THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

10,000 Hours: Time in early education and care for better life opportunity. An Australian child spends up to 10,000 hours in early care and education programs prior to school. These hours are a developmental opportunity. Their potential to improve life chances is well documented. Yet many programs do not deliver on this promise. Nearly 1 in 4 Australian children enter school developmentally vulnerable. This study aims to interrogate the meaning of quality in early education and care programs with focus in communities experiencing the greatest challenges. The expected result is understanding of the mechanisms that limit delivery of the highest quality learning opportunities and outcomes for children. The benefit will be for children attending early education and care programs, their families and the nation’s future. Field of research: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology Early childhood care and education programs underpin Australia's economic productivity. They enable parent workforce participation. They also present the potential to promote the learning and development of the children who attend. Realising this potential is dependent on the effectiveness of the experiences provided. Children spend up to 10,000 hours in care and education programs. These hours matter. They occur at a critical point in human development in which social, emotional and learning experiences set the neural foundations for lifetime wellbeing and achievement. Understanding the ways in which programs can more effectively contribute to positive life-course development benefits Australian families, society and economy. This study applies complex analyses of unique, contemporary datasets and a longitudinal study with linkage to ongoing school records to identify strategies that promote child learning and redress current social inequities. It plans to advance theory, provide multidisciplinary research training and offer new directions for realising the promise of Australia's early learning programs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Diving into the Desert. Indigenous and Future Floodplain Management. This project aims to discover how Indigenous communities managed cycles of drought and flood in the Lake Eyre Basin, and to learn from this to manage Australia’s inland rivers sustainably. By integrating archaeology – done underwater, on land and from the air – with Indigenous knowledge and environmental and flow modelling, the project expects to uncover a deep history of Indigenous environmental engineering in one of the world's last unregulated desert river systems . The project's outcomes – an Australian National Maritime Museum touring exhibition plus written, audio and 3D immersive communications – seek to benefit Australia's cultural life and flood mitigation, and to protect the Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation's culture and country. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology By pioneering wetland archaeology in Australia, this project aims to identify and date the first physical remains of the Mithaka people’s fish traps and weirs. It will learn how these Indigenous installations shaped critical flows in the Channel Country. This will help remedy the lack of Indigenous input in water management by publicising the importance of “cultural flows” (First Nations water entitlements). The anticipated outcomes will assist governments and land managers to manage inland river systems by learning from Indigenous innovations honed over millennia, such as flood-adapted road crossings inspired by fish trap designs. The project aims to boost cultural tourism as well as protect Mithaka culture and country in one of the world’s last unregulated desert river systems. A National Maritime Museum touring exhibition, plus written, audio and 3D immersive communications, will showcase the complexity of Mithaka resource use to regional and urban Australia, informing the nationally significant Indigenous Voice to Parliament debate. Data gathering will increase Australia’s capacity to map flood impacts.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Sewer Monitoring and Management in the Digital Era. Overflow, flooding, corrosion, and odorous emissions are persistent issues for utilities managing sewers. Current sewer maintenance is reactive, and focuses on solving problems in local networks, despite that optimal solutions require a system-wide approach. Capitalising on recent development in IoT sensors, wireless transmission, and machine learning, this multidisciplinary project aims to develop digital-twin supported data analytics for proactive sewer management including network-wide real-time control. The project aims to generate significant social, environmental and economic benefits by enabling utilities to better protect public and environmental health, reduce sewer odour and greenhouse gas emissions, and extend sewer asset life. Field of research: 0907 - Environmental Engineering Sewer systems are critical infrastructure for modern urban societies. Australia has 120,000 km sewers with a total value of $40 billion. However, sewer systems are subject to overflow, blockage, corrosion, and odour and greenhouse gas emissions, causing persistent and costly issues for utilities. This project aims to generate new knowledge for the development and application of novel digital tools so that the water industry can achieve proactive, system-wide, and optimal sewer management. In wet weather, the frequency and volume of wastewater spills and sewer overflows will be reduced, protecting public and environmental health. In dry weather, energy consumption and emissions of hydrogen sulfide and methane will be reduced, thus reducing sewer corrosion and odour, and contributing to carbon-neutral sewage management. This project will support long-term planning by identifying optimal strategies for capital works, resulting in major economic benefit for water utilities. The tools will have strong potential for commercialisation, contributing to knowledge-based economic development.