Griffith University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Deep time extinctions and environments in Australian underwater caves. This project aims to investigate the unique submerged Mt Gambier fossil deposits to determine the role environmental change had on large Australian mammal extinctions. By using a combination of technical diving and scientific expertise to study untouched fossil deposits from underwater caves, this project expects to provide greater understanding of past ecosystems and animals, advancements in geochronological techniques, and data critical to prepare Australians for action in protecting our biological heritage. Expected outcomes include insights into cave conservation and protection of underwater cave systems, updated policies on cave management, and promotion of our understanding of Australian geo-heritage through education and displays. Field of research: 0403 - Geology This project will provide both environmental and cultural benefits by delivering unique data to further understanding of our biological past; engagement of the cave diving community in developing a broader appreciation of the caves in which they dive; and promotion and development of a management plan for an eco-tourist attraction unique to Australia. The benefits of this project will include increased geo-heritage protection and educational benefits to national, state, and regional Australian public and recreational communities. The data generated will provide a greater understanding of the effects of past environmental changes on Australian biota, benefiting biodiversity conservation efforts by providing the deep time perspective of faunal change and extinction. It will establish world standards for scientific and systematic analysis of flooded fossil deposits, putting Australia at the very forefront of underwater palaeontology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Multiphysics inertial microfluidics: from fundamentals to applications. Separation of particles and particularly cells is an indispensable process in disease diagnostics, chemical/biological assays and food/chemical industries. This project aims to study the interplay between inertial fluid flow, electricity, and magnetism in microscale for particle separation. The project is expected to establish the fundamental theory underpinning the development of the proposed advanced separation technology. This disruptive technology is expected to enable the unique, high-performance and high-throughput separation of particles such as cells. The technology will potentially benefit the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, providing economic opportunities and maintaining high-quality healthcare for Australia. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering This project is expected to deliver theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in hybrid inertial microfluidic technology and their innovative application on diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. Cancer is a major cause of death in Australia and all over the world. Early detection and reliable monitoring of disease are the two key factors for cancer therapy. The traditional diagnostic method - tissue biopsy can only be applied when the cancer is developed and symptoms are obvious. Liquid biopsy through circulating tumour cells (CTCs) enables easy access to tumour information for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted treatment. The proposed platform technology can be applied for efficient CTCs isolation by multi-criterion screening. This project is expected to develop a cutting-edge technology for cell separation in chemistry, biology, and medicine, and the outcome will enhance the research capability of Australian biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. The know-how and intellectual property resulting from this project will provide further economic opportunities and better healthcare to Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Unlocking digital innovation: Intellectual Property and the Right to Repair. This project aims to investigate the role that Intellectual Property (IP) plays in the rights and capacities of Australians to repair their smart goods. This project will generate new knowledge with regards to how IP can contribute to emerging regulatory approaches to the 'Right to Repair', which has consequences for a more efficient and sustainable use of Australia's resources. Expected outcomes include advanced knowledge and understanding of IP and the role it can play in rebalancing manufacturer and consumer relationships in digital consumables and in Australia's future environmental sustainability. This will enhance Australia's economy and society through legal, economic, and environmental regulatory reform. Field of research: 1801 - Law This project will deliver legal, economic, commercial, environmental and societal benefits to Australia by unlocking digital innovations in consumables through the creation of an enabling legal and regulatory framework for the introduction of a Right to Repair for Australia. An Australian Right to Repair will bring environmental benefits that will, in turn, contribute to Australia's transition to a Circular Economy. Australian consumers, farmers, motorists, repair industries, designers, environmentalists, policy makers and regulators will benefit from this examination of the international Right to Repair movement through the lens of Intellectual Property. This will build Australia's capacity to respond to the broader environmental challenges associated with the increasing problem of inbuilt product obsolescence.