Griffith University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Resolving the archaeological enigma of Indonesia’s ‘Toalean’ culture . Archaeologists have long puzzled over the identity and origin of the 'Toalean' people from Sulawesi, Indonesia. These prehistoric hunter-gatherers produced a unique culture that emerged in the south of this island about 7500 years ago, and some scholars believe they introduced the dingo to Australia. Little is known about these early foragers despite a century of research. This project aims to investigate a significant new cave site in Sulawesi that is the richest, most well-dated Toalean locality yet uncovered. Through detailed archaeological excavations and analyses, this project expects to advance scientific knowledge of an important but poorly understood Indonesian culture that is often connected with the early human story in Australia. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology This project will bring together Australian and Indonesian scientists to advance our understanding of the origins and population history of one of Indonesia’s most enigmatic, but poorly known, ancient cultures – one that may have played a role in shaping the Australian Aboriginal past. The research will aid in unravelling the intertwined and diverse histories of the indigenous peoples of Indonesia and Australia. It will benefit Australia through a key contribution to improving our nation’s awareness of the shared history that underpins the pre-European world of Indonesia and Australia, and, in broader terms, our understanding of Southeast Asian populations (>590,000,000 people). By revealing the early roots of modern Indonesian society, the project will benefit Australia through both soft diplomacy and the long-term social stability of its most important neighbour. Uncovering Sulawesi’s rich archaeological past will significantly contribute to the emerging cultural heritage-related businesses of local communities, thus aiding economic growth in an underdeveloped neighbour – to the benefit of the region.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Recyclable and Rechargeable All-Solid-State Sodium Ion Batteries. This project aims to design a new generation recyclable and rechargeable all-solid-state sodium ion battery. We will use low cost and abundant sodium as a substitute for expensive and limited lithium to reduce material and environmental costs, and will develop ceramic/polymer composites as safe and environmentally friendly solid-state electrolytes to replace flammable and toxic organic liquid electrolytes. Furthermore, we design a recyclable battery configuration to allow rapid, low cost and green recycling of end-of-life batteries. The new battery will be a safe, low cost and sustainable energy storage technology for the multi-billion dollar electric vehicle and smart grid markets while simultaneously addressing battery recycling issues. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering This project aims to develop highly efficient, low cost, safe, sustainable, recyclable and rechargeable all-solid-state sodium ion batteries (ASSNIBs) that are beneficial for both electrical vehicles and smart grid applications. We will design a 3-D conductive network for electrodes enhances power density and stability and develop a ceramic/polymer composite as a non-flammable and highly ionic conductive solid electrolyte facilitates high energy density with zero risk of fire. Furthermore,our sustainability inspired design of conventional battery structure will enable low cost materials recycling and eliminates pollution from battery waste and recycling processes. The proposed ASSNIBs will help protect our environment by reducing consumption of our limited natural resources, decreasing the production of pollutants, and improving sustainable battery recycling processes. If successful, the resultant ASSNIBs can be manufactured and adopted at a commercial scale, driving Australia to the forefront of the energy storage industry and supporting sustainable, economic development in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Mapping the learning mechanisms linking adversity with maladjustment. Exposure to adversity, such as violence, neglect and natural disasters, is common and a powerful risk factor for emotional maladjustment. Yet knowledge of the underlying mechanisms linking adversity with emotional maladjustment is remarkably limited. By drawing from theories of adversity and learning and utilising novel experimental methodology, this project aims to map how adverse experiences have different negative effects on daily emotional wellbeing by disrupting the mechanisms underlying how people learn to acquire and reduce reactivity to new threats. Expected benefits include new knowledge about the pathways linking adversity with psychopathology as well as the vital evidence-base for clear targets for behavioural interventions. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Adverse life events are common, costly, and highly impairing for affected individuals, their families and the Australian health care and social welfare systems. In a world in which adverse experiences appear to be increasing, understanding the mechanisms for why some people develop different types of emotional problems following adversity and others do not will provide clear translational knowledge to inform behavioural interventions that could improve quality of life, reduce social burden and cut national health and welfare costs. With reported rates of violence and neglect on the increase, and recent natural disasters causing widespread devastation and loss, understanding how adversity leads to emotional maladjustment is crucial to our national interests of ensuring a healthy life for all Australians and economic stability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Gender differences in the prevention of youth victimisation and offending. This project