ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Advanced catalytic reduction to breakdown fluorinated pollutants. This project aims to address the accumulation of man-made chemical pollutants in our environment by optimising colloidal particles that use light energy to breakdown these persistent fluorinated chemicals. By taking advantage of 2 concurrent degradation pathways and studying toxicity of the degradation products, this project will generate new knowledge in the field of both physical chemistry and toxicology. The anticipated outcomes of this project include the development of a patentable new technology that will transform environmental remediation methods. The outcomes are expected to provide significant benefits to human health, wildlife and the environment through preventing adverse impacts of pollutant exposure. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that are widespread in the environment at levels considered toxic, including in Australia. PFAS will not degrade naturally so remediation is necessary. Current strategies to degrade these chemicals are either ineffective or produce pollutant by-products. Our research will provide vital information to increase the activity of materials that use energy from light to breakdown PFAS. The project will: 1) produce new materials which absorb light and use the energy to breakdown PFAS, 2) optimise the process, and 3) ensure PFAS is broken down into non-toxic by-products. The researchers will communicate outcomes to their peers via conference presentations, to the public through social-media, web-posts and outreach events, and to industry through conferences, workshops and direct communication. Findings could be translated by environmental remediation industries to treat soil and water contaminated by PFAS both within Australia and worldwide. Knowledge in the interaction of PFAS with materials can be applied to other remediation strategies. Widespread implementation of this technology would reduce exposure to PFAS in the environment, leading to a decrease in the associated adverse effects on human and ecological health.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Revolutionising Non-destructive Inspection with Nonlinear Laser Ultrasonics. This project aims to develop a new inspection technology for structures with hard-to-inspect conditions using fully non-contact nonlinear laser ultrasonics. This will overcome the limitations of existing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques. The project will create a new concept and generate new knowledge on NDE and SHM. The expected outcomes are significant improvements in the capability and applicability of NDE and SHM to cutting-edge technologies, such as real-time monitoring of constructing objects in additive manufacturing, and structures with extreme conditions in the Space, Energy, Oli and Gas industry. This provides significant cost savings in the integrity inspection of structures. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering In engineering structures, early-stage defects accumulate progressively under in-service conditions, leading to significant damage and eventual structural failure. Detection of defects is critical to ensure integrity and safety of a wide range of structures spanning the oil and gas, space, energy and power industries. Existing non-destructive inspection techniques are insensitive to early-stage defects and have very limited functionality for any structures with hard-to-inspect conditions, since these conditions pose challenges for ‘contact-based’ sensing. Our project will develop a breakthrough technology for non-contact and reliable non-destructive inspection of early-stage defects to overcome these key limitations. Harnessing laser ultrasonics, this technology will significantly improve capability, sophistication and practicability over current inspection techniques for high-value structures. The project outcomes will contribute to Australian priority areas in Transport and Energy by transforming integrity assessment and optimising maintenance of high-value assets, as well as increasing the competitiveness of Australian manufacturing. Alongside public dissemination, our findings will be communicated to a range of government agencies and research organisations through high-impact journals, conferences and workshops. This will expand Australia’s knowledge base and capabilities in non-destructive safety inspection and enhance our leadership in this strategic area of research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

3D printed strain-graded green concrete with co-extruded FRP reinforcement. 3D concrete printing (3DCP) offers many advantages over traditional construction methods, but its practical application is hindered by the reinforcement implementation. This project aims to develop a novel co-extrusion technique for 3DCP, integrating flexural fibre-reinforced polymer grid reinforcement. The project seeks to leverage alkali-activated slag binder as a sustainable alternative to Portland cement, with significantly lower CO2 emissions and excellent early age strength required for high-quality 3DCP. Expected outcomes include innovative techniques for reinforced 3DCP and optimized models for strain-graded concrete. The findings will shape the next generation of digital construction for safety, durability and sustainability. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering The Australian construction sector faces a significant challenge with high labour expenses, which 3D printed concrete (3DPC) aims to address by reducing costs and speeding up construction. However, the widespread adoption of 3DPC encounters obstacles, particularly in effectively implementing reinforcement. Additionally, the environmental impact of cement production, emitting a staggering two billion tons of CO2 annually, highlights the need for sustainable alternatives. This project pioneers a novel co-extrusion technique for 3DPC, integrating flexural fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) grid reinforcement and utilising alkaline-activated concrete (AAC) from industrial waste to replace ordinary Portland cement (OPC). By promoting FRP reinforcement with its corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, and superior electromagnetic properties, the project introduces innovation to 3DPC. This approach explores new ground in FRP-reinforced 3DPC. The environmental impact is twofold: creating a new market by utilising slag waste while reducing the environmental impact of increasing waste production. Furthermore, substituting OPC with AAC promises to cut CO2 emissions, contributing to a more environmentally friendly construction sector. To promote the research beyond academia, pilot projects, field trials and workshops demonstrating the practical applications of the developed technologies will be carried out through collaboration with construction firms to reach a broader audience.