THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

On the Combustion of Green Hydrogen in Future Energy Systems. This project aims to address key fundamental issues that will facilitate the combustion of hydrogen-based fuels for power and mobility. This is achieved by applying advanced laser diagnostics and novel computational methods to turbulent flames of hydrogen fuel blends hence generating new physical knowledge and predictive models. These will provide engineers with essential tools to design and operate fuel-flexible energy systems that speed up the critical transition towards employing green hydrogen. Expected outcomes include novel experimental methods and databases, reliable software, and graduates capable of facilitating this transition and accelerating the global decarbonization process while positioning Australia as a hydrogen superpower. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering Combustion of hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel is highly attractive, initially co-fired with existing fuels, then transitioning to green hydrogen to power future energy systems. However, due to its highly diffusive and reactive nature, hydrogen flames pose serious, unresolved challenges reflected in mixing inhomogeneities, possible flashback, and thermo-diffusive instabilities. This project addresses these issues through quantitative and novel measurements combined with predictive models that provide the fundamental framework which facilitates the global transition towards green fuels. Hydrogen and its derivatives form key pillars as energy carriers that can power relevant industries and mobility sectors, such as heavy-duty land and sea transportation, where batteries or direct use of renewables is not possible. With its massive and diverse energy resources, Australia is well positioned to lead the world in the global decarbonization process, and this research is aligned with Australia’s aggressive move to become a hydrogen superpower and a major exporter of green fuels.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Plasma driven electrochemical synthesis of urea. Urea is the most used nitrogen fertilizer in the world, with more urea manufactured by mass than any other organic chemical. However, the world is experiencing a major shortage of the compound, impacting our food costs and security along with dependent products such as AdBlue (diesel ­exhaust fluid). Commercial urea production relies on a complex reaction between ammonia and carbon dioxide at high temperatures, which consumes more than 2% of the world’s energy. This project aims to produce more sustainable urea driven by electricity and using air and captured CO2, through the use of a plasma-driven electrochemical technology, providing farmers with a low-cost fertilizer under a decentralized and secure supply. Field of research: 3004 - Crop and Pasture Production Australia is experiencing a major shortage of urea, impacting our food costs and security. The chemical is also critical for products such as diesel­ exhaust fluid (AdBlue), which threatens our transport supply chains. Current urea production relies on a complex reaction between ammonia and carbon dioxide, requiring large, centralised infrastructure which has resulted in a few factories, based in countries where natural gas is cheap, controlling the global supply. This project will explore directly coupling air and carbon dioxide in water to produce urea, drawing on our recent breakthrough in synthesising ammonia. Our approach offers electrically driven, decentralised production along with a more sustainable manufacturing pathway. Project outcomes will be shared with leading Australian manufacturers of urea, AdBlue and ammonia, as well as associations representing end users in the agricultural and transport sectors. These collaborations will identify opportunities Australian industries to adopt this new, sustainable manufacturing technology, securing our supply of a critical product.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Bushfire analytics: optimisation of fuel reduction. Bushfires are an integral part of the Australian ecosystem. However, their severity has been worsening rapidly over the past decade. This project aims to develop a principled and scalable methodology for optimising fuel treatment planning to reduce the potential for severe bushfires. This project expects to generate new knowledge in bushfire fuel management using a groundbreaking combination of mathematical modelling techniques and state-of-the-art optimisation methods. The expected outcomes should provide significant benefits to our nation's ability to respond and adapt to the impacts of environmental change on biological systems and urban and rural communities. Field of research: 4901 - Applied Mathematics Increasing urbanisation, human presence in fire-prone areas, and climate change make ecosystems and human communities more vulnerable to the devastating effects of bushfires. The challenge of responding to increased bushfire activity has emerged as a critical problem of national importance. The proposed project addresses an urgent need to a develop sophisticated Operations Research methodology for the fuel reduction planning problem. This project will provide new planning methods for firefighting authorities to aid in reducing the number, severity, and impact of bushfires. The results will also help avoid or minimise the adverse effects of fire management operations on the conservation of native species, communities and the protection of landscape features. The long-term benefits include enabling a healthier balance between fire management activities and the ecosystem, saving billions of dollars annually in recovery costs and reducing bushfire-related mortality.