aims to investigate how early family, individual, and school factors can be targeted to prevent victimisation and offending among vulnerable male and female young people. This project expects to generate new knowledge on: 1) gender-specific risk and protective factors of victimisation and offending; and, 2) the effectiveness of school-based social-emotional learning programs for males and females. Expected outcomes include advancing developmental life-course theories for female offending. This project should provide significant social and economic benefits for policymakers on how to most effectively prevent male and female young people’s involvement with the criminal justice system. Field of research: 1607 - Social Work By helping to effectively identify and support young people and their families prior to becoming enmeshed in the criminal justice system, this project has strong potential to benefit government and taxpayers by reducing the enormous costs of the Australian justice systems (estimated at 16 billion annually). Since individuals with early, frequent, and persistent contact with the criminal justice system are also frequent users of other government services such health, welfare, employment, and other social services, there is also strong potential to reduce the financial costs more broadly. Beyond the tangible economic benefits, preventing victimisation and offending has important social benefits to individuals, young people, families, peers, schools, communities as well as Australian society. Determining which early risk and protective factors of offending and victimisation trajectories to target by gender will help to inform the development of effective preventative interventions for vulnerable youth.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Australian civil society combating modern slavery with ethical consumerism. To combat the grave problem of modern slavery in supply chains, governments rely on consumers and investors to hold corporations accountable. Yet little is known about the critical role civil society plays in empowering citizens to serve this function. In this world-first study of an anti-slavery advocacy network, this project aims to investigate how civil society can mobilise ethical consumerism to combat slavery. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how civil society can work with the state to address complex issues with ethical consumerism. Expected outcomes include the integration of successful strategies into policy and advocacy, to provide significant benefits in building Australia’s capacity to eradicate modern slavery. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science This project aims to support Australia’s efforts to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 for the eradication of modern slavery. By providing a robust evidence-base to directly inform Australian policy and advocacy, this project builds Australia’s capacity to prevent modern slavery in supply chains through engaging ethical consumers and investors, and incentivising corporate social responsibility. Expected immediate benefits include: (i) the identification of innovative tools to mobilise ethical consumerism, for integration into anti-slavery advocacy programs; (ii) the identification of successes and governance gaps in current approaches, to aid in implementation and review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018, and the National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery; and (iii) the establishment of best practice for civil society working in concert with the government to address complex issues. With stakeholder engagement, and research disseminated through quality publications, policy briefings, media and symposia, this project will underpin future policy and advocacy to eradicate modern slavery.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Single-Atom Catalysts on Atomically Thin Nanomaterials for H2O2 Production. Single-atomic sites supported on graphene analogs is an ideal structural mode for the design of electrocatalysts due to its ultimate small size limit, atomic thickness, and easily tuned electronic properties. This project aims to use a theory-guided approach to develop efficient electrocatalysts for the production of value-added hydrogen peroxide. The structural advantages of graphene analogs will be fully utilised to unlock the catalytic power of single-atomic sites, and consequently achieve high catalytic activity and selectivity. The outcome will set a solid scientific foundation to enable economically viable technologies for eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide production and bring significant socioeconomic benefits to Australia. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology Hydrogen peroxide is a key chemical for a range of industrial sectors. Its production via the anthraquinone process, however, relies on fossil fuels and is energy intensive. This project takes the challenge to develop atomically thin nanomaterial supported single-atomic-site catalysts for 2e-ORR, which will set a solid scientific foundation to enable economically viable technologies for eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide production. Moreover, the project is at the forefront of emerging catalysis science and technology, and therefore its success will advance knowledge in these fields and enhance Australia’s global reputation. More importantly, this project directly addresses the Australian Government Science and Research Priorities: Advanced manufacturing - Cross-cutting technologies that will de-risk, scale up, and add value to Australian manufactured products. The cutting-edge science and technology developed by this project will enable Australian chemical engineering industries to meet the challenge of advanced manufacturing, providing significant socioeconomic benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Exploiting biological noise for