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Epicureanism in the Western Political and Economic Tradition. The influence of classical Epicureanism on Western thought has been obscured by the fact that Epicurean ideas were often imported covertly due to the threat they posed to the established church. Further, many have laboured under the mistaken belief that the Epicureans had little to offer by way of political or economic thought. This project aims to explore how Epicureanism impacted the British contribution to early modern political liberalism, classical political economy, and utilitarianism by assessing how it affected the works of 7 key thinkers (Hobbes, Locke, Mandeville, Hume, Smith, Bentham, and Mill). Expected outcomes will deepen our understanding of the Western political and economic traditions, including their tacit assumptions. Field of research: 5002 - History and Philosophy of Specific Fields Epicureanism, the ancient philosophy of the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain, has had a profound impact on Western culture; yet it is little understood. In excavating this key intellectual current that helped transform Western culture from a rigid, religious, tradition to a dynamic one based on rationalistic and individualistic principles, the project will enhance understanding of the Western moral, political, economic, and legal way of life. In short, it will illuminate the story of how and why we live now and provide knowledge that helps Western liberal culture reflect on, challenge, and reinvent itself. Social benefit accrues, not only from sharing Epicurean teachings for the good life, but from placing Australian scholarship at the forefront of a field dominated by European and North American scholars, enhancing Australia's image as a knowledge economy that exports ideas to the world. Such work, culminating in a Year 3 workshop with national and international experts, will enhance the prestige of our tertiary education sector, of considerable value to a country where higher education is a major export industry. The project will also train a PhD student and ECR, mentoring them to develop their research and supervision track records. Findings will be accessible to the public through an Open Access monograph, a website, as well as a podcast series, The Everyday Epicurean, which will share the teachings of Epicureanism on living a happy and contented life.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

CO2 to Propylene through Electrocatalyst and Electrolyte Engineering. This project aims to address the critical knowledge gap in sustainable chemistry regarding converting CO2 into propylene (CH2=CH-CH3; a valuable platform chemical) powered by renewable energy. Leveraging a combination of advanced molecular modelling for electrocatalyst/electrolyte prediction and experimental synthesis for performance testing, the project proposes a novel approach to enhance the C-C-C coupling, paving the way for the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to propylene. The outcome of this project is optimised electrocatalyst and electrolyte towards propylene production, thereby contributing significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and advancing the field of green chemistry through electrocatalysis approaches. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology This project is at the forefront of addressing the critical challenge of converting carbon dioxide (CO2), a major contributor to global warming, into propylene. Propylene is a valuable commodity widely used in the plastics and manufacturing industries, both recognised as intensive CO2 emitters. Our project aims to advance electrosynthesis – a sustainable chemical synthesis approach – to convert a problematic greenhouse gas into a commercially valuable resource. Electrosynthesis utilises renewable electricity to drive chemical reactions, enabling sustainable and energy-efficient processes. Our research will bridge crucial knowledge gaps in electrosynthesising propylene, provide significant insights into the main challenge of achieving C-C-C coupling, and potentially revolutionise our understanding of key molecular pathways, catalyst materials, and reaction-environment designs needed for success. The economic and commercial benefits for Australia include fostering new sectors in green technology, creating jobs, reducing dependency on chemical imports, and exploiting Australia’s rich renewable energy resources. Environmentally, the project supports Australia's commitments to reducing emissions and protecting ecosystems. To ensure the broad societal benefits of this research, findings will be disseminated through scientific publications and public engagements, leveraging the research leadership of the team to promote widespread adoption of the expected innovative technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Derailing Empire? A transcultural and gendered history of Australian rail. This project investigates what the history and memory of rail (1870s-1960s) can tell us about some of Australia’s most neglected social histories. Focusing on transcultural and gendered histories of railway, it aims to ‘derail’ a more familiar progressivist or technological story of nation-building to highlight histories of non-European and gendered labour and community-building. These aspects of railway networks’ social histories remain little understood within either a national or an international comparative frame. Supported by collaboration with the museum and library sector, and generating an outward-facing digital Story Map, this project will help make our transcultural and gendered railway heritage accessible to new public audiences. Field of research: 4303 - Historical Studies Rail is often understood as a technology that linked up nations, drove economic development, and symbolised modernity. Today, public heritage of railway is still largely filtered through this lens. Less understood are the social histories of the ordinary men and women who engaged with rail as a site of work, domestic life and cultural exchange. This project aims to uncover the diverse social histories and cultural legacies relating to the development of Australian transcontinental rail over a century, and to place them within an international frame. It investigates the labour of non-European and women workers who helped construct and maintain Australia’s largest inland railways; the evolution of cross-cultural communities and systems of colonial governance that emerged along railway lines; and the domestic and gendered aspects of railway work and life. This project will bring to light neglected transcultural and gendered histories of rail that have been obscured by a more nostalgic history of technological progress, and it will locate those histories within a larger global history of ‘railway imperialism’. Supported by the National Railway Museum and two state libraries, the project will benefit Australia by generating a more inclusive social history of Australian rail. Among its public-facing outcomes are a GIS-enabled, interactive digital map that will help make Australia’s diverse transcultural and gendered railway heritage accessible to new public audiences.