THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Women Philosophers on Nature & the Human: Toward a New Environmental... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Complementary studies of HIV and Herpes Simplex Viral infection of... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Stoichiometric flexibility shapes microbial function and community assembly. This project aims to investigate how variation in resource supply shapes the function and assembly of soil and gut microbial systems. This project expects to reveal how flexibility in elemental stoichiometry is not only a key physiological adaptation to fluctuating and nutritionally unbalanced resource supply, but also scales up and affects community assembly and ecosystem processes. Expected outcomes of this project include a new nutritional framework centred on variability that yields a step-change in understanding how microbial systems function. This should improve our ability to predict the outcomes of interventions to the human microbiome, and shifts in biogeochemical cycles due to environmental change. Field of research: 3107 - Microbiology Understanding how microbial communities are assembled and function is a fundamental question in ecology. Fluctuating and nutritionally imbalanced resource supplies are common features of many microbial ecosystems, yet few studies have considered their role in shaping microbial communities and their function. Our working hypothesis is that in soil and gut ecosystems these nutritional challenges are met by different means of storing carbon within cells, and these physiological adaptations scale up and affect community assembly and ecosystem processes. The project will have applications in agricultural, and biomedical research because understanding how communities assemble and function is key to the scientific manipulation of gut and soil microbiomes. For example, within the last 10 years it has become evident that the gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in human disease, as well as production/companion animal health. Predicting how nutrition shapes soil microbial communities and their function has consequence for agricultural practices including fertilizer application and retention of nutrients within ecosystems. Project findings will be directly disseminated to scientific peers via peer-reviewed papers and conferences. Our project will be embedded within the Charles Perkins Centre which has at its core the goal of accelerating the translation of fundamental research to ease the burden of chronic diseases.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

A new paradigm in astrophotonic technologies for exoplanet direct... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Fair Ordering of Decentralised Access to Resources. This project aims to enable a decentralised platform that ensures client requests are performed in a fair order. This will generate new knowledge which will be significant because current techniques for decentralised management do not prevent participants from manipulating the order in which resources are accessed. Expected outcomes are a new definition of the fair ordering property; a new protocol that provably achieves the property; and a prototype implementation showing the feasibility of these innovations. This should provide benefits such as technology capacity building for Australia, and when eventually deployed in the Decentralised Finance industry, it could grow that industry and protect users from losses. Field of research: 4606 - Distributed Computing and Systems Software Australia is distinctive with a large area, population which is especially spread out geographically, and multiple levels of government and other organisations that cooperate to provide services. Thus Australia should be at the forefront of providing its people and businesses with remote online access to request use of resources which are managed in a decentralized fashion. These resources would range across natural ones such as water, energy, finances, and information. This project will prevent hackers from reordering requests for unfair benefit. The problem already arises frequently in the context of deregulated financial services, where malicious users reorder other user trades to benefit themselves. This is commonly referred to front running attacks, back running attacks or sandwich attacks, which benefit hackers to hundreds of millions of US dollars every year in blockchain environments. This project will offer new approaches using cryptographic techniques so that the ordering of requests that cannot be altered by malicious activities. Hence such a solution will ensure Australian citizens can have access to resources in a fair way, regardless of cyber attacks.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Advancing Fair Machine Learning with Theory and Algorithms. This project aims to enhance fairness in machine learning by creating specialized algorithms for intricate performance measures, vital in domains like finance, healthcare, and criminal justice. Its objectives include developing a unified machine learning framework for complex fairness metrics (e.g., area under ROC/PRC curve fairness, Harmonic mean fairness) and designing scalable fairness-aware learning algorithms with sound theoretical foundations. The outcome includes a set of fairness-aware learning algorithms that contribute to equitable decision-making in high-stakes contexts. Its success will yield a transferable approach to mitigate the disparate impacts of AI systems for decision-making. Field of research: 4611 - Machine Learning As Machine Learning technologies integrate into daily life, there are mounting concerns about their potential to perpetuate societal biases which can result in detrimental decisions for marginalised communities, highlighting the need for algorithmic fairness. In Australia, fairness is