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Machine learning, group theory and combinatorics. This project aims to investigate group theory and combinatorics using machine learning techniques. This project expects to generate new knowledge concerning symmetric groups and symmetric functions, using an innovative approach from reinforcement learning. Expected outcomes of this project include a clarification of the types of difficult problems in pure mathematics that can be gainfully attacked via machine learning, and an understanding of the role of group theory in machine learning. This should provide significant benefits, such as progress on long standing open problems, the development of an emerging technology with significant implications for mathematics, and the training of Australian scientists in a vital area of research. Field of research: 4904 - Pure Mathematics Until recently, there was a widely held belief that machine learning is only helpful with tasks that most humans find easy, like speech recognition or recognising faces in an image. In the last years, we have seen machine learning providing breakthroughs on difficult problems like power-grid management. Our project will discover new ways in which machine learning can be used to help with difficult problems in mathematics. One of our aims will help understand how computers identify objects in an image, potentially increasing robustness of these methods. Another of our aims explores decision making, which has the potential to speed-up algorithms in engineering, computer science and chemistry. With a workforce skilled in these techniques, the potential applicability to future challenges facing Australians is enormous. The team's international scientific networks, which include artificial intelligence companies such as DeepMind, can provide a translation pathway for the research. It will also help attract students to Australian universities, thus contributing to the Australian economy and intellectual capacity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Global Governing Gaps and Accountability Traps for Solar Energy and Storage. The climate crisis has spurred the global race for renewables, dramatically increasing solar energy and lithium-ion storage battery use. This project investigates the global governance of these technologies environmental and social impacts. This is significant because regulation lags technology: there are governance 'gaps' for protecting communities, ecosystems, and developing states, and accountability 'traps' that prioritise governance processes over outcomes. The project examines how solar and storage production, use, and disposal is governed and whether governance initiatives can account for harm. The expected outcomes are to determine whether global governance can regulate renewables, with benefit for improving global protection rules. Field of research: 4408 - Political Science The need for renewable energy to address the climate crisis is clear. The fastest growing renewable is solar energy, which needs battery storage for when the sun does not shine. This project examines whether there are global rules for human safety and environmental protection in producing these technologies. Solar energy and lithium-ion batteries are created through global supply chains. For example, solar energy relies on the extraction of critical minerals such as cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while batteries require lithium from Chile and Australia among others. The production and disposal of solar energy and lithium-ion batteries also has safety concerns and environmental impacts. The project analyses who creates the rules, whether they provide adequate protection, and if they do, whether they are being followed. The research will benefit Australia by providing policy recommendations to the government for how Australia can contribute to making renewable energy safer for people and the planet as we move to a sustainable future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Adaptive daytime radiative cooling and heating for buildings . This project aims to develop an adaptive daytime radiative cooling and heating technology suitable for the for the reduction of the energy consumption in buildings for the mitigation of the urban overheating in the built environment. The project expects to generate new knowledge in this area to exploit adaptive strategies in the development of future cooling and heating solutions for buildings. Expected project outcomes consist of the establishment of the new adaptive daytime radiative technology for use on building envelopes to support cooling requirements in hot weather and heating needs under cold conditions. This should lead to significant benefits for the Australian building and construction industry. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering This project aims to develop an adaptive and cost-effective daytime radiative cooling and heating technology capable of reducing energy consumption in buildings and mitigating urban overheating in the built environment. The expected outcomes consist in the development of coatings and surface devices that can be installed on building exterior skins typically used in Australia. The proposed adaptive technology, which will be capable of cooling under hot weather and heating under cold conditions, will avoid the overcooling produced by current high performing cooling technologies during cold days, and the associated need for additional heating in buildings. Australian cities are experiencing increasing magnitudes of urban overheating and the proposed technology is expected to have a positive impact on the capacity of our construction industry to produce healthier, energy-efficient buildings and urban solutions. The project will also develop suitable design guidelines for the deployment of the proposed technology in buildings and urban environments.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization for Transient Problems. Aims: This proposal aims to expand the bidirectional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) method for transient mechanical, multiphysical and robotic problems. Significance: The study will develop new BESO transient algorithms by integrating time-dependent analysis and stepwise design sensitivity in multicriteria and multidisciplinary optimisation. Expected outcomes: The project will largely broaden the algorithmic scope of BESO and enables it to solve more extensive real-life problems with time-varying nature. Benefits include a new BESO design framework and computer program, as well as a series of novel designs, potentially being implemented for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, mechanical, civil and mechatronic applications. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering Almost all engineering structures - from bridges, to robots, to aircraft – are designed using static loads increased by safety factors to withstand maximum stress. However, in the real world these structures are put under different levels of stress in different loading cases and at different times – for example when an aircraft executes a turning movement, or a bridge is under construction. This project will develop new computer algorithms for structural design that are better able to cater for these changes in real environments. The new design approaches we develop will enable manufacturers to build structures and machines that are lighter and work more efficiently in real situations, and will also minimise the materials and fuel needed to make and operate them. Adoption of this research will bring significant socioeconomic benefits for the nation, such as novel design of 3D printed parts, biomedical implants, and lightweight electrical vehicles. The team’s connections with and experience in the Australian software industry will facilitate commercial use of the new algorithms.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Comprehensive and Versatile In-house X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Facility. This projects aims to address the growing demand for x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), by installing Australia's first in-house suite of instruments to complement and enhance capabilities at the Australian Synchrotron (AS). This project expects to generate new knowledge across a wide range of science and engineering fields, by using XAS to acquire unique new information about structure and bonding in functional materials and molecules, from which rational strategies can be designed to improve their performance. Expected outcomes of this project include the ability to perform experiments currently unavailable or impractical at the AS. This should provide significant benefits flowing from a bigger and better-trained national XAS user base. Field of research: 3402 - Inorganic Chemistry This project will make a technique called X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) available to Australian researchers by installing the country’s first – and some of the world’s first – “in-house” instruments. XAS gives information about how atoms are arranged and bonded together in molecules and materials, which we cannot get from any other technique. Researchers can use that information to design modified molecules and materials with technologically optimised properties. Outcomes will range from more precise drug delivery to more efficient water treatment to more powerful batteries, bringing economic, environmental and ultimately social benefits for Australia. Presently, XAS can only be done at large-scale synchrotron facilities that are very expensive to operate and typically require a 6-month application process for a 1 or 2-day experiment. The instruments from this project will be relatively cheap, robust, flexible and rapidly accessible to all Australian researchers through standard university analytical services, with technical support and expert advice where needed.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The International Digital Policy Observatory. This project aims to develop an International Digital Policy Observatory, which is the world’s first comprehensive database to track developments in digital/Internet regulation internationally. The facility will provide a unique means of fostering collaboration on research into the effectiveness of different approaches to regulation, and allow these researchers to provide insights to the ICT industry, policy-makers, and advocacy groups, through the real-time capturing and sharing of digital and internet policy initiatives across 50 countries. This will provide significant benefits in placing Australian at the forefront of regulatory best practice in the digital economy, by tracking policy initiatives in the global digital economy. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies There has in recent years been a growing ‘regulatory turn’ in different national jurisdictions, responding to issues such as online harms, information monopolies, data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical concerns about algorithmic decision-making and artificial intelligence. Industry, regulatory agencies and advocacy groups have frequently expressed concern about the often ‘ad hoc’ nature of such policymaking, and resulting inconsistencies in policy development. This project will make a world-leading contribution to more effective Internet and digital policy formation, by creating a publicly accessible, real-time database (The International Digital Policy Observatory) with enhanced analytical tools that tracks developments in digital/internet regulation across 50 countries, including all 38 OECD countries. This will benefit Australian digital businesses and advance the digital economy agenda, while also providing social benefits by enabling greater participation and knowledge sharing among all digital economy stakeholders, and between researchers, policy makers and the ICT industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Radiochemistry Facility for Biomolecule Characterisation in Living Systems. This project will provide a microfluidic radiochemistry facility that fills a critical capability gap in the network of core imaging research laboratories in New South Wales. It will enable the labelling of novel biomolecules with short-lived radioisotopes for their characterisation in living subjects. This platform will enable research as diverse as the development and in-vivo characterisation of new chemical probes and nanoparticles that bind to specific protein targets, development of next generation radiochemistry technologies, investigating mechanisms of brain plasticity in predictive learning, developing novel methods for multi-modal image analysis, and understanding the molecular pathways