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Learning lessons from drug resistance to tackle herbicide resistance. Herbicide-resistant weeds pose a major threat to the profitability and sustainability of Australia’s $78B agricultural industry. Learning how resistance arises and spreads is key for developing strategies to preserve and restore herbicide efficacy. This project aims to draw on parallels with drug resistance to investigate how plant communication via extracellular vesicles may mediate herbicide resistance. Expected outcomes include new strategies for monitoring of resistance, targets for resistance circumvention, and restoration of herbicide susceptibility in resistant weeds; with long-term economic and environmental benefits arising from substantially reduced herbicide requirements, and improved crop yields safeguarding food security. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Weeds are a major threat to Australia’s $78B agricultural industry that drastically reduce crop yield and quality. The emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds is placing an ever-increasing strain on agricultural outputs, outpacing the development of new herbicide options. Concerningly, Australia has the second largest number of resistant weeds globally. Rather than developing new herbicides, this project aims to investigate the other side of the problem: how does herbicide resistance emerge and spread? Leveraging lessons from combatting drug resistance, our work proposes to explore a new mechanism of resistance transfer—extracellular vesicles. Our findings have the potential to revolutionise strategies to preserve and restore the efficacy of current and future herbicides, with long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits. Bolstering weed management will boost food production, reduce input costs for farmers, and minimise damage to ecosystems, via a project that pioneers new directions and leadership for globally relevant agricultural research. Results will be communicated through industry-oriented meetings, publications, and press releases to keep relevant industry groups and the public informed; at the same time, potential commercial opportunities to develop effective new herbicide adjuvants and monitoring tools will be shared with long-term industry partners to fast-track delivery of these benefits to Australian farmers, communities, and land.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Illuminating the functions of alternative splicing. Almost all human genes produce several species of messenger RNA by a process called alternative splicing. These alternative RNAs make different proteins (isoforms) that are presumed to have different functions within a cell. However, the functions of most of these protein isoforms remain a mystery. This project aims to capitalise on advances in gene editing technology to determine the functional consequences of alternative splicing. It is expected to reveal functions of protein isoforms that are essential for cell growth, movement, and cell state transitions. We anticipate use of this technology could facilitate better understanding of human development, future treatments, and improvements in agricultural applications. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics Cells are the building blocks of life. In humans, the complex functions of cells require many different proteins (isoforms) to be made from a limited number of genes by a process called alternative RNA splicing. While alternative splicing is critical for normal cell behaviour, the functions of most protein isoforms arising from alternative splicing remain a mystery. This project will leverage new technology to assess the functions of hundreds of protein isoforms and identify how they operate to promote cell growth, movement, and transitions between cell states. It will contribute fundamental knowledge to our understanding of the functional complexity of the human genome. These findings could be directly applied and benefit many cell engineering applications in the areas of development and disease. These benefits could extend to future improvements in agricultural applications in Australia and beyond through splicing manipulation of crops, livestock and microorganisms. Collaboration with Australia’s new RNA manufacturing sector will enable translation and benefit to these agricultural, health and biotechnology industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

A Gamified 3D Cultural Heritage Platform for Archaeology and Architecture. Few research infrastructures support engaging and useful 3D heritage content for both archaeology and architecture. A user-focused, experiential immersive environment with AI content creation will be developed and evaluated. Audience and international expert feedback will create a flexible feature list. Workshops with museums and galleries will test the prototype's usefulness for communication and preservation. The system will allow groups to explore 3D models in conjectural and imaginative contexts and pose counterfactual arguments. The project will also consider how to convey levels of authenticity and uncertainty. Outputs will be a website with open-source tools and data, publications, a conference and a demonstration as an exhibition. Field of research: 3301 - Architecture Examples of 3D heritage content showcasing archaeology and architecture are rare, limiting opportunities for the Australian public to engage with culture and history. To address this gap, the project will develop a gamified 3D cultural heritage platform to make archaeological and architectural heritage accessible and interactive. Technologies including artificial intelligence and 3D interactive modelling will create immersive, educational experiences that engage the public with historical narratives. This platform will deliver multiple benefits. Economically, the cultural tourism sector will be enhanced by enriching visitor engagement with innovative storytelling and exhibition tools. Socially, Australia’s national identity and civic pride will be strengthened by making cultural heritage more accessible and engaging. Environmentally, the digitalisation approach will protect archaeological sites and built heritage, preserving these critical and non-renewable assets for future generations. The project will collaborate with cultural and educational institutions to maximise outcomes beyond academia, promoting the platform’s use in public education programs and exhibitions. Targeted workshops and a website with open-source tools will facilitate its adoption, contributing significantly to national and cultural discourse. Aligning with broader national interests, this project positions the platform as a pioneer in digital cultural preservation and educational innovation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Enacting ChatGPT in Fintech: Identities, Institutions, Iterations. The project investigates practices of user engagement with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in organizational and workplace contexts, and will propose solutions to counter growing social and political concerns about human-machine interaction. The research aims to advance understandings about the formation of GenAI knowledge communities in the financial services sector, and how these communities of practice are reshaping the social and cultural consequences of emergent technologies. Expected outcomes include benchmark publications, enhanced international research capacity and an improved ability to address socio-technological problems in an area of vital importance to Australian society. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology In 2022, ChatGPT captured the world’s attention and demonstrated the extraordinary power of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). While some claim that GenAI will increase productivity, employee creativity, and on-the-job learning, others warn of complex policy risks, like misinformation and fraud, copyright concerns, inherent bias, and trust issues. There is a significant gap in understanding how GenAI is used in particular social contexts, especially people's creative involvement in producing, maintaining and repurposing it. Using the financial technology sector as a case study, the project addresses these gaps and generates novel insights into the emergence and role of knowledge communities in continuously shaping GenAI as a creative and commercial resource. It will benefit Australia economically, socially, commercially, and culturally by improving the knowledge and skills of citizens and organisations to engage with GenAI productively and safely. Research outcomes will be promoted beyond academia via the national and global media, including press releases and op-ed pieces (e.g., The Conversation), plus ongoing engagement and outreach activities to translate outcomes into impact like podcasts and workshops. Outcomes will be communicated to Australian policymakers, government agencies and corporate stakeholders including finance professionals and peak bodies for translation into discourse and policy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Synthesis and Applications of Shape-Shifting Molecules. Shape-shifting molecules have no permanent structure and exist in constant metamorphosis. This unique class of molecule has the potential to unlock applications in drug discovery, materials, and molecular devices. This project will expand and simply access to these molecules through a synthetic building block approach. From there we will prototype a range of concepts and applications spanning shape-shifting dimeric drugs, peptides, liquid crystals, and molecular devices. Expected outcomes include a synthetic platform which will greatly simply the preparation of shape-shifters to accelerate discovery, as well as developing design principles for future advanced applications. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry Organic molecules comprise most of the living and material world around us, and their many functions derive in part from their shape, which is usually fixed and unchanging. This project will explore a class of molecules that can dynamically change shape. These “shape-shifters” offer broad opportunities for new approaches in drug discovery, molecular probes, dynamic materials, and molecular devices. However, shape-shifters have been notoriously difficult to make in the laboratory, which has stalled research and development in this area for many decades. Recent breakthroughs from our team have finally begun to solve this problem. This project will advance the field by introducing easy and practical laboratory methods to make these molecules. From there we will explore a range of prototype applications including new concepts in drug discovery (shape-shifting antibiotics and peptide mimics), advances in liquid crystals, as well as demonstrating new concepts in molecular switches and sensors. This work will advance our knowledge of these molecules and how to manipulate their properties . While this area of research is still in its infancy, it has the potential for applications in medicine and high-tech manufacturing, to the benefit of Australia’s industries. Outcomes from this project will be communicated through academic journals and conferences to promote further research. Findings will also be shared with the wider community via traditional and social media releases.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Forging the new Australian Dream in a Post-homeownership nation . As we navigate the 21st Century as a ‘post-homeownership nation, this Project will chart the pathways, actions and actors required to transition to a new and ‘fit for purpose’ Australian Housing Dream. It will use international comparative, quantitative and qualitative analyses to provide new insights, and provide a roadmap that will support Australia to provide current and future generations with good housing outcomes – with or without the home ownership. Field of research: 4406 - Human Geography This project addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing Australia today – the ‘housing crisis’. Housing impacts our lives in a multitude of ways, including our health, social and family lives, education and employment, and financial wellbeing. Traditional home ownership pathways are disappearing, being replaced with new household and occupancy models. However, these new options are not well understood or captured in current housing, economic, and other relevant policies, amplifying existing difficulties in accessing affordable and healthy housing. Our research will combine comprehensive analyses of national and international datasets over time to explore emerging trends, new housing pathways, and their links with health and wellbeing outcomes; with innovative application of change theory in evaluating decision drivers and predictions from key actors in the housing market (renters, landlords, owners, and policy makers) to understand how to best shape the future housing market. Research impact will be maximised through communication with policy makers, housing organisations, and the public, i.e., by producing policy briefs, short reports, and accessible summaries to optimise delivery of actionable outcomes to improve housing experiences and equity for all Australians. The research will also be of global importance, as many other countries face similar housing challenges, with this project placing Australia at the forefront of tackling this global problem.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Stabilising tailings dam capping with plant-based enzymes . We propose to extract cheaper plant-based urease enzymes from an Australian weed, Paddy melon seeds, and develop their kinetics framework for calcium carbonate precipitation for binding and stabilising tailings, by-products of the mining operation. It significantly reduces the cost of cementation and will be a sustainable alternative to cement and other chemical additives with a very high carbon footprint. This novel approach will stabilise tailings storage facilities (TSFs) surface/capping upon ceasing mining operations. A constitutive and user-defined model for numerical software will be developed to ensure faster and greener technology transfer in mining closer activities, which currently is the largest industry for the national GDP. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Mining contributes nearly one-tenth of Australia’s gross domestic product. However, mining creates by-products called tailings, typically stored in large dams called tailings storage facilities (TSFs). When mining operations end, TSFs are decommissioned to prevent tailings from contaminating the environment. There are 759 inactive TSFs in Australia and approximately 30,000 worldwide. Due to the legacy of tailings operations and poor quality of closure materials, many TSF surface tailings require stabilisation to ensure their integrity and reduce costs. While calcium-based stabilisers like lime and cement are sometimes used to mix and compact with soils to bind soil particles for stability, they are unsuitable for tailings. To address this gap, the project will repurpose one of Australia's most invasive common weeds, prickly paddy melons, to engineer weed-based enzyme extracts to bind and stabilise soil and tailing particles. This innovative approach is more effective and sustainable than traditional binders, and cheaper, with the added benefit that removing these weeds positively impacts farming systems, biodiversity, and grazing livestock. The project will also develop models and engineering tools for stabilised tailings. To ensure faster and greener technology transfer in mining activities, outcomes will be disseminated to industry and government via meetings, workshops, articles, conferences, media releases, a project website, and seminars aimed at the general public.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