one of the eight AI ethics principles, with the government's 2024 response to the Safe and Responsible AI consultation emphasising concerns about algorithmic bias. This project addresses these concerns by tackling the significant research gap in developing fair learning algorithms that robustly handle diverse and complex performance measures in high-stakes applications such as healthcare, criminal justice, and the credit industry. The research innovates in creating efficient optimisation algorithms with theoretical guarantees capable of managing massive streaming data. Developments from this project will bolster Australia's competitiveness in fostering a future where algorithmic fairness pervades various sectors, thus mitigating the disproportionate impacts of AI systems on decision-making processes. The software generated will be available under an open-source license, while scholarly articles will be disseminated in conferences and journals. Patenting will be explored, offering potential for commercialisation and licensing opportunities. The benefits of this research will extend to the broader Australian public, promoting equitable AI practices and enhancing public trust in AI technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Optimising Future E-Fuel Blends for Spray Atomization and Combustion. Aims: This project aims to establish a scientific framework that exploits single-component e-fuels/powerfuels to formulate blends that atomize into optimal sprays for clean and efficient combustion. This will be demonstrated using novel, hybrid flash-air-assisted atomizers, and canonical burners. Advanced laser diagnostic methods will be employed to measure the spray quality and flame structure. Significance: The generated e-fuel blends will power future carbon-neutral energy conversion systems. Expected outcomes include predictive methods to tune the selection of e-fuel blends based on novel data sets. Benefits: This new approach will inform and guide Australia’s transition from fossil-based fuels to optimal blends of carbon-neutral fuels. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering E-fuels, also termed “green” because they are generated from renewable sources, are integral to the global transition towards net-zero-carbon. Liquid e-fuels offer attractive advantages over gaseous alternatives such as hydrogen or ammonia because they are common single-component liquids that do not have compatibility issues and can be easily transported using existing networks, infrastructure, and shipping methods. This project addresses the fundamental scientific challenges which remain unsolved yet critical towards the exploitation of single-component liquid e-fuels to enable novel blends that can optimize the processes of atomization and combustion. This will be achieved by resolving two outstanding research gaps: (i) efficient break-up of liquid e-fuel blends, and (ii) stable turbulent combustion of these sprays with minimal formation of pollutants. The resulting e-fuel blends will not only benefit a cleaner global environment but have the potential to yield economic gain to Australia through novel e-fuel manufacturing industries. This project will train the next generation of scientists who will position Australia as a leading power in the deployment of green e-fuels and facilitate its drive towards decarbonization. The project will leverage existing links with industry to communicate the advances to the mining, manufacturing, and transport sectors, to encourage uptake, and to exploit a unique opportunity to develop more efficient production methods for liquid e-fuels.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Solar-catalytic glycerol upcycling with co-manufacturing green hydrogen . Sustainable and economically viable bio-refining necessitates an efficient method for utilizing the surplus glycerol generated as a by-product in biodiesel industries. This project aims to construct the solar-driven nanocatalysts and develop new flow reactor to convert glycerol into high-value-added chemicals and green hydrogen fuel simultaneously. The endeavor promises a substantial contribution to advancing the science and technology of achieving 100% atom efficiency in bio-refining, opening avenues for exploring novel chemical and energy sources. Ultimately, this initiative holds the potential to bring about significant economic and social benefits by establishing a competitive business in the chemical and fuel industries of Australia. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering The project aims to convert biomass waste, specifically glycerol, into valuable chemical feedstock while concurrently generating hydrogen—an essential renewable energy source. Glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel, lacks effective conversion methods. Through innovating new catalysts and a continuous flow reaction system, the project aims to surmount this challenge, enhancing industrial feasibility. It addresses the biofuel sector's imperative for sustainable waste management, easing glycerol disposal and fostering economic opportunities. Additionally, co-producing hydrogen diminishes reliance on fossil fuels and environmental impact. Crucially, it aligns with Australia's strategic interests, potentially boosting the economy through hydrogen export. This project advances sustainability and economic development goals, offering transformative benefits to industry and the environment. Through regulatory support and knowledge dissemination, adoption of this breakthrough technology can substantially contribute to The Australian Government's Net Zero Plan, steering Australia toward an efficient, productive, high-wage economy and positioning it as a renewable energy superpower.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Complementary studies of HIV and Herpes Simplex Viral infection of... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Women Philosophers on Nature & the Human: Toward a New Environmental... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