next generation electrochemical biosensors. This project aims to harness the intrinsic noise in a biological system to develop a new platform for biosensors. This will lead to advancement of a new versatile electrochemical platform for real-time screening with vast applications that span from sensing at sub-cellular level to point-of-care and implantable biosensors. The new sensory technique will improve the specificity, sensitivity and resolution in biosensors and enables measurement of multiple biomarkers simultaneously in real-time. The outcomes will contribute to a better understanding of fundamental physiological processes and chemical interactions at subcellular level which will inform future advancements in biomedical engineering. Field of research: 1004 - Medical Biotechnology In-depth understanding the physiological processes and chemical interactions at the sub-cellular level is the gateway to future advancements in biomedical engineering, i.e. personalized health monitoring systems and treatment, better biosensors and biomaterials. It is known that cells communicate via electrochemical mechanisms and this projects aims to exploit intrinsic electrochemical signals to deconvolute sub-cellar communication leading to technologies for better understanding and monitoring of cellular behaviour and interactions. While the medical applications are not within the scope of this proposed DECRA, the new sensory technology can be implemented in future to automate drug discovery and more importantly personalise diagnostics and treatments leading to more effective treatments at a lower cost. Given the ever growing market of biomedical sensors in Australia and globally, outcomes of the proposed research have great prospects for further industry investment and job creations while making a tangible contribution to technologies toward improving the health and well-being of general public.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The role of First Nations’ music as a determinant of health . This project aims to track how First Nations' music and musicians are shaped by, and in turn may shape, powerful social determinants of health in Australia. That knowledge will be used to generate new models and frameworks for health promotion and arts-health policy and practice internationally. The project is significant because it responds to calls for health approaches that are strength based, First Nations-led, and culturally secure. Expected outcomes include: new models of First Nations' social and cultural health determinants; new tools to promote health; international research partnerships; and researcher and higher degree opportunities. Benefits include new tools for promoting First Nations' health and music development. Field of research: 1904 - Performing Arts and Creative Writing First Nations' People's well-being is a national priority. This project aims to identify the ways that First Nations' musicians and music facilitators can help address negative health determinants such as racism, social exclusion, and poor mental health. The project supports national and international calls for new First Nations-led, strengths-based, and culturally safe health and well-being responses. It creates new knowledge by identifying the health determinants that affect First Nations' musicians and communities and the ways that musicians might in turn influence powerful health determinants for others. The project helps us to better understand, and potentially influence, the interactions between music and First Nations' health and well-being at national and international levels. It will provide new understandings of the ways that Australia can draw on existing First Nations' strengths in arts and health to address dramatic health inequalities between First Nations' Peoples and others. If successful, the research will place Australia at the forefront of international arts-health policy and practice.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Enhancing critical reading with migrant and refugee-background youth. This project investigates how migrant and refugee-background youth learn to read critically in school, and in everyday, out-of-school contexts. Youth engage in the complex online worlds of websites, Apps, digital gaming and other media, posing both opportunities and risks. Their challenge is navigating learning to read English, and to read critically in English. Using qualitative methods, this study will identify the critical reading practices of these youth, and create resources to enhance their critical reading skills out-of-school. Drawing connections between in and out of school reading benefits migrant and refugee-background youth and teachers to strategically manage critical reading in complex, contemporary reading environments. Field of research: 1302 - Curriculum and Pedagogy The project expects to provide migrant and refugee-background youth with crucial practices to enhance their critical reading and viewing out of school. It will also yield significant benefits for teachers in the form of deeper understandings of how these learners approach reading, especially reading online material, out of school. It will produce scholarly publications, media summaries of the project, and instructional resources for schools. These will buttress educational services for migrant and refugee-background students and promote better education outcomes. The project will potentially lower public costs on educational failure, increase social cohesion and intercultural understanding, and provide policy and curriculum implications in and beyond Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Spatially orthogonal multifunctional materials for catalytic cascades. This project aims to develop and implement new strategies to create, visualise, and apply multifunctional catalysts in which the location of (and communication between) active sites is precisely controlled to unlock ultraselective cascade reactions. Catalysis is a key enabling technology contributing to 35 % of the global economy, with new catalysts underpinning socioeconomic advancement through fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals production, and environmental depollution. This interdisciplinary project expects to discover next-generation nanoengineered catalysts, and to develop innovative energy- and resource-efficient chemical processes, which should offer significant benefits to Australian science, industry, and the environment. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) This project will underpin the sustainable manufacturing of low carbon fuels and high value chemicals from underexploited waste resources, with the potential to enhance Australian energy security, and to strengthen and diversify the Australian agricultural and chemical manufacturing sectors through new investment opportunities and associated job and wealth creation. Cleaner routes to the production of renewable transport fuels and high value chemicals, including renewable and biodegradable polymers and plastics, from industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste, will reduce water and energy consumption and help to protect and clean-up rural and urban environments, and to mitigate marine microplastic pollution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Preparing quantum chemistry for the second quantum revolution. This project aims to provide new computer models of quantum systems, which can be used to design new quantum technologies that exploit fundamental quantum physics, such as light harvesting. The benefits of such an approach are broad, as innovative technology firms can use its outputs in a virtual laboratory design process, saving time and costs. The work is significant, as it will bring a new physics-led approach to quantum chemistry of excited states and open systems, which are likely to play a key role in future quantum technologies. It will also ensure Australia has well-trained computational chemists, who can take those skills to industry or academia; and will foster strong connections with Israel, a leader in the high-technology field. Field of research: 0307 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry The national and international demand for the technology that will evolve from this project is potentially worth billions of dollars, because the project will have a major impact on the second quantum revolution, an area of existing national strength; and other growing industries such as batteries and engineered catalysis. It will ensure models incorporate how quantum technologies behave in their unusual operating conditions. It will thereby let Australia firms compete with the deeper pockets of our Asian, European and US competitors, by using low-cost models to replace costly experiments. It will provide training in the high-level interdisciplinary skills that will be required to tackle future quantum engineering problems, which will ensure domestic industries can access much-needed skills. Its outcomes and deliverables will thus help Australia maintain its lead in the field when translating fundamental science into applied quantum technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The impact of mass gathering events on emergency healthcare services. Mass gathering events (MGEs) occur frequently across Australia. The preparation of a MGE from an emergency healthcare service perspective is conducted with limited evidence to support decision-making. Using routinely collected data from Tourism and Events Queensland, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Emergency Departments, and the Bureau of Meteorology, this research aims to determine the impact on ambulance and emergency department services in the vicinity of 750 planned MGEs over a five year period (2015 - 2019). The expected outcome includes an enhanced ability to predict the required emergency healthcare services for a MGE, therefore enhancing the planning and response, benefiting MGE attendees and the MGE host community. Field of research: 1103 - Clinical Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Multi-kilohertz laser for attosecond and ultrafast science. Griffith University's Australian Attosecond Science Facility was established 12 years ago to facilitate internationally leading research into strong-field laser science. The facility is unique in Australia as it has the capability to precisely manipulate highly-amplified and ultra-short light pulses to investigate the dynamics of matter. The scientific outputs from the facility have delivered important new scientific advances in strong-field physics enabling the development of new technologies. This grant will be used to procure an upgraded laser system enabling an order of magnitude enhancement of the output light for the next-generation research and maintaining international competitiveness of Australian investigators in this field. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics Ultrafast and attosecond science is a cutting-edge fast developing field which is actively pursued by all scientifically advanced nations. This field is driven by technological developments resulting in increasingly advanced coherent light sources capable of probing ultrafast processes in matter in real time at the attosecond (10^-18 s) timescale. The detailed understanding of these processes will guide further fundamental scientific and technological research that will underpin the development of new materials, nanostructures and medicines, enabling Australia to remain internationally competitive in this growing field rather than to rely on others for those new materials and technologies. It is also a national interest of Australia to maintain a high level of expertise in those technologies. Establishing this state-of-the art facility in Australia will attract existing and enable training of new world-class experts in this advanced