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Enabling Automatic Graph Learning Pipelines with Limited Human Knowledge. This project aims to develop an automatic graph learning system for complex graph data analysis. Machine learning for graph data commonly requires significant human knowledge from both domain professionals as well as algorithm experts, rendering existing systems ineffective and unexplainable. This project expects to design novel graph learning techniques which automatically infer graph relations, learn graph models, adapts existing knowledge to new domains, and provide explanations to the graph learning system. The research results should provide benefit to governments and businesses in many critical applications, such as bioassay activity prediction, credit assessment, and drug discovery and vaccine development in response to the pandemic. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Australians are now facing ever-increasing graph data analysis requirements. Graph machine learning, which explores and captures complex relations inside data, provides essential techniques to meet the requirements. However, as graph learning systems require a huge amount of human effort and domain knowledge, existing systems are ineffective. This project will contribute to Australia’s governments, businesses, and industries by developing a game-changing model for automatic and explainable graph learning from complex data. It can be readily applied to traffic flow prediction, enabling government departments to better control and plan transport services. Its potential future applications will benefit the pharmaceutical industry, which utilizes AI algorithms to speed up the process of new drug discovery and vaccine development in response to COVID-19. The developed explainable system will benefit financial institutes in understanding credit assessment systems for effective decision making. As this project will be beneficial for many businesses and industries, the potential return of the project is immense.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Indigenous solutions to global challenges in the Pacific Islands. The global COVID 19 pandemic represents a unique opportunity to understand the nature and potential of Indigenous sustainable development in Pacific Island communities, where Indigenous practices have been central in responses to closed borders and industry downturns. This project proposes to analyse the efficacy and cultural value of new, pandemic-era Indigenous sustainable development initiatives in sustaining island communities. It aims to culminate in a novel geographic theory of Indigenous sustainable development, and to identify new opportunities to support the expansion of Indigenous sustainable development. This should better enable the Pacific Islands region to respond to climate change, pandemics and other global challenges. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography This project should support Australia's international development policy to advance stability and economic recovery from the pandemic in the Pacific Islands region. This project will deliver new knowledge of how Indigenous initiatives support well-being in the Pacific Islands and demonstrate how Indigenous sustainable development can be advanced. This knowledge delivery aligns the project closely with Australia's priorities to foster poverty reduction and sustainable growth in the region, as outlined in the Department of Foreign Affairs' Partnerships for Recovery: Australia's COVID19 Development Response. While upholding the rights of Indigenous people in the Pacific Islands to their knowledge sovereignty, the research should also assist Australia in building effective post-pandemic development programs that are closely attuned to the new ways in which Indigenous sustainable development in the Pacific Islands has been transformed in the pandemic era, likely making the investments of all stakeholders more cost-effective.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The internationalisation of nationalist populism. This project aims to explain the rising international cooperation between nationalist populists in democracies across the world. It expects to generate new knowledge about how and why these forces now work together to oppose common targets such as multilateral institutions, free trade and liberal democracy. Expected outcomes of this project include a sophisticated, evidence-based understanding of the dynamics and effects of contemporary nationalist populist cooperation. Given Australia's commitment to promoting good governance and strong democratic institutions, in addition to the interest overseas nationalist populists have shown in helping likeminded movements in Australia, the project will provide significant benefits for policymakers. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science This project focuses on nationalist populism, whose rise across the world has been described by policymakers in Australia as one of the major twenty-first century threats to the country's foreign policy goals of promoting liberal democracy, global free and fair trade, and the rules-based international order. Moreover, the danger posed by nationalist populists is exacerbated by their increased collaboration on shared objectives, both within and across continents, witnessed over the past decade. This project, the first of its kind, will produce key knowledge for Australian policymakers and scholars into the origins, features, and effects of that collaboration. The outcomes of the project will inform critical and timely debates in Australia about the challenges posed to our values and interests by international cooperation between nationalist populists while providing insights into how we can respond to this new threat.