The Socio-Economic Impacts of Colonialisation in Australia. The economic history of Australia is very deeply linked to its colonisation. Using newly collected British and Irish records of settlers, Australian arrival records and subsequent censuses, together with current and recent rich administrative health records and surveys, this proposal will create a rich dataset to measure the impact that British colonialisation had on Australia on a range of socio-demographic and economic outcomes in the short and long-run. Understanding the dynamics of these foundational periods is crucial for shedding light on the root causes of contemporary disparities among disadvantaged Australians and informing effective policy measures. Field of research: 3801 - Applied Economics Australia’s current socio-demographic landscape is shaped by its colonial history. Nonetheless, our knowledge of the lasting impact that Australian colonialism had on current socio-economic outcomes is scarce. Unraveling the dynamics of foundational periods is crucial for understanding the root causes of current socio-economic disparities among Australians. This novel project exploits the power of merging large-scale data and text from historical records, censuses, gazettes, and newspapers in Australia and the UK, together with current Australian surveys, to measure the impact that maritime travel mortality, colonialists’ characteristics, and sentiments expressed in such documents had on the socio-economic outcomes of Australians up to the present day. We create an unprecedented, user-friendly, Open Access dataset, fostering high-quality projects in all social sciences globally, and accessible to history teachers and the public, expanding the evidence-based knowledge and views that Australians have about their history, and possibly impacting Australian school curriculums. In addition, this project supports mentoring of undergraduate, PhD, and early career researchers, thereby enhancing Australia’s research capabilities. The results of this project will be disseminated widely among the community through open access news articles, anticipated high levels of media attention, and public events and workshops in collaboration with state libraries and historical societies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Determining endocrine-mediated plastic responses to transient heat waves. This project aims to determine the resilience of animals to heat waves, measure the underlying mechanisms and model these mathematically. It expects to use a novel approach by analysing impacts of transient changes in warming rates and magnitudes on hormone-mediated effects on biological functions. Expected outcomes include filling a knowledge gap by showing the vulnerability of animals to dynamic heating events, and developing a mathematical model that can predict resilience resulting from compensatory plastic responses. Benefits include advancing the knowledge base leading to improved management of the climate crisis, and national and international collaboration will promote research excellence and enhance staff and student training. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Heat waves are an increasing threat to humans and natural systems. Australia is particularly vulnerable to heat waves and is already experiencing extreme ecological impacts, e.g. coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. Australia will therefore benefit from new approaches facilitating more effective responses to heating events. This project proposes a novel approach to analyse the resilience of animals to heat waves with different rates and magnitudes of temperature change. Innovative science is the foundation for effective environmental management. The outcomes of this project will help build the foundation for next-generation environmental management particularly by providing a mathematical model as a diagnostic tool. The model is calibrated with experimental data and can predict the resilience of animals to climate heating events. Inputs can include experimental data, and measured or predicted climate data. Identifying areas of particular vulnerability will improve effectiveness of funding allocations for management interventions, which will be of economic and environmental benefit for Australia. We will target conservation and management forums (journals, meetings, organisations) to publicise the applied aspect of this project. The project will foster national and international research collaboration between investigators and their laboratories, and the resultant staff and student training will be of social and economic benefits to Australia.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Strong light-matter coupling: a new direction in optical computing Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Strong light-matter coupling: a new direction in optical computing Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Wiring Australian Cities: Making Space for Telecommunications. This project aims to critically examine the ways that land, labour, materials, finance and territorial authority are assembled and contested in the process of wiring and rewiring Australian cities for telecommunications connectivity. The project will generate new knowledge on how the wiring of Australian cities is achieved, and the geographical and social impacts of the wiring process. Outputs including innovative visualisation tools will generate original insights into the making and materiality of infrastructure space. This will provide significant benefits, including new approaches to identifying and addressing on-going challenges of making space for telecommunications in crowded urban environments. Field of research: 4406 - Human Geography Present-day