and sophisticated field thus helping to consolidate Australia's position as a leader in ultrafast and attosecond science and technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Exploring the role and outcomes of employee voice in a hospital setting. This project aims to identify ways to improve patient care and enhance employee wellbeing of healthcare workers through better utilisation of employee voice practices that enable employees to speak up. We aim to do this by identifying and distinguishing between the types of practices used by these workers to speak up on issues concerning working conditions and patient care concerns. The project will identify the determinants of speaking up in healthcare and the consequences this voice has for quality of patient care and worker wellbeing. This will have significant benefits for hospital stakeholders, including improved patient care, employee satisfaction and retention, and hospital efficiencies. Field of research: 1503 - Business and Management The health sector is under increasing pressure to provide efficient and error-free service, while retaining high quality staff to provide those services. Meanwhile, there are reports of bullying, strikes and the inability of workers to raise concerns regarding patients and working conditions, with ensuing negative repercussions on patient care. By focusing on improving employee voice, we aim to harness the human talent to improve outcomes for hospitals, patients and healthcare workers. By determining how staff should approach voicing their concerns, this research will contribute to safe patient care, the reduction of errors and incidents and improved employee welfare. This will yield significant social and economic benefits, including improved efficiency in hospitals, better patient health outcomes and improved satisfaction of healthcare personnel. The research findings may also benefit other industries which rely on their staff to detect errors and where the safety and wellbeing of their employees and stakeholders is paramount.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Advanced Microgrids for Residential, Commercial and Industry Buildings. The project aims to develop and commercialise an Advanced Microgrid Energy-Management System (AM-EMS) to enhance the energy efficiency of residential, commercial and industry buildings. It will allow the industry partner to integrate their existing products in AM-EMS with maximum returns. The intended outcome of the project is an AM-EMS with optimised energy scheduling and distribution, incorporating renewable energy sources and battery storage systems. End-users will benefit from reduced energy costs, improved energy efficiency and reliability, with the added benefit of new and innovative clean energy technology. The research community will benefit from new knowledge that will underpin international improvements in energy efficiency. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering This project falls under this research priority by directly addressing one of the goals, namely ‘Australian electricity grids that can readily integrate and more efficiently transmit energy from all sources including low- and zero-carbon sources. The $50 million program announced recently by the Australian Government will fund feasibility studies looking at Microgrid technologies to replace, upgrade or supplement existing electricity supply arrangements in off-grid and fringe-of grid communities located in regional and remote areas. Microgrids are stand-alone power systems that can operate independently or maintain a connection to the grid by harnessing distributed energy resources such as solar PV, wind power and batteries. It will provide an opportunity for the Australian business to lead in emerging advanced microgrid technology which will bring national economic, commercial and environmental benefits. It will also attract international researchers and industry partners to further develop the product for other countries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Constructing Building Integrity: Raising standards through professionalism. This project aims to investigate the role of professions in rebuilding trust in residential building construction in Australia. In the wake of expensive and life-threatening building defects, this project expects to generate new knowledge about the functioning of individual professionals, professionals employed in multi-profession organisations, and professionals’ interaction with their institutional environment. Expected outcomes include practical recommendations for improved professional standards, a rigorous building integrity system and a means for measuring change. Anticipated benefits include greater awareness by professions, trades and regulators of their role in in delivering the public goods of a trustworthy construction industry. Field of research: 2201 - Applied Ethics The lack of confidence and trust in the building industry and in building products is jeopardising one of Australia’s most critical industries. This research project directly confronts this challenge, by advancing theoretically sound and feasible means for professions to contribute to rebuilding trust in the construction industry. Improved professional standards, a more rigorous building integrity system, and the means by which to measure impacts of change will assist professions, trades and regulators, individually and collectively, in delivering the public good of reliable buildings. The outcomes will help the Australian industry create buildings that are well designed, constructed, and maintained as well as appreciated by their occupants. This will benefit local employment, investment and business opportunities, as well as bringing the social and cultural benefits associated with consumer and community confidence.