involved in dysregulated cellular networks. Field of research: 3404 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Over the last 15 years, the Australian Government in partnership with the university sector has made substantial investments through the National Research Infrastructure program in the latest, cutting-edge imaging devices for studying the biology of living organisms, including humans. These imaging systems require radioactive labelled molecules to generate the imaging signal. Our project fills a critical gap by establishing a distributed radiochemistry facility based on advanced microfluidic technology. The new facility will provide researchers with the ability to study a wide range of molecular functions in living subjects, thus maximising return on investments in imaging infrastructure. For example, this new technology will provide the advanced manufacturing sector with a competitive edge by creating a powerful tool for accelerating drug discovery. In the long term, it will lead to economic and health benefits for Australians by identifying new treatment targets for the complex physiological systems that go awry in chronic health conditions, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

High performance chalcogenide processing addressing grand challenges. This project aims to meet the growing need for micro- and nano- scale material processing, device fabrication and characterisation for chalcogenides, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and van der Waals heterostructures based on allotropes of S, Se, Te etc for addressing the grand challenges of i) next generation data processing devices for increasing volume and speed of modern information and communication technologies; ii) high performance photovoltaics and smart windows for renewable energy generation and sustainable living; iii) rational design of photo-catalysts for clean hydrogen generation; iv) ultrasensitive gas sensors for detecting greenhouse gasses and v) ultra-violet (UV) sensors for preventing skin cancer. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project will provide infrastructure for engineering, and making devices based on, materials that contain sulphides, selenides, and tellurides which are extremely useful because their properties can be engineered to improve the performance of various devices. For example, photonic devices used in high-volume, high-speed data processing which are critical for communications, solar cells that can be integrated into windows to generate renewable energy, and more accurate sensors for detecting greenhouse gasses and ultra-violet radiation to prevent skin cancer. The economic, environmental, and social benefits to Australia across the communication, renewable energy and healthcare sectors are therefore broad. This new infrastructure will co-locate multiple tools in a well-controlled environment to make it easier and more cost effective for researchers and industry to carry out complex experiments. This unique set-up will also make it much easier to prototype new devices, speeding up the commercial adoption of new technologies in these sectors.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Wireless Communications for Human-Machine Collaboration. Industry 5.0 is a new industry transformation vision where the focus lies on the interaction between humans and machines. Wireless human-machine collaboration (HMC) will play a central role in a wide range of industrial applications in Industry 5.0. This project aims to develop new fundamental theories of wireless HMC and enable novel wireless communications designs to accommodate the stringent and dynamic requirements of HMC with performance guarantees. The project will provide innovative solutions to advanced manufacturing, remote healthcare, mining, and warehousing and will benefit Australia’s digital transformation. Field of research: 4006 - Communications Engineering Human-machine collaboration (HMC) is an emerging research direction involving humans and machines working collaboratively to perform complex tasks. Communication networks connecting humans and machines are a key enabler of HMC. However, the existing communication networks cannot meet the stringent HMC requirements for transmission delay and reliability to keep people safe in hazardous situations, for example in mining and manufacturing. This project will develop a fundamental framework for new HMC wireless communication systems with very high reliability and very low transmission delay. For example, the technology will allow mining workers to stay away from hazardous environments by remotely controlling robots and vehicles. The fundamental discoveries and demonstrators developed in this project can be translated to new commercial products and services, such as advanced manufacturing (which uses innovative technologies to improve products and processes), remote surgery, energy grids, and mining, resulting in increased safety, sustainability, productivity, and quality of life for Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Illuminating the function and evolution of iridescence. This project seeks to reveal how dynamic colour signals enable effective communication by connecting the production, transmission, and perception of visual information through space and time. By integrating innovative analyses of behaviour, physiology, and optics, it will offer original insight into how information is encoded and fluidly exchanged under real-world conditions, and produce new tools for interrogating the subjective visual world of animals. This work promises benefits to our understanding of how the universal process of communication drives adaptation amidst environmental change, with significant scope for bio-inspired solutions to contemporary problems of vision and efficient information processing, including among humans. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology Interpreting visual information is key for most animals’ survival. Whether identifying flowers and fruits by colour, or signalling to other animals using motion, we have only a basic understanding of how visual cues are used to guide their behaviour. This project will use Australia's unique native flies and rich beach habitats to examine how colour and motion interact to communicate information, and how animals use this information to make decisions such as who to mate with or when to flee from predators. The project will lead to improved ways of understanding visual processing, enabling new solutions to problems of vision and efficient information processing, including among humans, inspired from nature. Example solutions include new models of how colour, brightness, and motion information is combined in the brain, and an improved ability to predict how changes in visual conditions drive changes in animal behaviour. These outputs can result in new approaches for computer processing and video display design that may be used by our high-tech industries, including more colour-accurate computer displays and more sensitive cameras. The key benefit to this research is fundamental knowledge of how vision works in complex, real-world conditions. In applied terms, this work will benefit conservation efforts in Australia by improving our ability to predict how animals adapt to ongoing environmental change. By collaborating with conservation organisations and industry, this will allow us to better conserve Australia’s endangered species, minimise the negative impacts of human activity on ecosystems, and improve the welfare and wellbeing of our food-production livestock.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Anticipating ecological shifts in subtropical marine ecosystems. This project aims to unravel the causes of abrupt ecological change in the subtropics and predict their future in warming seas. Uniting large-scale field observation and modelling in a novel multi-species framework, this project seeks to quantify how warming and species interactions combine to escalate change on subtropical reefs at different stages of tropicalisation. Expected outcomes include new insights into the factors that promote stability or change along subtropical coasts in Australia and Japan, where the influx of tropical species already has dramatic consequences. By comparing dynamics in Australia with tropicalisation hotspots in Japan, this project expects to anticipate future ecological shifts and benefit strategic management. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Australia’s subtropical and temperate marine ecosystems sustain unique biodiversity and ecosystem services. They contribute >$10 billion annually to Australia’s economy and support the livelihoods and culture of Australia’s most populated regions. Yet, they are experiencing record change as tropical species move to cooler regions in warming seas. By studying subtropical reefs at different stages of tropicalisation in Australia and Japan, this project will create critical knowledge for sustaining the biodiversity and ecological functioning of these systems. Japan’s subtropical reefs are tropicalisation hotspots where shifts in habitat forming species have led to fisheries collapse. They provide a lens into the potential future of Australia’s subtropical reefs. Comparing ecological dynamics in Australia and Japan will therefore build Australia’s capacity to anticipate and mitigate future change. This project will provide more accurate predictions of climate change impacts, squarely addressing National Science and Research Priorities and some of the greatest challenges for natural resource management today.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Pain: Open to interpretation? This project aims to determine how pain interpretation drives pain experience, using rigorous state-of-the-art lab research. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the psychological mechanisms maintaining pain experience and avoidance behaviour, using novel techniques to measure interpretation of pain sensations. Expected outcomes include the development of an evidence-based psychological model of pain interpretation, enhanced capacity to build international collaborations, and ecologically valid methods for measuring pain interpretation. This research forms a solid platform for further translational research, to build novel, scalable interventions to improve outcomes for the one in five Australians living with chronic pain. Field of research: 5203 - Clinical and Health Psychology A staggering one in five Australians live with chronic pain, costing $139 billion annually in healthcare, loss of productivity, and mental health impacts. It is a global health priority, and despite medical advancements we still don’t understand why some people develop chronic pain. There is growing recognition of the important (but often neglected) psychological mechanisms that contribute to pain experience. This project harnesses the latest technology to look at the thinking processes and behaviours that make pain worse, creating an evidence-based model that will inform future research and clinical practice. This important experimental research will form the foundation for novel, scalable internet-delivered interventions that can alleviate suffering and reduce opioid use for the 3+ million Australians with chronic pain.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Molecular biosecurity: Genomic databanks for managing new pest invasions. This project aims to develop a set of genomics-based approaches for analysing new pest invasions. By producing and analysing genomic databanks for four insect pest species, including three that have recently invaded Australia, this project expects to identify invasion origins and to track new pest incursions within Australia. The project should also provide insights into pest ecology, including movement rates and population change over time. This information can enable more efficient deployment of biosecurity resources and pave the way for genomics to be used pre-emptively to stop new invasions. This can help make genomics a go-to response to new pest invasions and position Australia at the forefront of genomics-based pest biosecurity. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics This project will develop new digital and molecular tools for Australian biosecurity. Specifically, it will use genomics to determine where insect pest invasions have invaded from, to trace the origins of new pest incursions into and through Australia, to estimate how quickly pests can spread, and to help assess the likelihood of success of future pest control strategies. These outcomes will confer considerable benefits to Australian growers by helping to restrict the spread of insect pests and limit economic losses from them. Knowledge of incursion pathways within Australia will help improve efficiency of border biosecurity operations which aim to stop pests from spreading into new regions. Genomic tracing of pests can strengthen national and state biosecurity programs, and can validate biosecurity risk models currently used in decision making. Investment in this project will help reposition Australian biosecurity towards and digital and molecular future, where it is well-positioned to emerge as a global leader.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Re-igniting 'artistic vibrancy' in the Australian opera ecosystem. This project aims to advance new methodologies for re-establishing 'artistic vibrancy' (a factor found to be lacking by the National Opera Review in 2014-16) within operatic practice in Australia. The project expects to generate new knowledge of vital, but hidden musical processes, using interdisciplinary approaches in order to rebalance and recalibrate the opera ecosystem. Expected outcomes include the revitalisation of operatic practice and the establishment of clear parameters for responsible opera curation. Benefits include an enhanced awareness of artistic vibrancy within opera, and the creation of new practices, which will be of significant cultural and artistic benefit to the wider Australian community. Field of research: 3603 - Music Opera plays a significant role in Australia's cultural and social life, as shown by the positioning of the Sydney Opera House on the harbour foreshore, and its deliberately emblematic status. In 2016, a crisis in the industry was signalled by the findings of the National Opera Review (NOR), which ruled that 'artistic vibrancy' has been in decline over the past few decades. However, the NOR predominantly considered economic, commercial, and access issues, instead of the deeper processes of curation (selecting, organising and presenting performances) which drive and generate opera. This project investigates the vital role behind-the-scenes musical specialists play in fostering artistic vibrancy, to provide the industry with valuable perspectives on the inner workings of opera creation. Building on the NOR, it will give publicly funded operatic institutions impetus to reconsider and recalibrate operational practices and priorities and establish Australia as a world leader in operatic practice. The project has the potential to embed opera more deeply within the Australian psyche and create substantial cultural and societal benefits for the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The Behavioural Economics of Inheritance Litigation. Australians are witnessing the greatest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. Unfortunately, more and more families are going to court over inheritance. These disputes tear families apart and impose excessive costs on families and the courts. This project applies legal, behavioural economic and statistical methods to study inheritance battles. It seeks to generate new knowledge about the drivers of inheritance litigation, in order to make it cost-effective. Its expected outcomes include behavioural economic models of inheritance litigation to predict what cost-reduction strategies will work; a large database of real-world inheritance cases to test these predictions; and robust law-reform recommendations to reduce litigation costs. Field of research: 4805 - Legal Systems Australians inherited over $120 billion in 2018 and this figure is projected to grow fourfold by 2050. Court battles over inheritance have also increased, nearly tripling in NSW since 2005, and imposing high costs on families and courts. Existing measures to control costs reduce them for some litigants but increase them for others. This project uses behavioural economic models to give new insights into how to reduce the costs of inheritance litigation, providing rigorous evidence to law-reformers and policymakers. Its law-reform and policy recommendations will help save money for countless Australian families in inheritance disputes. Reduced litigation costs will make the Australian justice system fairer and more accessible, especially to those victims of inheritance misconduct who currently cannot afford to obtain a remedy from court. It will provide guidance to help reduce the costs of inheritance cases to Australian courts, enabling them to operate more effectively and efficiently. The new models created may also be applicable to other types of litigation, including divorce, separation and child custody.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Phos-Ligation: A powerful new tool for chemoselective protein modification. The project aims to develop a powerful new method for the generation of pure modified proteins. Tools for modification of proteins are integral to the study of protein structure and function as well as the commercial production of biopharmaceuticals. The extremely cost effective and operationally simple chemistry that will be developed in this project will overcome a number of pitfalls of currently available methods for protein modification, and will therefore deliver substantial technological innovation to both academia and industry. Through domestic and international collaboration, this new technology will be applied to study proteins involved in the defence of wheat against fungal rust disease and in inflammatory signalling in humans. Field of research: 3405 - Organic Chemistry This project will deliver an efficient and cost-effective chemical process to make highly valuable protein molecules that are widely used across the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors. As part of the project, this novel technology will be applied to investigate the molecular mechanism of how wheat defends itself against infection from a type of wheat