communication relies on millions of kilometres of copper wire and fibre-optic cable that stretch between and within cities. At a time when Australian cities are once again being rewired for telecommunications in a $2.4 billion upgrade to the NBN, this timely project will be the first to study the sweeping social, political, economic and environmental impacts associated with wiring Australian cities. It will examine the ways that land, labour, finance government powers and natural resources are assembled and contested in the process of wiring Australian cities for telecommunications connectivity. The new knowledge generated by the project benefit Australian governments, industries and communities who are managing the challenges and impacts of re-wiring urban environments for broadband connectivity. This will foster better cities, informing efforts to ensure that the process of infrastructural improvement is technically effective, and is also equitable and sustainable. Through engagement with telecommunications industry operators and regulators, and through media and public exhibitions to engage with communities, the project will help to connect and build the capacity of stakeholders who are involved in the on-going process of wiring cities.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Cell type and organelle specific identification of molecular mechanisms... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Herodotus, Thucydides, and the 'Discovery' of Truth in Ancient Greece. Ancient history has much to tell us about the polarization in the political cultures of many Western societies today. More specifically, it speaks to larger questions emerging from contested notions of truth and truthfulness at the heart of this polarization. This project aims to explore how truth first emerged as a problem among some thinkers in Classical Greece. It expects to generate the first study of the social, political, and intellectual conditions that led to the emergence of truth as a social value. Outcomes include a better understanding of what is at stake in our joint commitment to the real and factual, and what would be lost if we give up on it now - with broad benefits for our grasp of political cultures past and present. Field of research: 4303 - Historical Studies Australia, like many other Western democracies, is currently witnessing an increasing internal polarization. We can’t seem to agree any more on many fundamental issues and consensus-finding – essential to a healthy democracy – becomes ever more difficult. Most worryingly, it is not just that we disagree on many questions of general concern; with notions of truth and truthfulness themselves becoming contested we seem at risk of losing our shared grip of ‘the real’ and factual. This project speaks to these problems. It reveals what is at stake in the current situation by returning to ancient Greece as the time and place when notions of truth and truthfulness were first ‘discovered’ in the history of the West. By exploring the circumstances surrounding the emergence of truth as a problem among certain ancient Greek thinkers it helps us to understand what is at stake in the current situation and what would be lost if we give up on our joint commitment of the factual and real now. Findings of the project will not only be shared with the wider public in public-facing lectures, articles, and workshops, members of the public will also be directly involved in the project through a series of ‘humanities salons’ housed at Sydney University.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Unravelling sea level, climate and coral reef responses to global change. The Earth’s climate has swung between intervals with massive ice sheets to times where ice sheets retreated. The impact of these transitions on sea level, tropical/subtropical seasonal climate and their consequences for coral reefs are not well understood. This project will investigate a globally unique sequence of drowned fossil reefs offshore Hawaii to decipher in unprecedented detail rapid changes in these impacts during transitions in ice sheet extent over the past 500,000 years. We will advance our understanding of the fundamental drivers of sea level, tropical/subtropical climate and coral reef ecosystem responses during periods of major and abrupt climate instability. Field of research: 3709 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Earth’s climate system is influenced by complex interactions between energy from the sun, atmospheric CO2, ice sheet dynamics and global sea level changes. We broadly understand the interplay between these factors but the specifics of the leads, lags and timing result in significant uncertainties about future global projections. This project investigates catastrophic and abrupt sea-level rise (several to tens of metres) from ice sheet retreat, what impact annual global climate change (i.e. global warming) has on seasonal-interannual climate phenomena (i.e. droughts, floods and marine heat waves), and how coral reef ecosystems respond to these changes. To investigate these parameters the project draws on insights from drowned fossil reefs offshore Hawaii, a site that preserves a detailed and globally unique history of change over the past 500,000 years. The project outcomes apply globally, including for Australia’s coastal zone and the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The national and international significance of our project is underpinned by a $27 million investment by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to collect the fossil reef samples we will utilise.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Intelligent self-configurable coding and decoding for 6G wireless... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Atomic-scale mechanisms of mechanical behaviours of metallic materials. This project aims to utilise atomic-resolution in-situ deformation transmission electron microscopy to unravel the mechanisms governing the mechanical behaviours of metallic materials. The mechanical properties of materials depend on their atomic-scale deformation responses under stress. These deformation behaviours are further influenced by local microstructures, a relationship that remains inadequately comprehended. Successful completion of the project will reveal how different microstructural features of materials impact their mechanical properties. This should guide the design of metallic structures with optimal mechanical performance, offering substantial benefits to Australian metallurgical and related industries. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Understanding the stress-induced atomic-scale behaviour of materials is crucial for determining how microstructures impact their mechanical properties and for designing materials with superior mechanical performance for advanced structural applications. However, experimental investigations in this area have been challenging due to the lack of appropriate techniques. This project aims to leverage the latest advancements in microscopy technology to explore the atomic mechanisms of defect interactions in metallic materials and to understand their impact on mechanical properties. The outcomes of this project will guide the future design of ultra-strong and tough metallic materials, enhancing the competitiveness of Australia’s metallurgical industry. This could lead to the development of lighter and more energy-efficient vehicles, making road travel more cost-effective for Australians, reducing environmental impact, and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. To maximise the understanding, translation, use, and adoption of the research beyond academia, we will engage with industry partners, participate in public outreach initiatives, and disseminate findings through various media channels and industry conferences. Collaborations with manufacturing firms and policy makers will be sought to ensure practical application and commercial development of the new knowledge.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Understanding odour information to influence mammalian herbivore decisions. This project aims to quantify how plant odour information, its quality and utility, affect herbivore foraging decisions. It also aims to apply this knowledge to test artificial odours designed to alter food choice and so improve plant growth and survival. Expected project outcomes are an understanding of when, why and how herbivores respond to olfactory information as well as the quantitative characterisation of odour information as it degrades to “noise”. Translating this knowledge should provide significant environmental and economic benefits by generating a novel, non-lethal strategy that manipulates odour information to nudge animals away from valued plants, thereby protecting threatened plant species, revegetation programs and crops. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology By consuming their favoured plants, mammalian herbivores shape ecosystems, destroy revegetation projects, drive rare plants towards extinction, and cost millions of dollars in lost crop production. We urgently need new ways to reduce the environmental and economic damage these herbivores cause. Plant odours provide crucial information herbivores use to find and decide which plants to eat, and artificial odours mimicking informative odours can alter this process. But key fundamental questions need answering to create odours that efficiently and predictably use or distort information to reduce damage. How closely must artificial odours match informative plant odours to be effective? Does plant quality alter the response of herbivores to these odours? Our project aims to answer these two questions and then go the next step, in applying this knowledge to a real word problem. We will test the strategic use of artificial odour as misinformation so herbivores ignore valued plants. With this new approach, our work will overcome the current stalemate in developing better management tools, urgently needed to deliver on current government strategies and initiatives to protect valuable plants across environmental and economic contexts. We can then work with end-users to translate our findings into practical methods and tools, helping restore biodiversity, sequester carbon, protect threatened plant species and reduce economic loss.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Re-Imagining Pain: Mental Imagery Impact on Pain Perception. This project aims to explore how mental imagery influences pain perception, anxiety, and expectancy. By leveraging cutting-edge virtual reality technology, we'll uncover the role of mental imagery in pain experiences. Our interdisciplinary team, collaborating internationally, will conduct controlled experiments and ecologically valid experience sampling, to better understand the impact of mental imagery on pain perception. The outcomes may pave the way for novel interventions beyond this project, benefiting over 3 million Australians suffering from chronic pain. This research not only enhances our understanding of pain dynamics but also holds potential for future cost-effective clinical treatments, reducing suffering and healthcare costs. Field of research: 5203 - Clinical and Health Psychology This project addresses critical gaps in our understanding of pain, an everyday experience that can become debilitating. Current psychological models focus on thoughts and feelings about pain, but completely neglect the role of mental imagery, despite its frequent, distressing, and intrusive nature in people experiencing pain. Our research seeks to advance knowledge in pain research and theory by exploring the causal relationship between mental imagery and increased pain perception. Using