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Innovative tools needed for market-based nutrient offsetting . This project will apply innovative approaches to develop a functional equivalency of nutrients from catchment versus point sources. This is fundamental knowledge needed for the successful application of nutrient offsetting. This market-based mechanism involves point source polluters choosing to pay for catchment restoration, which is offset against their nutrient discharge. Currently, despite its potential, there is a lack of confidence in the scientific robustness of nutrient offsetting. The proposed new indicators in nutrient equivalency would provide the foundation needed to ensure that governments and industry can have the confidence to engage in nutrient trading schemes, ultimately ensuring environmental and social benefits. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management This project aims to establish an evidenced-based nutrient equivalency index that can be used to compare pollutant effects from different nutrient sources, thus providing greater certainty for a fair, robust nutrient offset trading system. After being tested in Queensland and New South Wales, this approach would be applicable throughout Australia, and would also be highly relevant internationally. The nutrient offsetting approach can be a win-win for point source polluters, e.g. sewage treatment plant operators, and the environment by allowing sewage discharge from a growing population in cities and towns, in exchange for restoration of degraded catchments to reduce nutrient losses from the land. Additionally, there will be benefits for rural communities with opportunities for catchment restoration works. The approach will be more broadly applicable to a range of industry and polluters, including the aquaculture industry and urban stormwater pollution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

A Socially Conscious Smart IoT Platform for Water Quality Monitoring. This project will develop an intelligent remote water quality monitoring platform based on a new sensor network architectural paradigm. Expected outcomes include an artificially intelligent water quality monitoring system that is produced via a unique social enterprise business model. This approach will facilitate widespread remote water quality monitoring, leading to an enhanced understanding of the environment, whilst providing valuable training/education for the community stakeholders involved in the production of the system. The research outcome will be globally significant, enabling end users to meet key water quality objectives over time, and considerably increase productivity in the Australian agriculture/aquaculture industries. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing This project will develop a socially conscious intelligent IoT platform for water quality monitoring to address a major technical and cost barrier for widespread water asset management. Through the use of a social enterprise business model and e-waste components, the system can be produced in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner whilst providing significant social and educational benefits for disadvantaged members of society. We propose a novel software-based architecture that uses artificial intelligence methods to enable smart insights into the data and remote dynamic updates to the system configuration. The project will train a team of five new water quality technology and management experts, adding to Australia's globally recognised pool of research talent. The success of this project has the potential to revolutionise the approach to remotely monitor water bodies, provide an enhanced understanding of environmental processes that contribute to healthy waterways, lift industrial productivity, and give the Australian agriculture and aquaculture industries a large international advantage.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Supporting teachers and teaching in flexible and non-traditional schools . This project aims to address a critical gap in knowledge about the experiences and conditions of people who teach in flexible and non-traditional schools in Australia. These schools provide a second chance at education for young people with challenging behaviours and/or learning problems. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the experiences and needs of these teachers, using a combination of in-depth research methods. Expected outcomes include detailed understanding of support needs for this workforce. This will significantly benefit teachers, sponsors and principals through recommendations on best practice management of this important work, along with evidence-based training artefacts for staff recruitment and retention. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education The workforce in flexible/non-traditional schools in Australia provides a vital service to the nation by educating young people who have left school early, without a sense of belonging to communities and lacking the skills necessary to gain meaningful work. This project will provide evidence on the nature of the teaching workforce in flexible/non-traditional schools, their pedagogical, curricular and relational practices and the support structures they require. It is in the national interest to keep all young people in education rather than losing them and risking permanent disengagement from society. Low levels of education are associated with ill-health, crime and a lack of civic participation. This research will provide evidence and support structures to assist principals and teachers who are at the heart of re-engaging marginalised young people to reconnect to education, work and community. Thus, the findings will contribute to development of a body of knowledge and practical approaches to ensure educational quality and value for money in the short term, with social and economic dividends in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Molecular basis of nucleotide signalling by TIR domain containing proteins. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) dependent signalling pathways play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases and bacterial defence systems, and are therefore potential targets for the development of new therapeutics and biotechnology tools. This project aims to increase our understanding of the biology of a novel class of enzymes involved in NAD+ signalling across the domains of life. The project is expected to unravel general principles of nucleotide-based signalling, and the expected outcomes will include new molecular mechanisms relevant to cell-death and pathogen defence in mammalian and bacterial systems, which should provide significant benefit for a range of applications in human biology and biotechnology. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project aims at a breakthrough in our understanding of the biology of a novel class of enzymes involved in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) dependent signalling across the domains of life. This project will enable advancements of scientific outcomes to improve our understanding of nucleotide-based signalling mechanisms in biological processes throughout nature, including human disease processes and bacterial defence systems, which may provide the basis for future work on drugs to combat a range of neurodegenerative diseases and expand the currently available molecular and chemical biology toolkits for biotechnology applications; thus providing economic, commercial and societal benefits. This project will develop new national and international collaborative links and will provide an excellent, multidisciplinary environment for training the next generation of researchers to solve problems in the increasingly complex field of life science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The role of community music in addressing social inequalities in Australia. This project aims to investigate the role community music can play in addressing social inequalities in Australia. The research expects to map and analyse a range of social outcomes fostered by community music, and investigate how these outcomes can enrich current place-based efforts to address social disadvantage. Through national sector mapping, community case studies, and an innovative analytic framework, expected outcomes include new interdisciplinary knowledge, music and social sector development, and greater creativity in place-based policies tackling inequalities. This should provide significant benefits for Australian communities where social inequalities exist, by harnessing their creative assets to drive positive social change. Field of research: 1904 - Performing Arts and Creative Writing Social inequalities are on the rise in Australia. Despite increased government spending, problems of long-term disadvantage persist in Australian communities. There are growing calls for place-based approaches that bring together diverse stakeholders and sectors to work collectively on addressing these inequalities. This Fellowship will advance our understanding of the role that community music can play in these tailored, community-based approaches. Building on a mounting evidence-base of research that documents the social, cultural, physiological and economic benefits that can come from participating in community music, it seeks to examine whether these positive outcomes can lead to the kinds of individual, community, and systemic changes needed for greater social equality to occur. This knowledge will improve the reach and impact of the Australian music sector, bring a ‘creative turn’ to the social sector’s design and implementation of collective initiatives targeting inequalities, and enhance the efficacy of these efforts. It will also inform future government efforts to formulate place-based policies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Illuminating behavioural and environmental influences on human development. This project aims to investigate prehistoric human population growth by documenting nursing behaviour, developmental stress, and fine-scaled climate variation directly from the teeth of ancient children. Knowledge of the nexus of early childhood growth and ecological variation will shed light on modern human health and fertility, which in turn impact planetary health. Outcomes will provide further insight into humanity’s unprecedented evolutionary success while augmenting multidisciplinary collaborative networks. This will further strengthen Australia’s pioneering role in the development of innovative technologies, and build key workforce capabilities of benefit for diverse fields such as public health and environmental science. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology This investigation of prehistoric population growth by documenting nursing behaviour and developmental stress from the teeth of ancient children will improve our understanding of modern human health and fertility. The outcomes will provide further insight into humanity’s unprecedented evolutionary success, including by relating dietary choices to lifelong health outcomes during periods of environmental change. Public health recommendations on nursing practices that optimise infant growth and development may be further underpinned by the deeper knowledge gained. Our innovative interdisciplinary approach uses chemical analyses pioneered by Australian scholars and builds scientific workforce capacity in a field of growing international significance. This includes highlighting how the analysis of elements in teeth may advance the identification of childhood exposure to environmental toxins. Broader national benefits arise from opening up new opportunities for probing the impacts of cultural transitions, reconstructing fine-scaled climate variation and exploring Indigenous Australians’ prehistory.