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Low emission iron and steelmaking using hydrogen to pre-reduce lump ore. This project aims to develop and apply a new route of lump iron ore pre-reduction with hydrogen or H2-enriched gases for ironmaking to minimise CO2 emission from steel production. The route will be built up on the base of H2 reduction kinetics of iron ore and with novel technologies such as CO2 recycle and H2-heating using hot blast, underpinning the hydrogen economy by addressing the environmental concerns in mineral and steel industries. It is not only significant for low-carbon steel production, but also for better fundamental understanding to develop the future zero-emission iron and steelmaking with hydrogen. The project will be very beneficent because it increases the use of lump iron ore and expends Australian export of iron ores. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from ironmaking blast furnaces is a critical issue that will have long-term impacts on the sustainability of Australia’s iron ore exports, worth approximately $150 billion in 2020-2021. Currently, iron and steel making rely on coking coal (‘coke’) which results in carbon dioxide emissions, whereas hydrogen used in the same processes releases only water vapour. This project aims to understand how hydrogen can be used in blast furnaces, addressing heat management and integration issues that currently limit use of this technology. The outcomes will improve the long-term competitiveness of Australian iron ore exports globally while significantly reducing CO2 emissions from the industry. Through working with industry, the knowledge and technologies derived from the project will lead to new routes for Australia to export higher-value iron ore products that have been pre-treated in Australia using renewably generated hydrogen. It will develop future hydrogen ironmaking to achieve carbon neutral and “green” steel production in Australia and the world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Systematic investigations of low temperature Sn-Bi based solder alloys . The project aims to reduce the temperatures used in the manufacture of electronic circuitry through the development of Sn-Bi alloys for low temperature assembly processes without compromising productivity or reliability. The project will use a range of innovative solidification and microstructure development techniques to obtain an understanding of the dynamic processes of precipitation, dissolution and microstructure evolution that occur in these alloys during manufacture and application. The outcomes include a reduction in the energy consumed in electronic assembly processes and a capacity to manufacture advanced circuitry based on next-generation temperature-sensitive components and substrates without compromising reliability. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The project aims to create new Pb-free Sn-Bi based solder alloys that enable reliable connections in electronic circuitry with low processing temperatures. Lowering processing temperatures minimises energy consumption which has both economic and environmental benefits. The technology will also enable increased use of temperature sensitive components and result in new opportunities for electronics assembly. The project involves an international partner based in Japan who manufactures, and supplies solder alloys used by some of the world’s most prominent electronics manufacturers giving them a unique insight into current industry demands and trends. The inclusion of an Australian based electronics manufacturer who is active in relevant national associations will allow for broad transfer of this technology to the local industry. This will result in adoption of new and emerging technologies by Australian electronics manufacturers decreasing the sovereign risk associated with reliance on international markets.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Towards use-as-manufactured titanium alloys for additive manufacturing. Australian manufacturers of 3D printed titanium products face grand challenges in affordably producing useable and reliable as-printed products because the 3D printing process may create unfavourable material characteristics. To ensure products meet acceptance criteria, manufacturers usually apply expensive and time-consuming post processes such as heat treatment. This project aims to discover how alloy composition can be modified to produce more favourable material characteristics directly from 3D printing, preventing the need for post processing. Australian manufacturers will likely benefit through a streamlined manufacturing process resulting in increased profitability in existing markets as well as expansion into new global markets. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Australia is a leader in metal 3D printing with growing sovereign capacity to supply bespoke titanium products into global markets. The most common metal 3D printing method, powder bed fusion, is unrivalled in its precision but the process may create unwanted material properties that make as-printed parts unusable for service. After 3D printing, parts can be made fit for service by implementing thermal processing but this can add 18-30% to the product cost and extend lead time. This project takes a new approach, and by carefully controlling the titanium alloy chemistry it seeks to achieve desirable material properties directly from the 3D printing process, thus eliminating the need for downstream processing. This will enable Australian manufacturers to produce high quality titanium products faster and more affordably, allowing them to more competitively participate in global supply chains. As a material with many