rigorous experimental designs and innovative approaches like virtual reality, we will delineate the role of specific aspects of mental imagery, building a more comprehensive model of pain. Our collaboration with leading international experts in pain and imagery will inform further research in cognitive science, and applied research to prevent everyday pain experiences from becoming debilitating. Chronic pain affects one in five people (over 3 million Australians) and currently lacks effective treatments due to an incomplete understanding of its mechanisms. Our studies provide a foundation for developing scalable, low-cost treatments that could improve quality of life for people with chronic pain, offering significant healthcare, economic, and societal benefits for Australia. Additionally, we will promote our research outcomes beyond academia through public outreach, working with healthcare providers, and via media channels, ensuring maximum reach, translation, and adoption of findings.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Food Quality of Australian Indigenous Grains: Impacts of Plant Environment. Little is documented about the viability of grains from Australian native grasses for commercial food applications and how this is influenced by plant growth environment. This project aims to fill this gap in our understanding by co-designing and disseminating knowledge with Gomeroi researchers. The project expects to (1) develop recommendations for native grain production based on insights into the environmental effects on grain quality for four native grasses, (2) train research students, and (3) enhance Indigenous partnership on Gomeroi Country in northern NSW. Benefits resulting from the project are the promotion of best-practice management of native grasslands and support for the development of an Indigenous-led native grains industry. Field of research: 4503 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Knowledges and Management Indigenous Australians have managed, harvested, and processed the seeds of native grasses for food for millennia—a testimony to the nutritional value of these grains. Native grasses grow throughout Australia, having evolved to thrive in challenging environments, including those too hot or dry for crops like wheat. An Indigenous-led native grains industry has the potential to produce cultural, environmental, and health benefits for Aboriginal communities and the broader Australian population. Co-designing scientific, culturally responsive research of direct benefit for Indigenous communities is paramount. Knowledge of the interactions among environmental factors (including soil type, temperature, and water availability) and grain quality (including grain size and nutrient composition) is needed for commercialisation of native grain production by Indigenous enterprises. In collaboration with Gomeroi/Gamilaraay communities in northern NSW, this project will determine environmental effects on grain quality of four species of native grasses used historically as sources of food: Button Grass, Curly Mitchell Grass, Native Millet, and Weeping Grass. We will generate knowledge critical for managing native grasslands for grain production and for the success of Indigenous-led native food initiatives. Our project’s findings will be shared through regular workshops with Gamilaraay co-designers and stakeholders and with the broader community via newsletters, webinars and articles.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Tailoring treatment to improve outcome for ovarian cancer patients Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Cementless carbon-negative concrete for buildings and the built environment. This project aims to develop a cementless carbon-negative concrete technology that addresses current decarbonisation needs of the cement industry that is responsible for about 8% of the world’s CO2. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area to enable the establishment of a concrete technology that will act as a secure and significant carbon sink while remaining structurally sound and durable. Expected project outcomes consist in the establishment of the new concrete technology with negative carbon-embodied characteristics for mass production and for a wide range of applications in buildings and the built environment. This will lead to significant benefits for the Australian building and construction industry. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering The building/construction sector accounts for 37% of the world’s CO2 emissions and is currently off track to achieve decarbonisation by 2050 with a widening gap between the actual and the necessary decarbonization pathways. Concrete is responsible for a significant carbon footprint of the construction sector because cement (one of its key components) produces about 8% of the world’s CO2. It is critical for Australia to find ways of competing in the construction industry using research-based methods, and the project’s technological cutting-edge developments are expected to have a positive impact on the capacity of the Australian construction industry through the development of a new cementless carbon-negative technology for reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and for supporting the implementation of effective strategies to achieve net-zero and negative-carbon constructions while relying on available concrete production equipment and processes to enable an efficient industrial translation of the technology in view of the requirements to meet the 2030 and 2050 net-zero construction targets. In the increasingly competitive international market, Australian companies and professionals will benefit from having access to a new cementless carbon-negative concrete technology to deliver cutting edge solutions that produce carbon-negative and healthier buildings and urban solutions.