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Advancing green electrochemical engineering of functional 2D nanomaterials. This project aims to produce value-added functional 2D nanomaterials by advancing the green, scalable and cost-effective electrochemical production method developed by the candidate. In addition to developing transformational electrochemical engineering technology to utilise Australian raw resources, this project will generate new knowledge in the area of materials chemistry and innovative additive manufacturing technology. Expected outcomes of this project include improved pilot-scale electrochemical reactors for producing various functional 2D nanomaterials and enabling precise control of their molecular and bulk properties. These tailored 2D nanomaterials will significantly improve the performances of flexible and energy-related devices. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The electrochemical production and engineering of functional 2D nanomaterials is an environmentally friendly, scalable and cost-effective method that will facilitate the eventual commercialisation of 2D nanomaterials. Moreover, the niche applications of these functional 2D nanomaterials in energy storage, energy conversion and flexible electronic devices, assisted via the precise fabrication controls in additive manufacturing technology, will greatly add value and increase demand for Australian raw resources. Ultimately, the advent of these patentable advanced production and manufacturing technologies will catalyse the technological development of many other application areas such as biosensing and health monitoring. This project will directly support the growth of Australian high-tech companies, which are the cornerstones in sustaining a strong economy, by providing the home-grown technological advances and training of the future resilient research and development scientists.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Reimagining Norfolk Island's Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historic Area. The proposed project aims to explore the role living heritage sites play in resisting or reinforcing cultural injustices faced by colonial subjects. Focusing on the World Heritage Listed Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area, the project's significance lies in generating new understandings about Pitcairn Settler descendants’ struggles for recognition and self-determination. Expected outcomes of the project include developing the cultural justice approach as a conceptual and methodological tool and co-creating public history outputs with the community. Benefits include raising awareness about cultural injustices against Pitcairn Settler descendants and capacity building for the community to enhance senses of ownership over their heritage. Field of research: 2102 - Curatorial and Related Studies Norfolk Island plays an important and complicated role in Australia’s colonial history. The Island has a significant convict heritage which developed alongside that of NSW and Tasmania, but the arrival of Pitcairn Settlers in 1856 saw the development of a unique Anglo-Polynesian culture, distinct from that emerging in the colonisation of Australia. Yet, the Pitcairn Settler heritage is currently downplayed in the (World Heritage Listed) Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area of Norfolk Island. This project works with Pitcairn Settler descendants to better understand the unique colonial history of Norfolk, to co-create public history resources and produce a policy report to inform heritage initiatives and development of tourist attractions that support ‘cultural justice’ for these descendants. Broader benefits to Australia include increased awareness of the past and present impacts of colonialism, greater understanding of the relationships between heritage and human rights issues, and practical recommendations for how heritage can be activated to produce cultural and social benefits for colonised peoples.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Understanding the water cultures of the Murray-Darling Basin. The project aims to generate new knowledge of the formation and evolution of cultural values and practices relating to water in the Murray-Darling Basin. By applying innovative approaches from the environmental humanities, it will investigate the development of cultures of water and their role in long-standing water-sharing conflicts. The expected outcome is a greater understanding of influential ideas about the value of water and rivers and a Water Cultures Network to facilitate collaboration between humanities and social science scholars, environmental scientists, and water managers. The public will benefit from knowing how water use behaviours evolved in the Basin and how they might be reframed to adapt to a hotter, drier future. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography Conflict over water is one of the most pressing and contentious challenges for modern Australia and its resolution will require a cultural change in how Australians relate to and share water. This project will benefit Australia by generating a new understanding of the origins and development of influential ideas about the value of water and rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. It will investigate for the first time the ways that attitudes, norms, beliefs, and practices relating to water have developed across three regions of the Basin and clarify the basis of current thinking about water sharing and conflicts over water. It will also build Australian research capacity and stronger cross-disciplinary collaborations by establishing a Water Cultures Network that will demonstrate the value of social and cultural insights and methods to water policy development and management. The project will generate resources to enable the significant cultural change necessary to enable Murray-Darling Basin communities to address the entrenched problems of water allocation and the likelihood of a warmer and drier future.