applications, including defence, this strengthens our sovereign advanced manufacturing capability and supports the growth of an important industry, while also boosting jobs and local economies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Pore Engineering of Chromatography Membranes for Bioseparation. Protein separation and purification is an essential unit operation in manufacturing processes of therapeutic proteins. The project aims to advance the practical applications of chromatography membrane, an emerging technology for protein separation and purification, by tailoring membrane pore geometry and surface functionality to achieve enhanced separation performance. The project expects to generate advanced knowledge and techniques in the fields of reactive polymer synthesis, functional membrane fabrication and application in bioseparation. The innovative membranes developed in the project are able to improve the production capacity of therapeutic protein manufacturing processes, providing significant economic benefits to Australia. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering Protein separation and purification is an essential step in order to manufacture therapeutic proteins, such as those used in monoclonal antibodies to treat an array of different infectious diseases. The current process, however, is slow, labour-intensive and expensive, acting as a bottleneck in the biopharmaceutical industry. This project aims to develop and scale up an emerging technology to speed up protein separation and purification. This project expects to boost the production capacity of biomanufacturing processes (the production of biological products from living cells), strengthening Australia’s competitiveness in the global biotechnology industry. It will help position Australia at the forefront of advanced manufacturing in therapeutics and to be less dependent upon overseas biomanufacturing. Through the industry partner collaboration, this project includes testing of the new technology under industry conditions, essential to determine its validity at scale. Proof of concept at scale opens the door for potential adoption into other industries such as food processing, water treatment and seawater desalination. Its application therefore has potential to provide Australia with significant economic, societal and environmental benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

New vaccines and diagnostics to control viral disease in farmed crocodiles. Infection of farmed crocodiles with West Nile virus (WNV) causes lesions in the skin that render the hides unsuitable for high quality leather products. This results in >$20 million lost revenue to the Australian crocodile industry annually. We have developed a novel technology to generate safe and effective vaccines and diagnostic tests for WNV in animals. We aim to 1) conduct vaccine trials in farmed crocodiles to determine the optimum dose formulation and immunisation regime to provide long-lived protection against WNV disease; 2) validate pen-side tests to rapidly diagnose WNV infection in crocodiles on farms; and 3) transfer the technology to a manufacturing facility to ensure a commercial supply of the vaccines and diagnostic tests. Field of research: 0702 - Animal Production This project will establish effective strategies to prevent West Nile virus infection of farmed saltwater crocodiles in northern Australia. This will significantly reduce skin lesion occurrence and the rejection rate of crocodile hides for the quality leather market, allowing the Australian crocodile industry to compete more effectively with overseas rivals who are not held to the same standards of animal welfare, OH&S and fair wages. Due to the active participation of the crocodile industry in the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, additional benefits of these outcomes will flow to indigenous communities in northern Australia who are involved with the crocodile industry through egg collection and hatchling rearing enterprises and are dependent on its continued success and competitiveness in the international markets for the return of royalties and employment opportunities. Establishing a comprehensive system to detect the transmission of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne pathogens on crocodile farms provides a strategic “One Health” arbovirus surveillance system that will benefit the Darwin region.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment. This project aims to transform Australia’s timber and construction sectors by stimulating rapid growth in timber innovation and uptake of use of timber in buildings. It plans to enable this transformation by addressing the diverse elements required to motivate investment, stimulate innovation, satisfy stakeholder demands, define long-term social-environmental-economic benefits and establish a roadmap for change. The expected outcomes will kickstart the change process, supported by growth in advanced manufacturing across the value chain. This should provide significant benefits in stimulating an opportunity for regional development and resource diversification whilst helping the sectors transition to a circular and net-zero economy. Field of research: 3302 - Building Some of the largest buildings that designers are contemplating now, may not be constructed until at least 2030. Whilst steel and concrete will continue to play a significant role as building materials over the next 30 years, manufactured Engineered Wood Products (EWP) have enormous potential to be a critical driver for transforming the building and construction sector in Australia whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards a Net Zero 2050. The full national benefits on offer can only be realised if we act quickly, otherwise the opportunity will be lost for large-scale inclusion of locally produced timber products in the next wave of buildings in Australia’s rapidly growing mid-rise