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Solving the solvent problem in chemical modelling. This project aims to produce highly accurate, user-friendly chemical solvent models using interdisciplinary theoretical chemistry techniques. The benefits of these novel models are extremely broad since chemical modelling is more impactful than traditional laboratory based techniques in solving multi-faceted modern chemical problems. The proposed outcomes of the project are significant, as they will transform how applied research solves difficult and expensive real world chemical problems by allowing researchers to reliably include solvents in their models. It will have economic benefits for the chemical, mining and materials sectors in Australia, which represent billion-dollar industries. Field of research: 0307 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry This project will develop important "virtual chemistry laboratory" models that enable researchers to optimise and discover chemical processes using highly accurate computer simulations, which are faster and cheaper than traditional discovery pathways. The new chemical models will help accelerate research and development cycles in multiple billion-dollar industries, including mining, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. By using these novel models, industries will be able to innovate more efficiently, providing (i) direct commercial benefit by significantly reducing R&D costs; (ii) environmental benefit by reducing laboratory waste; and (iii) national benefit by growing capabilities. It will also train the next generation of researchers in advanced chemical modelling techniques and boost Australia’s position as a leader in virtual laboratory techniques that are rapidly being adopted by industries that use chemistry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Developing a national rural volunteering roadmap. This project aims to investigate the challenges affecting rural volunteering in Australia. Conducting a national analysis of volunteering demand and supply, this project expects to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge of the structural, demographic, organisational and personal factors affecting the sustainability of rural volunteering. Expected outcomes of this project include a world-first index of volunteering vulnerabilities and a spatial map of volunteering unevenness, leading to the development of an evidence-based National Rural Volunteering Roadmap (2025-2035), which will guide our volunteering peak body partners, governments and rural communities to plan for and support rural volunteering over the longer-term. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology It is in Australia’s interest to ensure that its reliance on rural volunteers can be sustained in light of unprecedented challenges affecting the supply of volunteers and increasing demand for their services. Volunteering supply and demand is affected by a complex mix of factors including population ageing, out-migration, increasing natural disaster risk and the withdrawal of government from direct service delivery. Ensuring a sustainable pool of rural volunteers is vital for maintaining essential services, promoting local leadership, supporting rural adaptive capacity and responding to environmental disasters, underpinning the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of rural communities. There is an urgent need to support rural volunteering in Australia but a lack of sector-wide evidence informing interventions to do so. This project will address these challenges by building a national evidence base to establish how structural, demographic, organisational and personal factors are affecting the sustainability of rural volunteering across Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Developing a transformative tourism model for the South Pacific. In a South Pacific context, this project aims to develop and disseminate a model of tourism that balances economic, social and environmental objectives. In so doing, this project expects to create new knowledge in tourism and sustainable development, while advancing methods of research applicable to diverse stakeholders and settings. Expected outcomes include an enduring community of practice, and a suite of tools, guides and policy briefs for those seeking to promote tourism that enables genuine sustainable development. In addition to improving outcomes for people and places in a region where tourism is a vital industry, this project should support Australia’s engagement with the Pacific, while promoting peace and prosperity in the region. Field of research: 1506 - Tourism The Australian Government is committed to a stable and prosperous Pacific region, and enhancing engagement with Pacific Island nations is one of Australia's highest foreign policy priorities. This engagement is focussed on addressing broad-ranging challenges faced by the region, as identified by Pacific leaders and communities themselves. These challenges include responding to climate change and natural disasters, sustaining economic growth, and improving health and education outcomes. This project supports these foreign policy efforts by forming a partnership between Australian-based researchers and nine Pacific-focussed non-government organisations with the objective of developing and disseminating a model of tourism that balances financial returns with broader social and environmental objectives. In so doing, the project will deepen our engagement with the region, improve outcomes for people and places, and promote peace and prosperity in the region.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Portable instrument for quantification and genotyping of Cryptosporidium . Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoan, causing more than 48,000 deaths in children under 5 and 7.2 million disability-adjusted-life-years globally. A low-cost device that rapidly detects the parasite in drinking and recreational water is needed to enable effective disease management practices. Partnering with Advanced Universal Diagnotik, Seqwater, ALS Water and Gold Coast Water, this project aims to develop a novel device, comprising advanced microfluidics and biosensing technology for parasite quantification, genotyping and viability analysis. Expected outcomes are improved Cryptosporidium management, risk prediction, and rapid mitigation of impending outbreaks. The proposed platform has a great potential for detecting other pathogens. Field of research: 0301 - Analytical Chemistry Cryptosporidium, an intestinal pathogen, is one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in Australia and around the world. Drinking water contaminated