A new mechanism regulating cell death. Cell death in multicellular organisms is vital for disposing of damaged and unwanted cells to maintain homeostasis. The project aims to understand how specific protein modification via the process of ubiquitination regulates Gasdermins, the executioners of pyroptosis, a distinct type of cell death. We will use state-of-the-art molecular and cellular approaches to discover mechanisms that control Gasdermins to manage cell death response. Given the essential nature of cell death the outcomes will generate high value conceptual knowledge in a topical field of broad biological significance. This is expected to enhance Australia’s research reputation and capability, foster international collaborations and provide training for PhD students. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Multicellular organisms have evolved highly sophisticated cell death machinery to remove damaged, infected, or unwanted cells from the body to maintain homeostasis, the state of balance amongst all body systems that enables survival. Each day, billions of cells die off as a part of normal cell turnover. One form of cell death is pyroptosis, which acts as a front-line host defence mechanism. This project focuses on understanding the regulation of Gasdermin proteins (Gsdms) that are essential to execute pyroptosis. However the cell specific function of Gsdms, their stability and how they shift pyroptosis to other types of cell death remain unknown. This project aims to fill the current gap in knowledge and elucidate the machinery that controls Gsdm levels and activity to manage different modes of cell death. Understanding these mechanisms will generate new knowledge and contribute significantly to this highly topical research field. Research outcomes will help build Australia's research capability with the potential to generate high-impact knowledge across various fields, such as cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Pyroptosis is associated with many inflammatory conditions that pose a huge economic burden on the nation. The fundamental knowledge gained from the project can be applied in the biotechnology industry in the future to develop tools for animal and public health, thus bringing significant economic and social benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Leveraging mouse t-haplotype transmission bias for mammalian pest control. The aim of this project is to develop new genetic biocontrol technology to address the negative impact of invasive mammals on Australian agriculture and the environment. This project expects to generate new insight into the evolution and genetic mechanism of naturally-occurring selfish genes through application of cutting-edge DNA sequencing and gene editing tools. Expected outcomes of this project include generation of a new technology platform that could potentially be used to supress invasive mammals such as mice, rats and rabbits. This could provide significant benefits to the Australian environment and agricultural producers. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics Invasive mammalian pests, such as mice, cause widespread damage in Australia but available control methods are labour-intensive, ethically challenging, and don’t target pests alone. A genetic process where certain traits are more likely to be passed on, called gene drives, can be used to prevent animals from producing offspring, and has enormous potential for non-lethal, large-scale suppression of invasive populations. Gene drives have so far been challenging to develop in mammals. This project investigates naturally occurring mouse gene drives and uses them to generate a man-made gene drive. Importantly, the gene drive developed in this project could be used in other mammalian pest species. The technology developed in this project could transform Australia’s environment and biodiversity, especially for island conservation, where mammalian pests are most destructive. Australia’s agricultural industry is also heavily impacted by invasive pests, including widespread mouse plagues, and will benefit from cost-effective and humane solutions to pest management. The knowledge and tools generated in this project will be shared through the research team’s active involvement in international invasive rodent associations, including with leading experts, not-for-profits, and Australian and overseas government agencies. Gene drive developments will also be shared with various stakeholders and the public by media communications and the South Australian Genetic Biocontrol program.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Synchronised brain oscillations and motor function in older adults. The ability to learn new motor skills declines with advancing age, but the cause of this decline, or how to alleviate it, remains elusive. This project will use a novel form of non-invasive brain stimulation combined with multimodal techniques to investigate how synchronising brain oscillations at specific frequencies can improve motor learning in older adults. This cutting-edge approach will provide new information on the neurophysiological basis of synchronised brain oscillations and how they can be optimised to improve motor function. The outcomes may have wide-ranging implications for the design of training protocols aimed at improving motor and cognitive function, providing potential benefits in ageing and in rehabilitation. Field of research: 5202 - Biological Psychology The deterioration of motor function with advancing age is a major cause of loss of independence and reduced ability to work. This results in a substantial personal, social and economic impact for Australia’s older population, as motor function not only underpins skilled movements, but the basic tasks we take for granted in our everyday lives. While we know that changes in the brain contribute to age-related declines in motor skills, the specific brain processes that contribute to this decline are not well understood. This project will take a unique approach to this problem by using a novel brain stimulation technique to manipulate specific brain rhythms that are known to change with age and are thought to be important for motor function. These studies will identify how specific brain rhythms contribute to the age-related decline in voluntary movement, and how these brain rhythms can be manipulated to rejuvenate motor function in the elderly. These findings will be provided to government organisations and community groups focusing on healthy ageing, where they may inspire new ways to maintain optimal brain and motor function throughout the lifespan to improve quality of life for older Australians. This may ultimately lead to the development of strategies to delay the functional declines that often lead to frailty, promoting better outcomes for ageing and reducing aged-care costs for the Australian government in the face of a changing age demographic in our country.