Griffith University

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Towards Unified Learning Framework for Graph Anomaly Detection Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

CRE in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery and Development (Vaccine-ADD) Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Engineering perovskite crystals for next-generation X-ray detectors Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Engineering perovskite crystals for next-generation X-ray detectors Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-02

Advancing Broad-Spectrum Antivirals, Diagnostics and Viral... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Novel tracers of humanity’s impacts on Earth’s largest freshwater... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Novel tracers of humanity’s impacts on Earth’s largest freshwater... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Seventh Assessment Cycle... Category: Climate Change

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Building research literacy and coordinated care for vulnerable young... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enriching Madjedbebe: Mirarr, archaeology and Jabiluka's cultural heritage. This co-designed project will enrich the heritage significance of Australia's oldest site, Madjedbebe, by contextualising it within the surrounding Jabiluka landscape, NT. In partnership with Mirarr Traditional Owners, we will explore archaeological and other heritage sites, using innovative methods, to reveal cultural connections over 65,000 years. We aim to advance knowledge of this critical site, create new knowledge of the cultural wealth of Jabiluka, and support Mirarr aspirations to tell their own stories in their own ways. Outcomes will include increased awareness of the unique Jabiluka landscape, improved community health and well-being, and generation of content for a planned World Heritage Interpretive Centre in Jabiru. Field of research: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History The detailed, near-forensic analysis of 65,000-yr-old archaeological deposits at Madjedbebe, Australia’s oldest human site, contrasts markedly with the lack of knowledge from its surrounds. This makes it impossible to know whether Madjedbebe is ordinary or an outlier. Located in the Jabiluka Mineral Lease (NT), the broader cultural landscape has been inaccessible for >50 years due to its mining tenure. It is only now able to be investigated due to Jabiluka’s planned incorporation into Kakadu National Park. This partnership with Mirarr Traditional Owners builds on long-term links between the community and researchers. We aim to generate data of national cultural and social significance, enhancing understandings of the recent and deep-time history of Jabiluka. Our work will contextualise, challenge and extend the results from Madjedbebe, and investigate and improve delivery of the promotion, conservation and management of cultural heritage in Kakadu. It will contribute scientific knowledge that is vital to the Mirarr’s long-held aspirations to take control of their own Country, thereby enhancing community well-being. Research findings will thus represent a tangible act of reconciliation and restitution. Knowledge created will contribute to the development of a new World Heritage Centre for Kakadu. Given public interest in Madjedbebe, we will also share our findings in an online website, popular online and print media, and publish detailed articles in open-access journals.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Inspired climate action through local nature restoration. This project aims to leverage the US$3.4 trillion global tourism industry to catalyse climate and biodiversity action by supporting locally-led ecosystem restoration projects. Advancing collaborative governance, this research is significant as it shifts from unreliable carbon credits to tangible, inspiring activities at destinations. By connecting core business values and requirements with the diverse benefits of ecosystem restoration, this project delivers innovative monitoring and engagement techniques, including AI-supported citizen science and storytelling, that drive deeper commitment through active participation. This should establish a practical pathway to accelerate Australia’s ability to deliver net zero, nature positive futures. Field of research: 3508 - Tourism Climate change and biodiversity loss threaten Earth’s life support systems. This project tackles the urgent need to advance climate action and nature restoration together by leveraging Australia’s economically and socially significant tourism sector and its growing role in locally-led restoration efforts. The work directly supports Australia’s science priorities on the net-zero transition and environmental protection, as well as THRIVE 2030, the Government’s long-term strategy for a sustainable visitor economy. By linking smaller restoration projects with tourism-related finance, the project creates new opportunities to scale local initiatives, enhance ecosystem benefits, and deliver value to tourist destinations. Through a reframing of the climate action narrative and developing robust, transparent, and cost-effective ecosystem accounting and monitoring methods, the project fills a critical gap for smaller restoration projects that lack the resources to participate in existing carbon or nature credit systems. Scaling will be achieved by identifying effective governance models, building trust, and inspiring the commitment of tourism stakeholders. Each of the three work packages will deliver a science-based practical guide targeted at tourism businesses, restoration projects, and organisations central to system governance. Scientific outputs, alongside qualitative storytelling, will be central to research communication, ensuring widespread impact in Australia and beyond.