with the parasite can result in diarrhoea and, in extreme cases, death. The project aims to develop a novel, affordable, portable, on-site diagnostic device for the rapid and accurate detection of Cryptosporidium in drinking and recreational water. The proposed innovative monitoring device will ensure that water remains safe for Australian communities and addresses a major public health concern. The world-leading diagnostic technology will generate Australian owned IP and enable water industries to routine monitoring the parasite on-site, allowing early detection and enabling rapid and effective actions to mitigate impending waterborne outbreaks. This project will generate major economic benefits through translation and implementation of the technology with our local and international industry partners. Advanced Universal Diagnotik is a large diagnostic company which will enable commercialisation of our technology on a global scale.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

An early warning system for police workplace health and performance. This project aims to build a comprehensive organisational model of police workplace health and performance. This project answers the call for immediate organisational reform of police workplaces resulting from an Australian national study (2018) and Australian Senate Inquiry (2019). Police experience harm that must be addressed through organisational improvements, leading to more efficient policing. In the first study of its kind, this project will develop a practical early warning system that promotes strategic and front-line leadership capability of Australian police agencies in workplace health and performance. It will allow better identification of risk, resource allocation and tracking of these critical issues in policing. Field of research: 1602 - Criminology Police are essential to our communities but pay a high price for their service. The most serious causes of harm extend beyond traumatic events and stem from organisational stressors that are under the purview of police agencies. Agencies who fail to address mental health impacts of their own organisational systems on police personnel are failing in their duty of care. This project builds and tests the most comprehensive workplace model ever developed, providing an explanatory road map of the organisational factors that underpin workplace health and performance. The project makes significant advances to theoretical and empirical knowledge and develops an "Early Warning System" that promotes police workplace performance reform in Australia and internationally. This project supports police and government to deliver efficient policing services driven by human capital and excellence in performance. Fiscally responsible law enforcement must be driven by healthy and productive police personnel working within healthy organisational systems. This will result in cost-efficient and high-performing police organisations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A framework for adapting child interview protocols in complex cases. This project aims to develop–in collaboration with Aboriginal and other industry co-researchers–a ‘how to’ framework for effectively adapting standard child abuse interview protocols to accommodate the complexities that create barriers to disclosure. Complex cases necessitate interview adaption, but it requires systematic guidance and an interdisciplinary, practitioner-driven approach to be effective. This innovative framework is expected to have long-term benefits for services that support children’s well-being, through improvements in the quality of evidence underpinning decisions. By enhancing interviewer capability, there will also be fewer cases prematurely exiting the justice system before forensic interview or investigation. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Child abuse presents a serious threat to the wellbeing of children and their communities, whether Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal. To ensure the best outcomes during abuse investigations, interviewers need to use evidence-based interview protocols, but they also need to know how to effectively adapt these protocols in highly complex cases where the standard procedures do not work well. This project builds on extensive prior work by developing (in partnership with industry co-researchers) a global-first framework for adaption. Acknowledging and supporting informed interview adaption will have widespread benefits such as: higher prosecution and conviction rates through improved quality evidence, enhanced victim wellbeing, reduced burnout of interviewers by increasing competency, and raised awareness of the importance of interview adaption among all professional groups. The work will also further enhance Australia’s global reputation in producing cutting-edge research and training in investigative interviewing of children with complex needs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Metal-support interactions: single atoms Vs nanoclusters. This project aims to fundamentally understand the catalytic mechanism at an atomic level through metal-metal and metal-metal/support interactions. The optimised configuration of active sites for a specific reaction is consequently identified, providing the design principles of novel catalysts. The precisely control of synthesis for such active sites and assembly of the target active sites into a catalyst will deliver a completely new methodology for catalyst development. The expected outcomes from this project include new science and knowledge of Chemistry, new design philosophy and strategies for catalysts, and the highly efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic reactions, benefiting Australian renewable energy research and industry. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering With the introduction of fuel cell vehicles into the market, hydrogen energy is becoming a growth market. The market for fuel cells alone will exceed $100 billion by 2030. The outcomes of this project will lead to catalysts with sufficiently high activity to replace Platinum and Ruthenium in fuel cells; for hydrogen production from water; and for inclusion in metal-air batteries. The wide use of environmentally friendly, clean energy will significantly reduce the current dependence on fossil fuels, thus reduce air pollution and greenhouse emissions, improving quality of life and environmental sustainability. These catalysts and devices also have enormous commercialisation potential, benefiting the Australian hydrogen energy industry. It will also contribute to the hydrogen export chain, announced by the Australian government as one of the Australian economic priorities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Chlorine Evolution Catalysts for Efferent Seawater Electrolysis. Seawater is the most abundant aqueous resource on earth that is readily accessible at very low costs, but yet to be directly utilised for production of hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals. This project aims to develop cheap and plentiful carbon-based high performance chlorine evolution electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis powered by renewable electricity to realise the production of hydrogen, chlorine and sodium hydroxide directly from seawater. The electrolyser can also be used to treat desalination brine while produce hydrogen and chemicals. The success of the project will set a firm technological foundation for seawater utilisation, which will add to Australian capability to meet future energy and environment challenges. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) Australia is surrounded by oceans and has rich solar energy and wind power. Developing enabling technologies to collectively and coherently utilise Australia’s abundant resources is vital for a green and sustainable future of Australia, but technologically highly challenging. This project takes the challenge to develop a seawater electrolysis system powered by renewable electricity generated from solar and wind and utilises seawater as feed to simultaneously produce hydrogen fuel and commodity chemicals such as chlorine and sodium hydroxide. This seawater electrolysis system can also be coupled with desalination plants to efficiently treat desalination brines while producing hydrogen and chemicals. The project addresses Australian Government Science and Research Priorities: Energy - New clean energy sources and storage technologies that are efficient, cost-effective and reliable and the outcome will lead to a new technology for producing hydrogen and chemicals from seawater and renewable electricity, which will bring considerable socioeconomic benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A Novel Automatic Neural Network Feature Extractor. This project aims to study feature extraction abilities of convolutional as well as traditional neural networks and develop a generic feature extractor which can be applied to wide variety of real-world image and non-image data. New concepts for automatic feature extraction, feature explanation, hybrid evolutionary algorithms and non-iterative ensemble learning will be introduced and evaluated. The expected outcomes are a generic feature extractor for automatically extracting features, an optimiser for finding optimal parameters and non-iterative ensemble learning technique for classification of features into classes. The impact of this project will be automatic feature extractors and classifiers for real-world applications. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Huge amounts of digital data are generated from video surveillance, drones, satellites and medical equipment but existing techniques have many problems with extracting appropriate features and interpreting them quickly and accurately. This research will develop advanced algorithms and techniques that can automatically process and interpret data quickly and accurately without using existing manual error-prone feature extraction and classification techniques. This will benefit Australian industry in developing fast and accurate vision systems for transport, agriculture and health. The project will have a huge impact on the Australian economy and society as it will advance the knowledge-base and research capability in neural networks that will produce new techniques for many Australian applications. The project builds on potential feed-forward and deep learning-based neural networks and will develop new automatic techniques for feature extraction, feature explanation, network optimisation and classification.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The building blocks of meaning: a linguistic approach. This project will investigate how complex meanings are built up from more basic building blocks, and to what extent basic meanings differ between different languages, cultures, and geographical zones. The project is expected to lead to significant advances in the scientific knowledge of language. Nothing comparable has been attempted before. Expected outcomes include a rich harvest of new knowledge, digital tools to assist with analysing and translating complex meanings, and ongoing international collaborations. This will provide significant benefits such as enabling messaging and communication in education, health care, service delivery and international affairs to be clearer, more accessible and more translatable. Field of research: 2004 - Linguistics Words and meanings are central to people’s understanding of the world and to successful communication between people from different language and cultural backgrounds. Using an innovative linguistic theory which has been pioneered by Australian researchers, this project will reveal how complex and difficult-to-translate meanings are built up from simpler building blocks of meaning that are shared between languages. This is basic research but it has an applied aspect which is an important part of the project. It will help meet a challenge that translators, educators, and outward-facing professionals face every day: namely, how to explain complex ideas and terminologies using maximally accessible language, i.e. words and phrases that everyone in Australia's diverse community can understand. By providing improved techniques and tools for more accessible messaging in health care, government service delivery, and early education this project will contribute social, cultural and educational benefits to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Unravelling soil carbon response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems. This project aims to reveal the continental pattern of soil carbon (C) response to warming in fire-affected ecosystems across Australia and to unravel the biogeochemical mechanisms underlying fire’s role in shaping the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Fire has modified over 40% of the Earth’s land surface and wildfire frequency is predicted to increase under global warming. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how fire influences soil-to-atmosphere C fluxes in a warmer climate using a multi-disciplinary approach. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to predict the terrestrial ecosystem-to-atmosphere C fluxes and their feedbacks to climate under increasing frequency of fire using Earth-system models. Field of research: 0503 - Soil Sciences Australia is one of the most fire-affected countries. It is predicted that fire intensity and frequency will increase under a warming climate. The new knowledge generated from this project on a warming-induced increase in carbon (C) dioxide release from soils in fire-affected landscapes will contribute greatly to current soil C and Earth-system models for more accurate prediction of terrestrial ecosystem-to-atmosphere C fluxes and their impacts on climate change. The outcome of this project will provide scientific basis for developing sound climate change mitigation strategy and fire management regime, contributing to social-ecological resilience to wildfire and climate change. Moreover, this project will contribute to the science that underpins carbon sequestration, vegetation productivity and sustainability and conservation of biodiversity under a warming climate and increasing frequency of wildfire. This project is expected to boost international collaborative research links and will improve Australia’s global reputation and prestige in this important and emerging field of science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Harnessing genuine quantum nonlocality. This project aims to develop the science and tools behind device-independent quantum security for information networks. These gold-standard protocols rely on genuine quantum nonlocality but, to date, the strict performance requirements have been unachievable for general practical cases. Further, the theory of nonlocality in multiparty networks is almost completely undeveloped. The project’s anticipated outcomes are novel experiment and theory to bypass barriers and open up nonlocal network protocols. It is also expected to rigorously establish that a single-photon wavefunction after a beamsplitter is truly nonlocal. Likely future benefits include secure random numbers, secure distributed information technology and world-best photon sources. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics This project will position Australia to lead the world in the ultimate quantum-enhanced security for information networks. It will develop the theoretical and experimental science required to harness genuine quantum nonlocality, the extreme effect that enables gold-standard quantum-enhanced security. Specifically, the project will study quantum nonlocality in networks, and develop novel tools to generate this powerful resource, even in the presence of real-world imperfections. This will increase Australia’s prominence and stake in the key internationally-competitive area of quantum science. It will provide world’s-best training, preparing the next generation of researchers and quantum technology professionals to participate in nascent quantum industries. It will enable key technologies—for industry, government, and defence—in hardware security for information networks, and random number generation for computational and online security. It will hasten the coming of the quantum technology revolution and position Australia to capitalise on its economic, social, and quality-of-life benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

RNA structure prediction by deep learning and evolution-derived restraints. This project addresses the long-standing structure-folding problem of Ribonucleic acids (RNA) whose solution is essential for elucidating the roles of noncoding RNAs in living organisms. The proposed approach will detect hidden homologous sequences and enhance evolutionary covariation signals by developing new algorithms for search and smarter neural networks for deep learning. The project expects to generate new tools for structure-based probing of RNA evolutional and functional mechanisms. The outcomes should provide significant benefits by high-accuracy computational modelling of RNA structures that are difficult and costly to solve by current structural biology techniques but important for enabling biotech and clinical applications. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences RNA plays an essential role in the biological processes of coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes, as well as in the regulation of many cellular processes. We know a lot about the ‘components’ (their sequences) in RNA, but very little about their static structures. Without structural clues, the entire field of RNA biology has stalled. Accurate prediction and modelling of RNA structures proposed in this project are expected to provide a new framework to enable future biotechnological applications such as gene regulations and structure-based drug discovery to disease-causing RNA targets. Other economic and social benefits to Australia will include enhancement of Australia’s international reputation as a scientific leader in the field of RNA structure prediction, new capacity for provision of training of highly skilled staff in algorithm development and deep learning for the new knowledge-based economy with an international vision and network, and new computational technologies on RNA structure prediction to Australia and international biotech companies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Constructing robust climate proxies to explore human and primate evolution. This project will build the requisite foundation to resolve whether variable climate change sparked the origins of humans and our great ape forebears. Scientists endeavor to recover ancient environmental records to examine this influential idea, but have lacked the means to do so at the scale of a human lifespan. This multidisciplinary effort will harness groundbreaking advances pioneered by our collaborative team to produce the first fine-scaled climate proxies from the teeth of humans’ closest living relatives. Documenting climate variation across diverse landscapes promises to transform studies of prehistoric ecosystems and past behaviour from omnipresent fossilised teeth, providing further insight into humanity’s unprecedented success. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology Increasing knowledge of human evolution is of considerable public benefit, as the foods we eat, environments we live in, and lifestyle choices we make have shaped our biology and will continue to do so. This project will empower a team of internationally-renowned scholars to improve accuracy and precision in predicting and measuring the impact of environmental changes caused by climate, National Science and Research Priority #8: Environmental Change. Our innovative interdisciplinary approach uses chemical analyses pioneered by Australian scholars and builds scientific workforce capacity and recognition of leadership in a field of growing international significance. This work pushes the boundaries of research on ancient life forms and modern endangered animals. Broader benefits may be realised by extending our approach to the abundant animal remains from rural Australia for insight into undocumented historic climate conditions, as well as prehistoric environmental changes that have shaped Australia’s unique modern landscapes.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Improving middle leading practices in schools to enhance student learning. This project aims to understand how middle leaders in schools can build teacher capacity to positively influence student learning. With Australian students falling behind their peers internationally, improving academic results is a national imperative. School-based professional learning for teachers is key to achieving that, and middle leaders are recognised as important facilitators of such learning. Using practice-based methodology, the project will study how their implementation of professional learning impacts on classroom teaching and student outcomes. The anticipated results will enable the development of practices to inform a charter of middle leadership best practice for improving teaching and learning in Australian schools. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education This project is in the national interest because it aims to enhance students' learning experiences and educational outcomes. It addresses two of Australia's national education priorities: i) effective curriculum development and teacher professional development, and ii) improving students' academic results. While middle leadership in schools is acknowledged as critical in this context, there is limited evidence on how it is effectively practised, as has been noted by peak educational leadership bodies. Moreover, key goals of the 2019-23 Australian National School Reform Agreement include undertaking research to establish ‘what works in improving school and student outcomes’, and ‘translating research into practical resources to support schools and teachers’. The team will identify middle-leading practices that can transform teaching and educational outcomes, and this evidence will inform the development of professional learning and educational resources. Well-educated students help to make Australia more competitive, and are instigators of meaningful economic, social, environmental and cultural change.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

When quantum is not desirable: quantum noise vs. quantum technologies. One of the key remaining obstacles to the successful deployment of quantum computers & sensors in science, industry, and society is the existence of noise sources that are themselves quantum, and thus have an unmatched potential for disruption. This project will attack this problem by providing (i) a detailed understanding of the impact of quantum noise sources, and developing protocols to (ii) characterize and (iii) overcome the negative effects such realistic noise entails. In taking this necessary step for the implementation of these breakthrough technologies, it will not only significantly advance knowledge but will have a direct impact in the development of a technology in which Australia and other leading nations are heavily invested. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics Australia and many nations and private companies around the world are heavily invested in the development of quantum-enhanced technologies, including quantum computing and quantum sensors. These technologies promise to radically change the way we process and acquire information, and have significant applications over an extremely wide range of areas of interest, including defence, securing data, medicine, drug discovery, mining, city planning, etc. In summary, in any area in which dramatically better sensors and exponentially more processing power are useful. Securing Australia's role as a leader in their development will ensure a technological edge for the country and its establishment as a niche for quantum-related research and development. This will translate in increased local and foreign investment to develop this technology. This proposal will provide the necessary tools to assess and overcome one of the key hurdles in the development of these breakthrough technologies, i.e., quantum noise, and is thus key to fulfilling their potential.