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Understanding cell polarity & organelle biogenesis in parasites of mammals. Single-celled parasites cause economically significant diseases in both humans and livestock. These parasites undergo a complex process to build the organelles that control their entry into host cells at their apical end, making the parasites hyper-polarised. Despite their importance, the proteins that control polarity establishment and apical organelle biogenesis are not known. This project will investigate two evolutionarily divergent parasites: Plasmodium, a mosquito-transmitted parasite that causes malaria, and Cryptosporidium, a gastrointestinal parasite. We will determine when, where and how these parasites establish their polarity and build their apical organelles, and whether these pathways are evolutionarily conserved. Field of research: 3207 - Medical Microbiology Apicomplexans, such as malaria and Cryptosporidium (Crypto), are parasites that infect livestock and humans. Collectively, apicomplexans cost the global economy >$25B each year in control measures and production loss, with Crypto being the leading cause of calf loss in Australia’s livestock industry. To cause infection, these parasites need to form a uniquely shaped and organised lifecycle stage that enters host cells. It is not known how these parasites orchestrate this cellular organisation or what proteins control it. In this project, we will apply world-leading imaging approaches to determine if key proteins-of-interest enable malaria parasites or Crypto to form their unique cellular organisations. Further, we will establish the 2nd facility in Australia for the genetic manipulation of Crypto; a significant new resource given the parasite’s major burden on our livestock industry. Discoveries arising from this project may underpin development of new control measures for parasite-specific ‘Achilles heels’, able to target apicomplexans of economic and health importance to Australia and its major trading partners. Our work will advance imaging technology and applications, initiate multiple avenues of biological discovery, and train emerging leaders to build national research capability. Project findings will be shared with the public via media releases, social media and presentations to the community and Industry (e.g. School outreach, SA Museum, Livestock Producer Forums).

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Modelling critical mineral potential in copper-(iron)-sulphides. The behaviour of foreign atoms trapped-in and released-from mineral lattices relative to solubility limits and crystal structure changes is an uncharted topic for sulphide minerals. We will develop machine learning algorithms capable of addressing the thermodynamic properties of large atomic systems comprising copper-iron-sulphides hosting precious and critical metals. Results will be tested against ores from world-class deposits. This computational toolkit can predict trace element behaviour, solubility limits, and copper-iron-sulphide speciation, adaptable to other sulphide systems. Outcomes are beneficial for Australia’s $10 bill. p.a. copper industry as this information can provide new revenue sources from recovery of critical minerals. Field of research: 3703 - Geochemistry This project uses a combination of cutting-edge computational modelling techniques, machine learning, molecular dynamics, and imaging to shed light on the atomic-scale distributions of critical and precious metals within copper ores. While the current focus on critical minerals centres mainly on the exploitation of stand-alone resources, several precious and critical metals also occur as minor and/or trace elements in common copper sulphides within Australia’s existing mining-processing operations. To capitalise on the opportunities presented by recovery of all commodities of value within a processing chain, new predictive tools are required to understand trace element solubility, distribution, and release from copper sulphides. Our project will deliver breakthrough approaches to applied mineralogy, improved knowledge of local resource endowment, and insights to drive leaner processing and less waste. The project thus contributes to Australia's critical mineral strategy and provides competitive advantage and long-term economic and environmental benefit to the wider community. Outcomes will be promoted to the broader public in popular and social media showing how Australia can optimise utilisation of its huge resources. This research will assist the nation in achieving its ambition to be a global leader in critical and precious minerals production and innovation and demonstrate how knowledge-based responsible and sustainable mining contributes to the green energy transition.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Improving wheat nutrient use via the plant nitrogen–potassium–water nexus. To optimise growth and yield, plants must maintain careful balances of water and ions in their cells. While individual nitrogen, potassium, and water transporters that uptake nutrients from soil are mostly known, how these systems are co-ordinated is not, especially in important cereal crops such as wheat. This project aims to uncover new molecular mechanisms that co-regulate water and ion uptake in wheat. Results are expected to provide significant benefits to farmers by creating new options for improved nutrient use efficiency in economically relevant plants; reducing the need for, and impact of, costly fertilisers; and improving the long-term environmental sustainability of Australian agriculture. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Modern agriculture heavily relies on the use of fertilisers to enhance crop yields. The efficiency of fertiliser use is closely tied to water, which transports essential nutrients to the roots, leaves, and grains of plants. However, less than one-third of applied fertilisers are absorbed by crops, with the remainder contributing to air and water pollution and the release of greenhouse gases. Focusing on the widely used nutrients nitrogen and potassium, our research aims to enhance nutrient use efficiency in wheat—a crop projected to contribute $10.4 billion to the Australian economy in 2024/25. We will investigate the coordination of water and nutrient uptake from soil into wheat roots using an innovative approach involving light-activated proteins. Our discoveries are expected to optimise fertiliser and water use, providing critical insights for developing wheat varieties with superior nutrient and water absorption capabilities. These advancements will offer significant benefits to farmers by reducing the need for costly fertilisers and mitigating their environmental impact. The findings will be disseminated to the industry through the Australian Plant Breeding Academy, which will aid in developing new wheat varieties and training the next generation of plant scientists to ensure the industry's continued success. Additionally, the Waite Research Institute's established connections with the wheat industry will be leveraged to maximise the impact of our results.