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The laws of war and the use of decision support systems in targeting . Life and death decisions in war are enabled by military decision support systems. They are used to assist with legal tasks like identifying lawful targets or assessing whether legal requirements like necessity and proportionality in attack are met. This project will be the first systematic examination of how the laws of war have been shaped by military decision support systems. Expected outcomes of the project include peer-reviewed journal articles, a monograph, interdisciplinary conferences, and guidelines for how this technology should be regulated in the future. This should benefit lawyers, policymakers, defence personnel, and the public in understanding the legal consequences of using military decision support systems in armed conflict. Field of research: 4803 - International and Comparative Law Decision support technology (DSS) plays an increasingly central role in how militaries engage in war, including in targeting decisions on the application of force. There is no question the technology will continue to be used; the question is how its use should be governed by the laws of war – the body of international rules on how wars should be fought. However, contemporary debates on the legal regulation of its use in warfare do not engage with the decades-long history of the use of DSS in armed conflict, missing the opportunity to learn from the past. This project aims to investigate how the laws of war have been applied to DSS in the past and use the findings of this investigation to propose how it should be regulated in the future. Using legal research methods and supplemented by historical sources and archival research, the project will reckon with the broader social and political context, investigating how the practice of applying the law – essential for the rule of law in armed conflict – is possible alongside DSS, and whether legal reform is required. The research will be disseminated to policymakers and the general public through accessible reports and guidelines for the use of DSS aimed at practising military lawyers, defence industry and policy makers, as well as a podcast series, briefing papers, blog posts and other short-form articles.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Securitising China through Comprehensive Social Governance Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Developing Electric Field-Enhanced Packed-Bed Electrochemical Reactors. This project aims to investigate the enhancement of electrochemical reactions to advance green electrochemical production technology. This project expects to generate innovative new knowledge in the areas of materials electrochemistry and electrochemical technology. This will revolutionise conventional chemicals and materials manufacturing and add value to Australia’s renewable energy and critical minerals industries. Expected outcomes of this project include a scalable cost- and energy-efficient packed-bed electrochemical reactor for producing commodity chemicals, niche functional nanomaterials, and novel electric field technology. This project will deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits for all Australians. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The industrial production of functional nanomaterials can become more environmentally friendly and cost-effective through production technologies powered by electricity and enhanced by electric field. Specifically, the electrically produced functional nanomaterials can be directly applied in energy-related fields such as energy storage and conversion, owing to their superior electrical properties derived from the novel materials production process. By leveraging this enabling green production technology, Australia can benefit from the development of a sovereign capability to transform local raw resources into highly valuable functional nanomaterials, such as battery electrode materials. The breakthroughs from this project are expected to promote the effective utilisation of abundant renewable energies and critical minerals of Australia by transforming them into highly value-added functional nanomaterials. This project should play a key role in supporting the growth of Australian high-tech companies, which are essential for maintaining a robust economy, by fostering home-grown technological innovations and training the next generation of resilient research and development scientists. The novel technologies developed through this project are expected to hold significant commercial value due to their broad applicability and Griffith will seek to patent them. Key scientific findings will be shared via social media platforms.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Intergenerational Healing: A Creative First Nations Approach to Wellbeing. This project aims to address the impacts of intergenerational trauma on First Nations communities. It will investigate how community strengths contribute to long-term healing. This will be achieved using Indigenist mixed methods, including conversational storytelling, a culturally designed survey, and creative practice led research. This project expects to generate new knowledge in culturally appropriate approaches to addressing intergenerational trauma. It will use an interdisciplinary approach to generate outcomes including community-led theory, resources, networks, research tools, and an international dataset. This should provide significant benefits, such as improvements in wellbeing and contribution to international policy directions. Field of research: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History This project will help tackle the profound impacts of intergenerational trauma on First Nations communities, which is a significant barrier to healthy and thriving communities. By focusing on collective healing, rather than just individual recovery, we will help address long-term negative wellbeing outcomes of trauma such as poor engagement with education, poor social-emotional wellbeing, high rates of preventable illness, incarceration, and suicidality. We seek to elevate First Nations knowledge, theories, research tools, and resources through First Nations led research and outcomes. The project aims to build the research capacity of First Nations individuals and communities and includes mentoring opportunities for First Nations PhD candidates and early career researchers. We are committed to ensuring that First Nations communities directly benefit from the research. This is done through adhering to the Australian Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles, and working with participating Community Research Associates (CRAs) and community leaders to develop all aspects of the project. We will share knowledge and findings through various channels, including reports, podcasts, online symposia, and a documentary film. Final outcomes will be distributed through community and government networks and partnerships, First Nations national and international peak bodies, and academic and community outputs including articles, podcasts, creative works, conferences, and social media.