rust, a fungal disease which could cost the cereal industry several billion dollars in lost crop production if it were to arrive in Australia. The knowledge generated from this project will contribute towards the protection of one of Australia’s chief exports and, through engagement with industry and rural development corporations, can be adopted by our agricultural sector to develop disease resistant varieties of wheat. This new chemical process also has the potential to provide an improved method for manufacturing high value protein molecules for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, a second goal of this project is to use this new process to prepare a range of precisely tailored bioactive protein molecules that will inform the cheaper and more efficient production of next generation diagnostics and treatments for human disease in Australia, for example, fluorescent proteins for diagnostic medicine, immune therapies, and customised antibodies for cancer chemotherapy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Modulating protein phase behavior: cell functions vs material development. It has been recognized recently that cellular proteins can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation, however, a further liquid-to-solid transition can lead to aberrant biological processes. This project aims to investigate and control this behaviour to gain insights into cell dysfunction and new routes for biomaterials development. An integrated approach combining microfluidic platforms, optical techniques, and vibrational spectroscopy will be exploited. Expected outcomes of this project include the mechanistic understanding of protein phase behaviour and protein-based biomaterial engineering. This should provide significant benefits in the prevention of aberrant protein aggregation and the generation of materials as plastic substitutes. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Many natural proteins possess extraordinary properties. For example, spider web fibres made by silk proteins are considered one of the strongest materials. This project will develop tools capable of monitoring and modifying the way proteins interact with themselves and other molecules, and enable the development of new materials, such as biodegradable plastics made from proteins. This research can provide a solution to the global problem of single-use plastic waste, 10 million tonnes of which is dumped into our oceans each year. Advancing this technology in Australia will enable Australian industries to access a new generation of biodegradable plastics that are both cost-effective and sustainable to manufacture. Partnerships will be sought with biotechnology companies and the food, cosmetic and personal-care industries, which can implement the technology to increase their competitiveness, and decrease their packaging costs and environmental impact. Its widespread adoption will contribute to providing all Australians with cleaner, healthier oceans to enjoy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Using metacognitive self-evaluation to improve knowledge transfer. The knowledge and skills developed in the classroom often do not transfer to the workplace or even to other subjects at school. This project aims to evaluate how the transfer of knowledge can be enhanced by prompting students to evaluate and reflect on their performance in specific ways. The project will identify how different students respond to self-evaluation and how self-evaluation can most effectively be designed and applied in the classroom. Newly developed self-evaluation prompts will be implemented in a computerised and adaptive way so that self-evaluation is tailored to a particular student. This project should provide a scalable and cost-effective way to help students apply what they learn in a more flexible and efficient way. Field of research: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology This project has the potential to have considerable educational and economic benefits. Australians increasingly have to apply our prior knowledge and skills to new environments and problems e.g., when we change jobs or go from university to the workforce. Yet, we often fail to flexibly apply what we know in these novel contexts. This is economically inefficient and affects both achievement at school and the ability of future generations to innovate solutions to national and global problems. The current project develops and evaluates new ways of using self-evaluation to help learners transfer what they know to new contexts and problems. Self-evaluation is a scalable and cost-effective solution to this problem because it does not require additional resources or information (e.g, from a teacher) and can be used independently. As a result, this project has the potential to improve the efficiency of precious educational resources, while helping Australia develop a more flexible and adaptable workforce.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new understanding of proprioception and motion sensing. The new multimodality approach generated in this project is expected to evolve as a national facility for neuro-mechanobiology, and future research may lead to the inspiration of novel bionic sensor design and brain-computer interface for future neuroengineering industry. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The ability to sense the environment is essential for survival in all organisms. In humans, for example, sensation arises from the surface of the body or internal organs and provides us with the sense of pain. These are vital functions allowing living things to continuously adapt to changes in their external and internal environment. This project aims to explain the molecular basis for our ability to sense pain. It will develop new methods to explore how bodily sensation enables us to feel and interact with the physical world, and provide crucial links between external stimuli — such as sensation received from the skin — and the electrical signals that drive nervous-system responses. The research employs a novel imaging system with capabilities that can deliver new insights into how animals perceive motion. This work will inform many areas, from neuroscience to how electronics industries develop novel sensor designs and brain-computer interfaces to improve devices which replace damaged senses, such as motor implants that restore motor functions in stroke patients.