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Discovering natural hydrogen in continental interiors. Hydrogen (H2) is a crucial clean energy source with applications in industry and transportation. Currently, H2 production relies on high-emission steam-methane reforming, while 'green' H2 production through electrolysis is expensive and energy-intensive. The project focuses on the scientific and commercial potential of 'gold' or 'white' natural H2 generated by geological processes. Despite recent discoveries of subsurface H2 accumulations, large-scale commercial production remains unrealised. This project addresses this gap by developing a systematic, process-oriented approach to define geological controls on the origin and transport of natural H2 and provide a framework for identifying drilling targets and quantifying exploration risks. Field of research: 3705 - Geology Hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a vital clean energy solution, though most current production technologies are expensive or associated with high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. However, H2 can also originate from a range of geological processes, and 'natural' H2 is attracting wide interest because of its potential to provide a clean energy source that can be produced from geological formations at low cost. Exploration for commercial-scale natural H2 is at an early stage, and whilst promising discoveries have been made recently in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, the geological mechanisms behind the formation and accumulation of natural H2 are poorly understood. This project will combine innovative underground image processing with state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, to identify the key factors that drive the generation, movement and preservation of natural H2 in Earth’s crust. Our work will result in a world-first exploration framework that is needed to determine the technical and commercial viability of large-scale production of natural H2. The research will position Australia as a global leader in the strategic technological shift to net-zero emissions, providing economic and environmental benefits to Australians. Our findings will be promoted to the Australian energy industry for adoption through a program of workshops and training, and to the Australian public through a dedicated website where research outcomes will be summarised in plain language briefs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Tracking 600,000 years of flooding and aridification in Australia’s deserts. This project aims to provide unprecedented understanding of how tropical rainfall promotes excessive wet pulses and floods in Australia’s iconic dry, desert interior. This is achieved by developing a 600,000 year record of tropical rainfall and river runoff to the desert, becoming the longest and most continuous sedimentary climate record from the Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre Basin. Outcomes will unravel the global climate conditions that fostered extensive wet pulses in the past, providing unprecedented reference for the period of human migration and extinction of megafauna during the last 65,000 years. Outcomes will also inform how the desert responds to flooding, relevant to constrain risk to agriculture, infrastructure, and ecologic habitats. Field of research: 3709 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Will tropical flooding and droughts that have shaped desert Australia in the past become more frequent and intense in the future? By analysing lake filling patterns of the last 600,000 years, the project will provide unprecedented insights into tropical rainfall in Australia, and connections with its northern hemisphere counterpart, the East-Asian monsoon. Together, these two climate systems affect over 2.2 billion people internationally and impact major economic activities across regions of high social and cultural significance. This project will provide foundational environmental data covering periods of dramatic transformation during the first peopling of Australia and extinction of megafauna over the last 65,000 years. By examining past periods of flooding and drought, the project evaluates if current and future conditions have occurred before, to provide indispensable reference data to future-proof landscape management efforts such as agricultural development, climate change mitigation and government adaptation strategies in desert Australia. This will provide economic and social benefit to desert communities and the farming and energy sectors operating in dryland regions, and will guide environmental management for ecosystems threatened by climate change. Outcomes will be shared via two workshops and regular updates with Traditional Owners, and with the government and industry for dissemination of results to end-users and policy makers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Consolidating intelligence data to identify victims of child sexual abuse. This project aims to generate new knowledge about the victims appearing in child sexual abuse material, with the potential to transform police practice. It utilises an innovative methodological approach to deliver new insights about victimisation and identify: who is being victimised, who is the highest risk of repeat victimisation, and when/where victimisation takes place. Project activities engage restricted police data to triangulate information with existing databases to provide actionable priorities for investigators; with product delivery to stakeholders in Year 4. Benefits accrue for police/community by expediting rescue of vulnerable children; and for academia, overcoming data quality issues frustrating past research. Field of research: 4402 - Criminology The proliferation of child sexual abuse material online is a serious and rapidly growing crime threat in Australia. Staggering caseloads outstrip police resources available to combat the problem (>40,000 reports received by the Australian Federal Police in 2023 alone). Building on a successful pilot, this project will deliver new intelligence and victim identification capabilities that combine high-throughput analysis of seized digital evidence (video, image and audio files) from 12 months of SAPOL case files (2026-2027) using our team’s novel digital forensics platform; coupled with network analysis to systematically extract and model intelligence from these and other past cases catalogued in national/international databases. Tangible real-world outcomes include enhanced investigatory capabilities that will facilitate the rapid removal of children from harm; new strategic insights into the targeting and disruption of criminal networks; and reduced investigator exposure to traumatic material. Outcomes will be shared via a project website, academic/practitioner outputs and traditional media. Impact will be maximised through royalty-free provision of the platform to SAPOL and other Australian police agencies, to be initiated in the project’s final year, and supported by comprehensive training and cost-effective implementation by funding and expertise from our Partner Organisation, ICMEC Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