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Trajectories of Wrongful Conviction and Pathways to Exoneration. This is the first national study of its kind that investigates the trajectories of wrongful convictions as systems failures by examining decisions from investigation to exoneration. Wrongful conviction is a significant social and legal problem in Australia and other nations. It costs the Australian government millions in police, court and prison services and has health and psychological consequences for exonerees and their families. Expected outcomes for this project include an early warning detection tool to identify at-risk cases and overall improved accuracy in convictions. This will provide significant benefits, for criminal justice agencies, victims and accused individuals while positioning Australia as a world leader in the field. Field of research: 1801 - Law This project addresses a significant problem for our criminal justice system and those directly affected by it. Wrongful convictions adversely impact the health and wellbeing of exonerees and their families; cost the Australian tax payer an estimated $39 million per annum in unnecessary prison expenses; and undermines our faith in the institutions of justice. This project is expected to pinpoint the case characteristics and different system pathways that lead to wrongful conviction and develop detection tools to help improve the accuracy of the Australian justice system. Project outcomes are expected to have direct benefits for those involved in the justice system as well as broader benefits such as better communication between criminal justice agencies and enhanced public confidence in the accuracy and fairness of the Australian criminal justice system. The project will generate an early detection tool for wrongful conviction, similar to the checklists used to reduce errors in medicine and aviation, and a national dataset of cases as a pubicly available resource to enhance research and comparative work.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Identifying critical thresholds to prioritise lake restoration. This project aims to conduct a global assessment of lake water quality and prioritise lakes for restoration. This project expects to generate new understanding of trends in lake condition based on application of geospatial frameworks and models for nutrient loads and in-lake trophic state. This information will help to quantify the magnitude of actions required to restore lakes at landscape scale. The intended outcome is a global atlas linking catchment hydrology, nutrient loads and lake attributes. Expected outcomes of this project include improved methods to predict effects of land use and climate change on lakes across the globe, and recommendations to water resource managers on investing in the restoration of lakes across the landscape. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Lakes and reservoirs are a strategic asset, critical for the water security of Australia. Their importance is emphasised now more than ever by the prevailing conditions of climate extremes, water shortages, bush fires and widespread landscape drying. Climate and land use change as well as human demographic factors are impacting on water quantity and quality in Australia. Our research will be the first to quantify the extent that natural lakes have departed from a pre-human reference state in Australia, allowing strategic planning for the scale of restoration efforts to arrest further degradation and improve functionality. Concurrently, we will use artificial reservoirs with comprehensive data sets to ensure our models are well calibrated to the unique variability of Australia. Our research will provide a basis to manage lakes as a vital economic and environmental asset underpinning water in the welfare and stability of citizens of Australia, as well as reinforcing intrinsic values. It will align with identification of Soil & Water by the Commonwealth Government as one of nine national research priorities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Decoding Revisionist Challenges to the International Institutional Order . This project aims to systematically examine the policy strategies that great powers can employ to challenge international institutions during a period of international order transition. This project expects to develop a new theoretical framework to shed light on how the United States and China compete and cooperate in the different issue areas of global governance. The outcomes of this project will be an in-depth understanding of revisionism in world politics and practical policy recommendations to cope with the dynamics of international order transition. This knowledge should provide significant benefits to Australia’s policy community for making sensible policies against the background of US-China competition in the 21st century. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science This project serves Australia’s national interest in three ways. First, this project focuses on the coming US-China competition in world politics, which is one of the most important foreign policy challenges for Australia in the 21st century. How Australia should act in order to maximize Australia’s national interest is one of the toughest questions for policymakers in Canberra. Second, this project will provide a new theoretical framework to shed light on revisionist strategies in world politics, which will help Australia’s policymakers to understand the dynamics of the international order transition against the background of US-China strategic competition. Third, it will offer some doable and practical policy recommendations for Australia’s policy community to shape the future rules-based international order in global governance.