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Attochemistry - imaging valence electrons in motion Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Voice Gap: Employee Voice Under Threat in a Changing World of Work Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Building Deep Debate Evidence Systems for Youth Crime Policy Reform. This project aims to develop a reliable, equitable, and explainable deep evidence system to contribute to global debates on youth crime policy. This project expects to enhance transparency and fairness, aligned with Australian justice priorities, by mitigating bias and misinformation and ensuring legislative changes are backed by diversified evidence. Expected outcomes include AI-driven recommendations from scientific studies, public discourse, and social media via data engineering and data science. This should provide significant benefits to policymakers and communities promoting fairer justice reforms and strengthening Australia’s leadership in data governance by ensuring policy decisions are based on comprehensive, verifiable evidence. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science This project addresses the debate over Australian youth crime policy, which currently focuses on harsh penalties that raise human rights concerns and disproportionately impact vulnerable groups like the Indigenous. Unfortunately, current support systems rely on biased and incomplete evidence, leading to ineffective policies. Thus, this research will develop an AI-driven, explainable, and bias-aware evidence system that extracts diverse and verifiable facts from scientific studies, public discourse, and social media to increase transparency, fairness, and informed decision-making. Aligned with our national research priorities, this project fosters safer communities and supports equitable policymaking through AI-driven, evidence-based recommendations. Rather than advocating for a specific approach, it objectively examines both punitive and prevention-focused strategies, which could save up to $1.12M annually per person. This work also supports National Reconstruction Fund by using data mining, big data, information retrieval, and recommender systems to develop scalable and cost-effective public policy solutions. Building on collaborations with Australian Institute of Criminology, Griffith Criminology Institute, and Queensland Police Service, this project will share findings through policy briefs, government reports, public engagement, and a web portal. Additionally, media and law enforcement partnerships will facilitate adoption, driving reforms for safer, fairer communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

ARC Centre of Excellence for Transforming Human Origins Research. The Centre aims to transform our understanding of why and how our species, Homo sapiens, is the only surviving human on our planet. The Centre mobilises Indigenous, Global South and Western expertise to examine under-researched regions in Africa, Asia, and Australia. This novel synthesis aims to address how we became a versatile, global species, resilient to profound environmental changes over the last 300,000 years. Outcomes will include new scientific models and revisions to public education and policies about our history, our biological, and cultural relationships to one another, and how we have reshaped ecosystems worldwide. Benefits include a transformed, ethically engaged study of human origins for the betterment of society. Field of research: 4301 - Archaeology Understanding our deep human past is crucial for facing modern environmental and cultural challenges. Despite humanity's history stretching back around 300,000 years, we still know surprisingly little about how our ancestors adapted to environmental changes, mainly because research has overlooked many regions and traditional knowledge systems. The Centre addresses these gaps by uniting Indigenous, Global South, and Western researchers to co-design and co-conduct field research in understudied regions across Africa, Asia and Australia. This collaborative approach will revolutionise our understanding of human adaptation and innovation across diverse ecosystems, positioning Australia at the forefront of ground-breaking research into our biological and cultural heritage. Crucially, the Centre will highlight the importance of cooperation, technology, and culture in human resilience to climate and environmental change. The Centre’s reformed and inclusive approach to human origins research will empower Indigenous and Global South researchers and communities, enabling them to lead new dialogues that change the way we understand past and present human experiences. The Centre’s team will work together to disseminate new knowledge about human responses to climate change regionally and globally, contributing to public education and national and international policies on nature and heritage.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mind the gap: developing carbon smart nut industries . This project aims to pioneer the development of groundbreaking carbon capture technologies from underutilised plant production wastes to decarbonise food systems and develop a data-informed platform to secure Australia’s food supply in the 21st century and its transition to net zero. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap exists in understanding how value adding to plant production waste is way forward to decarbonise farming systems. The expected outcomes include developing strategies to help Australia to decarbonise their food systems. Direct project benefits should include advancing knowledge to significantly climate proof food systems and reducing the environmental footprint of Australia’s food system. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Currently, Australians generate about 48 million tonnes of organic waste, 70% of which is generated from agri-food production systems. Organic wastes are either burnt or composted and, although composting is encouraged, 40% of carbon is still lost during this process. Hence, an urgent need exists for innovative technologies to capture carbon from organic wastes and lock it into soil for centuries, enabling food system decarbonisation to ensure Australian food security amidst climate change. This project addresses the research gap of how organic wastes have the capacity to be value added and capture carbon permanently instead of being a source of carbon emissions and contributing toward global climate change. Direct project benefits should include advancing scientific knowledge to significantly develop carbon smart food systems using plant production wastes, facilitating widespread adoption in Australia and globally. This project should facilitate this adoption of carbon capturing technologies from plant production wastes by providing insights how these technologies will climate proof farming systems while are economically viable. The existing incentives around carbon farming, waste levies, and reef credits will spur domestic deployment in the future. The findings will be shared using various platforms such as social media and, industry media and news bulletins to ensure the insights reach a wider audience, driving impact beyond academia and fostering real-world application.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Deciphering electrokinetic nanoparticle separation in elasto-inertial flows. This project aims to develop innovative methods for gentle and versatile separation of nanoparticles. This project expects to generate new knowledge in nanoparticle separation by leveraging electrokinetics in the unexploited viscoelastic and inertial flow region to enable nanoparticle use for a wide range of applications. The expected outcomes include a proof-of-concept microfluidic platform technology and a foundational understanding of the interplay between electric field, fluid property, flow condition and particle properties. This should provide significant benefits to Australia’s biomedical and pharmaceutical industries by offering a cost-effective, efficient and versatile nanoparticle separation technique. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering Australia is leading in biotechnology based on nanoparticles, as seen in the manufacturing of RNA vaccines (such as Moderna’s manufacturing facility in Victoria) and therapeutic extracellular vesicles. Nanoparticles possess unique physicochemical properties that have broad applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, etc. However, their inherent non-uniformity presents a significant challenge in processing and limits their application. Developing precise and efficient handling methods is crucial to unlock their full potential. This project aims to develop a novel, versatile nanoparticle processing technique that leverages electrokinetics in high-speed inertial flows and viscoelastic fluids. This approach will enable precise control over nanoparticle characteristics, generating new knowledge of nanoparticle manipulation. This innovation has significant economic potential, promoting Australia as a major player in high-quality nanoparticle manufacturing. Project outcomes will help strengthen Australia’s role in the nanotechnology sector. This technology will improve healthcare by enabling safer, more effective treatments and more accurate diagnostics, ultimately benefiting society. Research outcomes will be shared through engagement with industry partners to explore the adoption of the technology, dissemination through local and national media and online social platforms, and participation in multidisciplinary conferences and workshops.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Generation-Z engagement with political parties. Young people’s engagement with political parties is declining, creating risks of them also becoming less democratically engaged. This project will create knowledge about youth political attitudes by examining how Gen-Z in Australia, Belgium, India, and Italy view and interact with parties. To do so, it proposes a typology of ‘party engagement’ and uses surveys, focus groups, and interviews with Gen-Z and party officials. In addition to enhancing understanding of young people and party politics, the project will provide the Australian government, political parties, and the Electoral Commission with recommendations to better involve young people in the political process. Field of research: 4408 - Political Science This project looks at Generation-Z engagement and disengagement with political parties. To understand this phenomenon and how Australia compares to other countries, it focuses on the cases of Australia, Belgium, India, and Italy. Youth engagement/disengagement with parties is a topic researchers know little about; however, it is an extremely important one: surveys in Australia and globally have shown Gen-Z are more lukewarm in their support for democracy and parties than previous generations. If this trend continues, with parties and elections becoming ever less relevant to young people, it will severely undermine democracy around the world. Our research thus has several major benefits for Australia. It directly speaks to the work of the government’s Strengthening Democracy Taskforce, which has pointed to young Australians’ low trust in government and democracy. It is also extremely relevant to the mission of the Australian Electoral Commission, which is committed to increasing young people’s engagement. In addition to a range of media comment pieces for the public, we will promote our research findings to key stakeholders through a series of executive reports and presentations, containing examples of best practices and recommendations. We will also conclude the project with a 2-day workshop for government and youth associations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Battery Recycling without PFAS through a Steam Plasma Treatment. Battery recycling is vital for sustainable growth in E-mobility. However, the industry is facing a glaring challenge because the conventional thermal pre-treatment forms and releases PFAS chemicals, which are stringently regulated due to serious health and environmental impacts. This project aims to develop an innovative steam plasma