A Tale of Two Cities: Long run social and economic mobility in Australia . How did nature and nurture impact the children of convicts and passage-assisted migrants in Australia? This project measures intergenerational mobility, combining colonial data, over 3 million digitised records and the work of dozens of volunteers to link thousands of South Australian and Tasmanian individuals' life courses. Our interdisciplinary approach, combines economic, social, historical and computational skills to produce new insights into the factors impacting individual's mobility. Besides path-breaking research into mobility, expected outcomes include world-class, digitised and linked records that will benefit current research into the factors impacting life outcomes and secure, historical digital assets for future generations. Field of research: 3801 - Applied Economics This project compares life-course outcomes for two generations of convicts and assisted migrants in 19th century Tasmania and South Australia. The project measures intergenerational mobility and inequality at the individual level and the factors of nature and nurture that shaped these outcomes. These remain critical questions for today, and will fill a significant gap in our understanding of the long run determinants and persistence of inequality and social immobility in Australia. Australians will benefit from this project through greater understanding of intergenerational mobility both in the past and the present. Impacts of convict and assistant migrant family pathways on life outcomes, and the effects of factors including occupation, income, and place of residence will be revealed. Similar factors impact inequality and intergenerational mobility even to this day. The project will add to national sovereignty through the creation and maintenance of digitised historical records. These accurate and complete records will be retained in Australia for posterity, guarding against loss or future fraud in an era of AI. Beyond its gains in academia, this project will provide cultural and historical amenity to broader society. It will permit the construction of museum-based narratives and online histories targeted at the public, tourists, students, and community groups. Examples of team members' work are already on view in Hobart’s Penitentiary, and the State Library of Tasmania.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Decarbonising concrete with halloysite, recycled plastic fibres and AI. This project aims to mitigate the contemporary challenges within the Australian construction industry, primarily focusing on two core objectives. First, it aims to reduce the consumption of traditional high-carbon concrete, thereby curbing CO2 emissions. Second, it seeks to repurpose household and industrial plastic waste, transforming it into recycled fibres for use in concrete. This innovative “green concrete” will be produced from low-cost, readily available materials, aided by cutting-edge AI-assisted generative design technology. The project is expected to make a substantial contribution to Australia's 2050 net-zero emissions target and provide immediate benefits to the construction industry, society, and industry partners. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering The Federal Government has set a target to recycle or reuse 100% of plastic waste by 2040 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030. The projections show these targets will not be achieved with the current methods. This project will address these pressing challenges in Australia. First, it reduces the use of high-carbon conventional concrete to combat greenhouse gas emissions. Second, it repurposes household and industrial plastic waste for construction materials. It will develop plastic-reinforced, green concrete using Artificial Intelligence. This new green concrete contributes to Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. This initiative is particularly timely given the urgency of climate action and the global plastic waste crisis. By simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable waste management, this research aligns with the current government’s policies such as “Australia Long-term Emission Reduction Plan” and “National Plastics Plan 2021”. Accordingly, it can save Australia millions of dollars annually and create thousands of new jobs, benefiting Australians both economically and environmentally and supporting the government’s objectives. The outcomes will be publicly shared via multiple platforms, e.g., journal outputs, conference presentations (Concrete 2025 in Adelaide), and UniSA Research Outputs Repository. With open access to the construction industry, they are expected to provide immediate solutions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Mechanically Resilient Elastomer/Cellulose Nanofibre Composites. The project aims to develop sustainable elastomer composites by replacing carbon black, a petroleum-based filler, with cellulose nanofibres. This research addresses the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives in elastomer processing. By modifying the nanofibers in water with surfactants to enhance compatibility with elastomers, the project will create composites with superior mechanical properties and environmental benefits. The outcomes will support industries such as manufacturing and mining by providing durable, sustainable composites that meet regulatory standards, which aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon footprints and enhance material sustainability. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to address a critical environmental and health challenge in Australia by developing sustainable and high-performance materials called elastomer composites. Traditionally, elastomers are reinforced with carbon black, a petroleum-based filler that is not only environmentally harmful but also classified as carcinogenic. This project will replace carbon black with cellulose nanofibres derived from plants, which will be biodegradable, renewable, and non-toxic. The research will benefit Australians by reducing reliance on harmful materials, promoting environmental sustainability, and creating safer industrial products. The outcomes of this research could lead to economic benefits by supporting industries such as mining, aerospace and manufacturing with improved materials that meet stringent regulatory standards. Socially and environmentally, the project will contribute to reducing carbon footprints and advancing green technologies. The research findings will be promoted beyond academia through collaborations with industry partners and public outreach. This will ensure that the knowledge generated is translated into practical applications, adopted by industries and understood by the broader community, to foster a culture of innovation and sustainability in Australia.