market. Benefits for the Australian timber industry will be missed, if a growing building client interest in EWP leads to reliance on import-based supply chains that stimulate manufacturing growth overseas. Increased manufacture of EWP locally will also lead to growth in Australia’s carbon sequestration potential by increasing the domestic demand of softwood sawlogs, which will in turn increase the need for more plantations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals. Radiopharmaceuticals are emerging as next generation medical technologies for addressing complex health challenges, and their manufacture offers significant economic benefit to Australia. The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR) aims to establish a manufacturing platform for new medical technologies combining innovations in biotechnology and pharmaceutical science. The program addresses industry-led challenges for translation of biologics as molecular radiopharmaceuticals, building capacity in biomanufacturing, radiobiology and radiochemistry. The program establishes a dedicated manufacturing pipeline, future-proofing production and securing supply chain of next generation medical technologies. Field of research: 3214 - Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals aims to establish critical capacity in the production of next generation radiopharmaceuticals, placing Australia at the forefront internationally in this rapidly expanding market. Driven by technological advances through partnering with major national and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the research hub will bring significant onshore capability in terms of medical device manufacture, shoring up sovereign capabilities and ensuring the supply chain is fully supported in Australia. Onshore manufacture of high value radiopharmaceuticals will ensure Australia leads in this estimated $175B industry in 2025, stimulating new growth in manufacturing and helping to address downstream health challenges that arise through our aging society.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (ARC CEA-StAR). The ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance aims to develop industry-led solutions and train a new generation of researchers to combat the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on agribusiness and the environment. AMR is a global health and economic threat that epitomises the need for a ‘One Health’ collaborative approach encompassing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. Expected outcomes of this collaborative program include a cohort of researchers trained in industry-relevant techniques, furnishing solutions to partner-defined AMR challenges, and providing significant benefits by positioning Australia as a global leader in reducing AMR. Field of research: 4105 - Pollution and Contamination Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat with detrimental impact on the Australian economy due to its effects on health, agriculture and the environment, as recognised by the Australian Government’s “National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy – 2020 and Beyond”. The ARC CEA-StAR will conduct research that finds solutions to antimicrobial resistance via a ‘One-Health’ approach bridging human health, agriculture and the environment, leading to clear benefits to a wide range of the Australian community. Successful projects will contribute to cleaner water, reduced use of antibiotics in animals with improved animal health, and new opportunities to develop effective alternatives to the depleted arsenal of existing antibiotics that are essential to modern medicine. Success in any one of these areas will clearly provide commercial benefits to the companies involved, leading to direct economic benefits to Australia through increased company-driven revenue and employment, along with indirect economic benefits due to a reduction in the economic impact of antimicrobial resistance.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Nanoarchitectured anti-corrosion coatings for zinc-plated steel. Zinc-plated steel is widely used in buildings, households and vehicles, but the long-term performance is limited due to corrosion resulting from exposure to high humidity or alkaline conditions. Currently, available chromium coatings are toxic, while polymeric coatings lack durability. This project aims to use nanotechnology to develop highly effective, multifunctional anti-corrosive coatings in which long-term protection is achieved by controlling the wettability and self-healing properties. The project is excepted to generate new knowledge in coating materials that limit corrosion and address environmental problems. This advanced manufacturing technology should be of high-value benefit to manufacturers and consumers of zinc-plated steel. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Australia needs new and non-toxic anti-corrosion coatings for zinc-plated steel. Chromium-based coatings are being phased out due to toxicity concerns, and Australia has an environmental responsibility to find alternative coating materials. This project aims to develop sustainable and more durable nano-coatings with superior anti-corrosion properties to address this issue. This will ensure the longest possible service life of steel in building and manufacturing materials which will benefit Australia’s economy, environment, and society. Manufacturing, maintenance and replacement costs of steel would be reduced, as would energy requirement and carbon dioxide emission in making and using steel. The expected outcomes will enhance Australia’s international position in steel production and will have a value-add for Australian steel manufacturing. In addition, Australian consumers will have access to more durable steel-based materials, which will benefit diverse industries from construction to vehicle manufacture.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