treatment technology, which can simultaneously improve resource recovery and completely destruct PFAS. The project also incorporates environmental toxicology study and techno-economic analysis to ensure commercial competitiveness. The outcomes will enable an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly battery recycling process that will contribute to meeting zero-emission targets and building a resilient nation. Field of research: 4011 - Environmental Engineering Lithium-ion battery waste is growing by 20 per cent per year and the only way to maintain a sustainable growth is by recycling. It is imperative for Australia to establish its sovereign battery recycling capabilities for sustainably manage its critical mineral resources and maintain its clean environment. However, the fluorinechemicals used in batteries for performance improvements can be converted into per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in the thermal treatment process for producing black mass. PFAS are known to be highly pervasive and toxic to health in environments, and are stringently regulated, which could pose a threat to the growth of battery recycling industry. The research team and the local SME aim to develop a novel steam plasma treatment technology to completely eliminate PFAS while enabling high efficiency resource recovery. The team combines unparalleled expertise with industry partner being the global leader of steam plasma technology, the researchers comprising highly accomplished chemical engineers, environmental scientists and an economics expert. A successful completion of the project will put Australia on the global map for clean battery recycling, creating a multibillion industry, and making significant contributions to meeting zero emission targets and building a resilient nation. The team will actively seek opportunities for public outreach and media engagement to increase public awareness.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Water for culture and nature in a future of climate change uncertainty . Water management is a crucial challenge as climate change intensifies, but unsustainable groundwater use is growing. This project aims to distinguish the impacts of climate change from those caused by water extraction and investigate the effects of altered groundwater levels on culturally significant wetlands. The project brings together a group of wetland ecologists, modellers and groundwater experts, partnering with Minjerribah-Moorgumpin Elders in Council, to assess whether current water extraction practices are sustainable. Using an innovative approach, combining First Nations Knowledge, groundwater analysis and paleoecology, the project should provide significant benefits by guiding future water use that supports nature and culture. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation This project addresses a major national challenge: how to manage groundwater sustainably while respecting cultural values, protecting ecosystems, and supporting local economies. The project fills a key research gap by combining hydrology, paleoecology and biogeochemistry with Traditional Owner Knowledge to understand groundwater systems, which remain poorly characterised. Co-led with the Minjerribah-Moorgumpin Elders in Council, the research will support sustainable water planning, protect groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and strengthen Indigenous leadership in environmental management. Benefits include improved water security, protection of cultural and ecological values, and a model for respectful co-design with First Nations. To maximise impact, the project will deliver workshops with community Elders, high-impact publications, seminars and online material for the general public co-developed with partners. Findings will be shared with the Queensland Government and open access outputs to ensure broad uptake across communities, agencies, and other coastal regions facing similar challenges.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Facilitating Effective Conversations to Make Children’s Voices Heard. This project aims to determine how trusted adults can learn ‘best-practice’ communication skills on a wide scale, through innovative web-based skills-enhancement activities. Improving these adults’ ability to elicit children’s insights and concerns in conversations will help address the crisis of children’s declining wellbeing. This project should provide new knowledge about effective learning activities for improving everyday communication, and flow-on effects of skills improvement in adults and children. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity for community organisations to support children and families. This should provide significant benefits including improved socioemotional wellbeing and reduced risk of harm for children. Field of research: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology In Australia and internationally, poor mental health has become a crisis among children (people up to age 18). Research shows that children need to feel listened to and not judged by adults in their lives. Effective communication can be a game-changer for resiliency and mental health, but little is known about how to optimise adult-child everyday communication so that children’s voices are genuinely heard. This project tests the effectiveness of interactive online learning activities that are adapted from child forensic interview training—a field that has provided evidence-based methods on how best to support children to tell their stories. When important adults in children’s lives understand children’s concerns and needs, problems can be recognised early, before they escalate. This has economic and social benefits for Australia by reducing the multi-billion-dollar burdens associated with maltreatment and mental health intervention and improving wellbeing of families. Our team offers a rich network of relations with family service, education, and research organisations, allowing for the research outcomes to be widely adopted and translated for direct use in the community. Knowledge dissemination events will be held in the final year to develop in-house leadership capacity in communication practices within community services. The created learning resources will also be made available on those services’ websites.