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Climate Change: The Role of Reporting, Auditing and Executive Remuneration . This project addresses the need for corporate disclosures on climate-related risks. It aims to generate new knowledge about reporting and auditing of climate-related information and how these metrics are incorporated into executives’ remuneration. Utilizing the latest global developments, the project will highlight best practices under both voluntary and mandatory reporting regimes and provide cross-jurisdictional evidence on the impact of mandatory reporting schemes. It will also test the effectiveness of reporting, auditing and remuneration in achieving carbon emissions reductions and meeting capital market demands. The project will lead to improved capital market efficiency and informed policy making in Australia and internationally. Field of research: 3501 - Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Australian investors struggle to direct funds to climate-sustainable businesses because corporate disclosures about climate risks are not reliable. Current climate-related reporting is voluntary, not integrated with audited financial reports, unstandardised and hard to compare, and thus is unsuitable for setting executive incentives. Urgently needed progress towards emission control depends on the development and adoption of rigorous climate-related disclosure standards for corporations. Some countries are adopting mandatory disclosure rules and international accounting bodies are promoting auditable standards. This project will collect and analyse international and Australian corporate data to compare performance in countries that mandate climate-related disclosures with those that do not and measure the effectiveness of integration and auditing practices. The fit-for-purpose, enforceable climate-related reporting standards that this research will produce will benefit Australians by enabling efficient emission control and climate change adaptation. New insights into effective disclosure from this research can be adopted into accounting standards to reshape corporate practice.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Social Inequalities in Oral Health among Australian Working Age Adults. Australian working age adults with social and economic disadvantage have significantly poorer oral health outcomes than those from advantaged backgrounds. This project explores how changes in social position over time, and interactions between different forms of social disadvantage, contribute to social inequalities in oral health. This project expects to improve understanding of social inequalities in oral health, and its solutions, by developing and applying analytical and simulation models. This will help identify ways to reduce the persistent social inequalities in oral health outcomes in working age adults. In doing this, it will inform policies in future that will significantly improve the well-being of Australian working age adults. Field of research: 4202 - Epidemiology Poor oral health can be disabling. It can cause problems with eating, speaking and sleeping and can have detrimental impacts on a person's self-esteem, earning potential, health and well-being. Poor oral health outcomes are often associated with poverty and other markers of lower socio-economic status such as income, education, and occupation. This project will analyse how changes in the socio-economic status of Australian working age adults affect their oral health and will develop models to increase the understanding of how these factors interact. These models will help identify the most effective interventions, providing relevant government agencies with additional data to inform decisions about the investment of finite public money for maximum social and health benefit. The insights provided through this project will reduce entrenched disadvantages suffered by Australians from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Chimeric molecules for precision protein modification. This project aims to address fundamental questions on how natural modifications of proteins cause functional changes inside cells. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of organic chemistry and chemical biology through the development of a synthetic platform for the discovery of a novel class of chimeric molecules that can trigger precise modifications of proteins. Expected outcomes include a detailed understanding of how specific modifications modulate protein and cellular function. Significant benefits of this interdisciplinary project include access to a new class of molecules for basic research that may also find use for cell engineering applications within the growing biotechnology sector in Australia. Field of research: 3404 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Cells acquire important functions beyond the limits of their genome through chemical modification of proteins. Understanding the chemistry and biology of these modifications is critical for elucidating the mechanisms underpinning fundamental physiological processes. This project aims to develop new molecular tools to trigger protein modifications on-demand and study the resulting impacts on cell function and behaviour. Outcomes of the proposed research have the potential to contribute to the well-being of Australians through generating abundant knowledge on how protein modifications influence cell decision-making. The technology platforms developed from this project will provide significant benefits to Australia's manufacturing industry in the biotechnology sector, fuelling economic growth through low-cost manufacture of advanced biotechnology products with a vast market value ($65 billion by 2026). This cutting-edge research will provide world-class training for Australia’s next generation of scientists with multidisciplinary skills and elevate them to the forefront of chemical and biological research.