Griffith University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

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

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

Inspired climate action through local nature restoration Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Catalytic Refining CO2 and Seawater into Ethylene Carbonate and Hydrogen. This project aims to develop an innovative method to produce ethylene carbonate, a key industrial commodity, using carbon dioxide and seawater under ambient conditions. Traditional production methods rely on toxic materials and high-energy inputs. The project designs novel catalysts to catalytically produce ethylene carbonate and hydrogen using CO2 and seawater as reactants under ambient conditions. This method offers a sustainable alternative to conventional processes, reducing environmental impact and utilizing abundant resources. The expected outcomes include improved efficiency in green chemical production and potential benefits for energy storage technologies, contributing to a more sustainable and low-carbon future. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Ethylene carbonate (EC) production in Australia has significant potential for expansion due to Australia’s growing automotive, electronics, and energy industries, particularly in the battery production sector. However, the traditional methods of EC production are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful. This project aims to develop a sustainable and decentralised method for producing EC and hydrogen from CO2 and seawater, addressing key challenges in chemical production and CO2 emissions reduction. The project should provide a reliable, cost-effective source of EC which will benefit Australia's growing lithium-ion battery production sector, while supporting carbon neutrality by converting CO2 into useful products, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This should provide significant benefits by reducing dependence on imports, fostering economic resilience and creating new opportunities in the green economy. The project aligns with Australia's commitment to addressing climate change, contributing to job creation in the renewable energy sector and offering new avenues for sustainable industrial practices. The project will form partnerships with the chemicals, petrochemical and battery industries to demonstrate the technology's scalability. The outcomes and findings of the project will be promoted outside academia via public lectures/seminars, workshops and collaboration with industry associations for the widespread adoption and commercial/environmental benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

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

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

Spatiotemporally Correlated Population-based Structural Health... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Heterometallic nanosheets with ultra-high MRI signals and sensor capability. Quantifying drug release in deep tissue is vital for advancing drug delivery systems, ensuring precise dosage and timing for safety and efficacy. In situ monitoring drug release at molecular level in body is challenging due to the limited accessibility and sensitivity of currently available tracking and imaging tools. This project aims to engineer sheet-like heterometallic nanomaterials with ultra-high MRI signals, serving as the tools for quantitatively monitoring drug delivery process and release profile in deep tissue. Expected outcomes include new insights into the mechanisms behind MRI signals amplification and the creation of advanced tools for precise molecular sensing, driving innovation in materials and biomedical technologies. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology While in situ, quantitative monitoring of drug release in deep tissue is critical to advance modern medicine—ensuring therapeutics reach target sites with precision and efficacy—it remains an unsolved challenge. This project seeks to fill gaps in knowledge by developing advanced materials that combine high drug-loading capacity with integrated sensing capabilities, enabling real-time, in situ quantification of drug release using magnetic resonance imaging. This will provide benefits such as improving drug delivery precision and imaging accuracy, which will lead to better treatment outcomes, enhancing quality of life and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. The new knowledge and technologies generated will accelerate progress in drug delivery systems and medical imaging, strengthening Australia's leadership in value-added materials. Innovative value-added materials are essential for improving manufacturing efficiency and product quality. Australia has strong expertise in this area, particularly in nanomaterials, and the application of nanotechnology presents new opportunities for industrial growth. This initiative will also unlock opportunities for Australian industries by introducing cutting-edge technologies applicable to sectors such as veterinary medicine, food, and pharmaceuticals, boosting industry capabilities, enhancing national competitiveness, and fostering new businesses and job creation. Outcomes will be shared through publications, conferences, and media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

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

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

The stone toolkit of the first Homo sapiens from Africa to Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

The stone toolkit of the first Homo sapiens from Africa to Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Understanding and control of quantum nonlocality in complex scenarios. Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-12

Understanding and control of quantum nonlocality in complex scenarios. Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Integrated, Controlled and Networked-Change Authentication Unit Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Integrated, Controlled and Networked-Change Authentication Unit Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Ontology Generation with Large Language Models for Regulatory Processes Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

Ontology Generation with Large Language Models for Regulatory Processes Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-11

2025 Equipment Grants Category: Health and Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Mitigating the dark side of AI-powered virtual influencers Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Mitigating the dark side of AI-powered virtual influencers Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Mitigating disinfection by-products - are we creating more toxic... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

Mitigating disinfection by-products - are we creating more toxic... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

High and Hot: Using environmental extremes to improve oxygen transport... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-10

High and Hot: Using environmental extremes to improve oxygen transport... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Advancing statistical models for clustering data with structured... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Advancing statistical models for clustering data with structured... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-09

Co-designing and evaluating a tailored program for substance use... Category: Medical Research