sectors. They will also provide opportunities for Australian industries to take a global lead in the design and manufacture of protective structures and advanced materials, providing benefits for the Australian economy and creating more highly skilled job opportunities here. These materials will also have social benefits thanks to their use in creating safer vehicles, from cars to ships, that provide greater protection for passengers during crashes and impacts.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Uncovering the First Stars and Galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope. This project aims to find "First Light": the first stars and galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. Understanding the astrophysics of the first galaxies, their explosive growth, and how they set ablaze the remaining gas in the Universe have long been among the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Decades in the making, the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021 marks a watershed moment. This project uses privileged access to the revolutionary space telescope to find "First Light" and contribute to rewriting the first chapter of our cosmic history. The project is expected to significantly enhance Australia's international standing through leadership in use of the world's flagship scientific facility. Field of research: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences One of the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy is: what happened after the Big Bang? This project will leverage privileged access to the revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope to look at this critical period in time and answer the questions of how and when the first stars and galaxies formed. In addition to scientific benefits, the project will develop new methods in space-based data analysis and strengthen national capability in space data gathering, analysis, and data services, which have applications in resource monitoring and defence. This project will establish international collaborations with leading space science institutes in Europe, Israel, and USA, including NASA, and the groundbreaking discoveries are expected to inspire young Australians to take up careers in science and technology. The project contributes directly to 3 pillars of the Australian Civil Space Strategy: develop international collaborations, increase national capability in space, and inspire all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

SenShaMart: A Trusted Internet of Things Marketplace for Sensor Sharing. This project aims to devise a novel Internet of Things (IoT) sensor sharing marketplace that permits IoT applications to discover, integrate, and pay for any IoT sensor data that is made available by other parties. The project will devise highly-scalable sensor classification, query processing, and transactions solutions and incorporate them in a pair of novel blockchains that work in tandem to securely manage all the information and contracts needed by IoT applications to discover, integrate, pay, and use sensors provided by another parties. These IoT advancements will provide significant economic, environmental, and social benefits via making low-cost and immediate sensing available across the world. Field of research: 0805 - Distributed Computing The Internet of Things (IoT) offers incredible potential to address major societal and scientific challenges but the cost and time needed to deploy and maintain unique sensors for each IoT application outweighs its short-term benefits. This project will devise a ground-breaking sensor sharing marketplace to allow any IoT application to find, pay for, and use existing IoT sensors and their associated data. The discovery and re-use of data from billions of sensors deployed at ground-level will open up applications in climate, agriculture, industry and society. Examples of benefits include wholescale monitoring of supply chains; crop selection to mitigate climate change; optimised use of resources (water, pesticides, fertilisers); monitoring real-time traffic and public transport use; increased bushfire awareness from environmental sensors; and more. The research will have strong commercial benefit – supporting SMEs and larger organisations to access and provide data – and will position Australia as an international leader in IoT innovation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Connecting Indigenous Community Photographies: a transnational case study. The project aims to conduct the first transnational comparison of Indigenous community-controlled photography, exploring Indigenous peoples’ ways of seeing and documenting their worlds. The project seeks to significantly advance Australian and global understanding of Indigenous vernacular photography through investigating formerly unexplored private collections of images created by Indigenous photographers during the mid 20th Century in four communities across three countries. One of the outcomes of the project is a nuanced visual history that cannot be excavated from other sources. The benefits of this project include public exhibitions, a book, symposiums, and a scholarly anthology that encourages the public’s connection with the past. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology In bringing forth new historical perspectives created by Indigenous people, this research is of benefit the entire Australia community as it moves towards First Peoples’ Recognition. This project will be the first to use Indigenous created community photographs to compare international histories of innovation, ingenuity and strength of Indigenous people. Promoting cultural exchange between Indigenous communities internationally will benefit Australian Indigenous communities by enhancing research and heritage preservation capacities that create economic opportunities and foster cultural continuity and intergenerational knowledge transfer. The relationship between building cultural continuity and better social and emotional wellbeing health outcomes is emphasised by Indigenous communities, supported by research, and recognised by the Australian Government. This project is crucial in conserving important cultural and artistic heritage and enabling Indigenous peoples' versions of history to be told because truth-telling is a critical precondition for social justice, healing Recognition and Reconciliation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Context-aware verification and validation framework for autonomous driving. This project aims to enhance the reliability and safety of emerging self-driving vehicles, through a framework that supports the validation and verification of autonomous driving systems. This project expects to generate new knowledge in areas of software engineering, intelligent transport, and machine learning, using a multi-disciplinary research combining expertise from various fields. Expected outcomes of this project are a family of new context-aware techniques to verify and validate complex behaviours in autonomous driving. This should provide significant benefits, such as safe autonomous driving systems and the improved journey experience and security for road users. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software Autonomous driving is key to the future of Australia’s automotive and transportation industries. By enhancing the reliability and safety of self-driving vehicles and their systems, this project will significantly improve the opportunities for these industries, bringing substantial commercial and economic benefits. The research is particularly focused on providing a comprehensive safety and reliability solution to autonomous driving; this will not only boost Australian knowledge and competitiveness in this emerging area, but help to protect the safety and security of road users. This project will also bring high value to Australian industries closely related to autonomous driving, such as public transportation, logistics and supply chain, insurance, and energy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Digital and data literacies for sexual health policy and practice. New digital practices present significant challenges for the fields of sexual health promotion and sexual healthcare provision. This Fellowship brings sexual health policy-makers and professionals into dialogue with young adult users of digital apps and social platforms, via participatory co-design methods. Outcomes include theoretical and applied frameworks for digital literacy and data literacy in the context of sexual health. Outputs include knowledge-translation resources for sexual health professionals that will help them better engage with young adult’s everyday practices of digitally mediated intimacy, in the context of broader understandings of content moderation and regulation, platform governance, data privacy and data security. Field of research: 2001 - Communication and Media Studies Digital sexual health promotion and healthcare services have the potential to offer substantial benefits to young adults, particularly those who are under-reached by ‘traditional’ campaigns and clinical services. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid and urgent uptake of digital technologies for healthcare, but sexual health workforces are unfamiliar with many of the new apps and platforms used for social connection, and lack training in digital and data literacy. As STI rates increase in Australia, effective approaches to digital literacy and data literacy for sexual health – that centre the needs and concerns of both the sexual health workforce and those at-risk of STIs – are vital. The proposed project will meet this urgent need.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A global urban atlas of nature-based solutions for climate resilient cities. This project aims to systematically examine, map and provide a synthesis of the governance of nature-based solutions (NBS) in Australian and global cities. This project expects to generate new knowledge and a novel synthesis methodology about the global landscape of NBS governance, and explore the acceleration of urban transitions with NBS through a global urban atlas. The global urban atlas will inform policy agendas and identify how ecologically/climate challenged cities and regions can leverage NBS, and thus shift their governance approaches to be climate resilient in the future. This will benefit government and policy makers, and all people who live in these communities. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning This project explores how Australian and global cities can respond to climate change by developing urban climate innovations that support and restore nature. These nature-based solutions include green infrastructure, such as permeable surfaces, green walls/ roofs and street trees, and water sensitive design such as minimising stormwater entering waterways. This project contributes to the Government’s Science and Research Priority “Environmental Change” and the knowledge needed for the implementation of Australia’s Strategy for Nature. It will generate implementation options for future cities to adapt to and mitigate climate change and inform policy and planning with a view on plausible economic, environmental and social co-benefits. These climate innovations will support urban climate resilience allowing citizens to sustain a high quality of life and wellbeing in an urbanising planet.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Photography and Reconciliation: the Ngarrindjeri and the SA Museum. The project aims to recover, curate and exhibit a large archive of photographs of national significance created by Aboriginal photographers in the mid-20th century. Working with Ngarrindjeri custodians and the South Australian Museum, it expects to raise the status and diversity of Aboriginal voices in Australian visual culture and public life, undertaking a process of healing. Cultural revitalisation and generational learning via the creation of a Living Archive and public exhibition are expected outcomes. Benefits include ensuring longevity of endangered heritage, broadening knowledge of southeastern Aboriginal lives and contributing new evidence to better understand the correlation between cultural revitalisation and community wellbeing. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies Historical photographs taken and owned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have proven to be powerful narrative tools that restore community histories and relationships, yet such collections are endangered and rarely circulated. This project will contribute to the national interest by producing a major new digital cultural resource that will safeguard this cultural heritage which is at imminent risk of loss. An innovative model of collaboration between Indigenous people, universities and the South Australian museum will be generated, which will have wide application to other Indigenous nations and collecting institutions. The project will support innovative models of reconciliation in Australian museum practice. It will foster better understanding of shared histories, using historical resources created and cared for by Indigenous peoples, and elevating Indigenous voices. Importantly, the project will support an evidence base for Aboriginal wellbeing by better understanding the correlation between community wellbeing and community-governed processes of cultural revitalisation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Fatigue life and biodegradation of biomass waste composites in roads. This project aims to develop a new low-carbon pavement stabilisation technology by utilising biomass waste composites in road subgrades and bases. This research expects to generate new knowledge on the performance of biomass composites in roads, when subjected to high traffic loads using experimental, numerical approaches and field trials. Expected project outcomes include evaluating the long-term performance of this new road construction material, developing predictive models and building enduring collaborations with industry. Benefits include: diversion of wastes from landfills, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for commercial applications of biomass waste composites in future roads. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering This project will benefit the Australian pavement geotechnology, waste management and road construction industries, as it will open new markets for the usage of biomass, biomass ash, demolition wastes and geopolymers in road projects. This project offers an alternative road construction material, incorporating the innovative usage of biomass waste composites, with a significantly lower carbon footprint and longer lifespan than traditional virgin quarry materials. National benefits arising from this research include: (a) diversion of 15 million tonnes of biomass and 21 million tonnes of demolition wastes annually from Australian landfills, (b) significant reduction in the need for virgin quarry materials, (c) environmental preservation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with projected carbon savings of 1.1 Mt CO2-e/annum, (d) cost savings of $58 million/annum through use of existing waste materials, and (e) opening new markets for Australia’s waste management, road construction and pavement geotechnology industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Activating social connection to address isolation in Australia. Surveys of wellbeing repeatedly emphasise social isolation, but there is a gap in positive approaches that can be used to grow connection. This research aims to design an approach to activate social connection for people and communities. Using a pre-tested evidence-based framework, experiences of vulnerable cohorts, and affordances of ways to connect on and offline, this project takes a strengths focus to develop a joined-up place-based strategy. Expected outcomes include world-first practical tools and guidance for local social connection activation and new knowledge about how interwoven on/offline services assist social connection. Increasing social connection is expected to improve individuals’ mental wellbeing and community resilience. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration This project seeks to address Australians' high social isolation by developing an evidence-based, strengths-based approach and toolkit enabling both individuals and communities to activate social connection. In doing so, it offers social benefits in improving individuals’ mental health and inclusion, and communities’ cohesion, social capital and resilience. Project outcomes will provide comprehensive, actionable strategies for specific vulnerable groups and places (new migrants, isolated youth, isolated older people and people with enduring psychosocial disability, in the highest growth suburbs). The coalition of community partners involved means outputs will be immediately applied and disseminated in Australia and overseas, conferring wider benefits. Many community services are moving to online, and this project will be able to inform on optimal on/offline infrastructure investment for social connection, based on identifying best practice. Reducing social isolation will also confer economic benefits including large savings in healthcare spend and boosts to workplace engagement from well-networked employees.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Scalable Graphene Enabled Smart Composites. The need for lightweight composite materials is increasing exponentially in the context of renewable energy, e-mobility and related emission reductions. This project aims to develop novel approaches to integrate graphene nanomaterials into structural composites, enabling damage sensing and structural health monitoring functionalities. The outcome of this project will be a new class of smart composites that will address the critical need for improving structural integrity, safety and reliability, while significantly reducing lifecycle costs. This should provide significant benefits in creating confidence to increase investment in Australia for manufacturing graphene enabled smart materials and technologies with enormous export potential. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Graphene is the lightest, strongest, most electrically conductive material yet to be discovered, and is predicted to generate revolutionary new products across all industry sectors. This project will develop an Australian breakthrough ‘smart technology’ that provides multiple functionalities in light weight composites such as in-built sensing, structural health monitoring, damage detection and information processing. The outcomes will enable large volume applications of graphene use in composites and will connect Australian industry to the development of Industry 4.0 capabilities internationally. This project will develop Australia’s leadership in graphene enabled smart materials and technologies in this strategic area that will further fuel growth in the advanced manufacturing sectors. It will support partner organisations, Imagine Intelligent Materials and Composite Materials Engineering, and their supply chain partners, at bringing advanced graphene and composite material solutions with access to the global advanced manufacturing supply chains.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Defending AI based FinTech Systems against Model Extraction Attacks. This project aims to develop new methods for defending artificial intelligence (AI) based FinTech systems from highly potent and insidious model extraction attacks whereby an adversary can steal the AI model from the system to cause intellectual property (IP) violation, business advantage disruption, and financial loss. This can be achieved by examining various attack models, creating active and utility-preserving defences, and inventing non-removable watermarks on AI models. The outcomes are new tools for securing AI-based FinTech systems before deployment and tools for IP violation forensics post-deployment. Such capabilities are beneficial by improving the security and safety of FinTech systems and other nationally critical AI systems. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software We are in the era of embedding artificial intelligence (AI) within software systems to achieve exceptional performance in tasks traditionally dominated by humans. Australia is an early adopter in bringing AI technologies into critical areas, such as financial services. Many FinTech companies in Australia rely on AI to provide intelligent products and services, and our FinTech market is estimated as AUD 4.2 billion in 2020. However, recent work has shown that AI systems are vulnerable to model extraction attacks, which can lead to intellectual property (IP) violation, business advantage disruption and financial loss. The outcomes of this project can protect the IP and reputation of Australian businesses, as well as preventing substantial economic loss. In addition, this project aligns with Australia’s national priority in cybersecurity. This project will advance knowledge towards ways to protect the security and robustness of AI systems, enhancing their critical applications and safeguarding Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The next generation fast radio burst detector for Australia. This project intends to provide a next-generation fast radio burst detector for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. The project expects to both transform our understanding of fast radio bursts, enigmatic flashes of radio waves of unknown origin, but also use the bursts as tools to study the cosmic web of matter that resides in intergalactic space. To do so, the project aims to deliver a more sensitive detection system capable of localising a large sample of fast radio bursts to greater distances, found commensal to other observations. This should provide significant benefit, including the resolutions to key open astrophysical questions and improved scientific outcomes for transient searches with the Square Kilometre Array. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This project provides a cutting edge, next-generation fast radio burst detector for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder telescope, consolidating Australia's world leadership in advanced instrumentation for radio astronomy. The detector ensures that the Pathfinder (a CSIRO National Facility instrument available to all researchers) remains a world-leading fast radio burst detection and localisation instrument, and delivers high-impact science by providing a new tool to probe the structure of the Universe and test extreme physics. The detector will maintain Australia's high standing within the international Space Science community and, through its research outcomes, excite the general public and inspire more young Australians to take up careers in science and technology. The project is a national partnership building upon Australia's substantial investment in radio astronomy and will enable further technological development in next-generation radio astronomy instrumentation and high-speed digital signal processing for science and industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Learning deep resilient behaviour for uncertainty-aware autonomy. This research project aims to propose a novel framework for developing uncertainty-aware autonomous systems using deep learning. There are fundamental gaps in our knowledge of deep uncertainty quantification and its application for risk-aware decision making. Novel algorithms will be proposed to reliably generate deep uncertainty estimates with low computational overhead. These estimates will be then exploited by safety-critical systems such as autonomous robots to identify risky actions and avoid catastrophise. Developed algorithms will be implemented on an autonomous robotic system to make it averse to uncertainties. The outcomes will greatly increase reliable telerobotic applications in mining, manufacturing, defence, and health. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing The project aims to provide novel approaches to address fundamental shortcomings to quantify and manage risks associated with applications of artificial intelligence techniques in safety-critical applications. The innovative algorithms developed in this project can be applied across the advanced manufacturing sector including that of telerobotics. Such cutting-edge technology will place Australia at the forefront of autonomous telerobotic system design, benefitting a number of sectors involving safety critical applications such as mining, undersea exploration, material handling, medical procedures and search and rescue operations. Australia will be well placed to lead the world in the design and manufacture of autonomous telerobotic systems, an industry estimated to be worth $18 billion in the next four years. This research project will thus benefit Australia in both a commercial and economic sense, and enhancing Australia’s positon as a leading advanced manufacturing economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Transport and impurity dynamics in a unitary Fermi gas. This project aims to generate new understandings of transport and the behaviour of impurities in a gas of strongly-interacting atoms cooled to nanoKelvin temperatures. By measuring the response of a unitary Fermi gas to disturbances with well-defined momenta and energies, we will map the elementary excitations in both the superfluid and normal fluid phases. From this, the parameters that define how particles and impurities travel through the system can be determined. Our study will reveal whether the unitary Fermi gas approaches a conjectured quantum limit for perfect fluidity, examine how the properties of the gas depend on impurity concentration and establish new benchmarks for theories of strongly-correlated quantum matter. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics This project will provide new insights into the way particles move through large-scale quantum systems. It should allow a deeper understanding of superfluidity, the underlying physical mechanism behind superconductivity, and guide future developments in the field of materials development. This knowledge will support ongoing research into room-temperature superfluids and superconductors, giving Australia a leading role in the new quantum revolution. Australia should reap significant benefits from the development of superfluid and superconductor technologies that could enable faster computers, ultra-sensitive sensors, high-efficiency engines and many other advanced devices. As well as the major commercial and industrial benefits for the country, Australia’s economy and society will benefit from a growing technology sector that trains and employs the next generation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Investigating the Pumpability and Extrudability of Concrete for 3D Printing. The project aims to develop a new rheological model for 3D printable concrete for construction. 3D concrete printing is an innovative and promising construction technique, but the main impediment to progress is lack of suitable material technology. In this study, a new stress and time dependent flow model will be formulated and implemented as a computational model. The model will facilitate the study of the effect of different concrete formulations, pumping and printer parameters on the primary printing properties, namely, pumpability, extrudability and buildability. The new model will also enable active control and modification of rheological parameters on-the-fly during large-scale printing, which is not currently possible. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering Construction is one of Australia’s largest industry sectors, representing 8% of the country’s GDP and employing more than 9% of our workforce. However, construction has shown poor productivity gains relative to other sectors, attributable to its limited use of automation and digital technologies. It is also a high-risk industry; in Australia, 52 in 1000 construction workers are injured each year, the highest rate among all sectors. 3D concrete printing provides an opportunity to introduce the digital construction technologies and automation. The benefits include waste minimisation by the elimination of formwork in construction, introduction of high-skilled work boosting productivity. The formwork, moulds for casting the concrete, are commonly temporary timber structures which contribute to 35 to 60% of the cost and form major part of the construction waste. There is also a significant community benefit, as automated 3D concrete printing should meaningfully decrease the number of injuries and deaths by replacing dangerous low-skilled construction work with safer high-skilled work.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Multiplexed surface signals to inhibit mixed bacterial biofilm formation. This project aims to investigate a novel class of multifunctional surfaces that can be used to coat biomaterials with antimicrobial properties. This combines advanced polymer synthesis with a new colloidal particle self-assembly technique to modify surfaces. Expected project outcomes are generation of new knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation in complex microbial communities, which may facilitate future research exploring the development of biomaterials that resist attachment of infectious microbes, which is desperately needed in many biomedical application areas. This can assist entrepreneurs and researchers in the medical technologies sector, allowing them to explore how to reduce infection rates on medical devices. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering The research will benefit Australia through developing anti-microbial material coating technologies. These coatings will primarily be applied to medical devices such as catheters, artificial heart values and orthopaedic implants, which are vulnerable to microbial colonisation. In Australia, over 175,000 infection due to microbial colonisation occur each year, costing $1 billion in extra care, with up to a 30% mortality rate. The research outcomes from the project will inform the further development of medical materials that prevent microorganisms from sticking and becoming infectious, providing huge social and economic benefits for Australia. Furthermore, there are potential environmental benefits from the technology, such as in water purification technology, as well as commercial and industrial benefits by opening up new manufacturing opportunities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Multidimensional Coherent Spectroscopy of Strongly Correlated Materials. By applying new types of spectroscopy, this project aims to address the gaps in our understanding of how remarkable macroscopic properties, such as superconductivity, emerge from the fundamental interactions in strongly correlated electron materials. This project will combine theory and experiment to develop a pathway by which multidimensional coherent spectroscopy can disentangle the competing interactions that make these materials so complex, but also potentially useful. By delivering an understanding of the interplay between different microscopic processes, the project will make it more feasible to control them. This will allow for the design new controllable quantum materials that can be the basis for future technologies. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics This project seeks to understand a class of materials that has enormous potential to be the basis of quantum electronic technologies. These technologies may include memory devices, information processors based on magnetic superconductors, or atomic switches based on quantum phases. Successful realisation of the project will place Australia at the forefront of efforts to control and harness the properties of these materials, and thus benefit economically and commercially from the development of future quantum technologies. This research will also establish Australia as a leader in the development and application of experimental techniques in condensed matter physics. The training opportunities this project provides will help ensure that Australian scientists and technicians have the skills to take advantage of these techniques.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Effective privacy protection for smart metering data on cloud. Privacy in smart metering data on cloud is at risk because analysis of such data can reveal user privacy such as daily lifestyle. Current privacy protection approaches lack effectiveness because they omit some privacy leakage cases or cannot be applied to metering data which is collected continuously. This project aims to systematically investigate significant challenges in the effectiveness and expects to establish innovative research and solutions for enabling effective privacy protection in smart metering data on cloud. The project outcomes aims to safeguard Australian home community with pervasive deployment of smart meters and data on cloud, and benefit fast-growing privacy sensitive data hosting and applications on cloud. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software This project focuses on protecting the data from smart meters, which digitally record a building’s energy usage levels and save that information into the cloud. Protecting this kind of data is an Australian cybersecurity priority, as analysis of smart metering data can reveal private user information, such as lifestyle or home appliance usage. Breaches of user privacy can cause serious economic, commercial, social and cultural consequences, such as cyber bullying or fraud. As such, this project aims to develop innovative solutions for enabling effective privacy protection, leading to a significant reduction in privacy invasion incidents. In turn, this will bring significant economic, commercial, social and cultural benefits to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Design of Non-Equilibrium Architectures: Leveraging High Entropy Materials. Novel metallic alloys, termed as ‘high entropy materials’, will be investigated as surface coatings in order to provide improved strength, corrosion and wear performance under extreme industrial environments. This new evolution in materials engineering is created by mixing at least 5 elements in equal ratios and has recently been proven to provide excellent functionality in the bulk form. The novelty of this project is that thermal spray engineering will be employed to manufacture bespoke coatings for industries such as the mining and power generation sectors. We now need to understand the materials science for a technological tipping point that directly impacts manufacturing industries for improved performance, efficiency and reliability. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The project benefits Australia’s national interest by helping to develop high-performance coatings that provide reliable wear and corrosion protection in critical industrial applications, such as mining and power generation. The intellectual property generated will strengthen Australia's global position as an innovative nation, providing economic benefits for the country. Commercial benefits exist for Australian manufacturing companies, which can develop competitive engineered products and participate in the global market. The research team’s industry links will help partnering companies establish sovereign capability in coating technology. The coating technologies also have potential environmental benefits, extending the life of machinery and allowing components to be reused rather than discarded.