AM of MAX Phase parts for applications in extreme environments. This project aims to develop techniques to synthesize MAX Phase compound materials in-situ using laser additive manufacturing. The project expects to increase jet engine fuel efficiency and thrust, and to fabricate longer-lasting parts for supersonic speed applications. The expected outcomes include well-developed additive manufacturing processes to make high performance engineering components with shape complexity for extreme environment applications, and new methods to increase the 3D printability of brittle materials. This should provide significant benefits to aerospace and defense industries through solving their long standing bottleneck material and processing problems. The outcomes also enhance Australia’s manufacturing capacity. Field of research: 0901 - Aerospace Engineering MAX phase compounds are lightweight materials with both metallic and ceramic characteristics, and have strong potential for engineering applications at special and extreme conditions. However, the current synthesis processes have difficulties to produce high purity materials in large quantities and to manufacture parts with shape complexity. This research takes the advantages of 3D printing to develop novel in-situ synthesis techniques with laser 3D printing to produce high performance MAX phase materials, and to 3D print engineering components with complicated geometrical shapes and superior properties for extreme environment applications. In aerospace industry, use of the 3D printed MAX phase parts can increase fuel efficiency and jet engine thrust. It also provides materials solution to fabricate critical parts for supersonic speed applications in defense sector. Furthermore, the research enhances Australia’s high-value manufacturing capacity, and provides Australia with a competitive advantage to make economic benefit through advanced manufacturing in critical Australian investment areas.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Transforming Primary Healthcare Service Delivery: A Digital-Human Approach. This project aims to address the urgent need for a transformational shift in thinking and actions in primary healthcare service delivery. Primary care clinics, the front door of Australia's healthcare, are under considerable strain. By using a four-phase mixed methodology design across four Australian states, this project expects to generate a national evidence-based framework which takes a dual approach combining the use of digital technology with humanness. Expected outcomes include the development of an Australian-first evidence-based digital resource kit, including two new tools, and a new co-designed roadmap to better facilitate this important change journey to enhance patient experience, employee wellbeing and clinic performance. Field of research: 1505 - Marketing Tasked with addressing a wide spectrum of Australia's healthcare needs, primary care (GP) clinics seek to provide a vital service to the whole nation. But primary care clinics are experiencing considerable tensions, especially in the current turbulent environment from increasing consumer demands, advances in digital technologies, and the lack of resources and skills to enact the much needed transformation. While trained in technical areas of medicine, nursing and allied health, GP clinics have not all kept pace with key digital technologies, nor the necessary skillsets to effectively manage the business side of clinics - customers, employees and performance. This innovative project will provide a national evidence-based resource toolkit including two new tools, a typology, and a new practical roadmap co-designed with industry to equip GP clinics with the necessary skills to make the required transformational shift in both mindset and practice, combining digital technologies with humanness, to enhance patient experience, employee wellbeing, and clinic performance. Thus, future-proofing this critical service.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Surface and Interface Engineering for Superconducting Quantum Circuits. The limiting factor for current quantum computers is a process called decoherence. This project aims to identify new strategies to reduce decoherence in quantum computer components using an interdisciplinary approach based on quantum physics, materials science, and engineering. This project involves investigating the effect of atomically sharp interfaces on decoherence and using capping layers to control and/or inhibit oxide growth that reduce the contribution of interfaces to decoherence. Expected outcomes of this project include development of solutions to fabricate long-lived superconducting qubits benefiting superconducting quantum technologies and making a significant step towards realisation of a practical quantum computer. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that is expected to radically transform the way we process information with practical benefits for medicine, chemistry, and material synthesis. Building a quantum computer is a grand challenge and requires solutions to many problems in science and engineering. This project addresses the problem of decoherence, the biggest roadblock to building a practical quantum computer. This project aims to develop new fabrication methods and circuit designs that reduce decoherence. The knowledge and engineering solutions developed here are directly applicable to the fabrication of superconducting quantum computers. The project will enhance capacity to generate international, interdisciplinary research and build collaborations between the leading Australian research labs and industrial leaders in quantum computing outside of Australia. This expanded capacity gives Australia access to cutting-edge technology not yet available in Australia, provides a base for future development, and provides a much-needed push for the national field of superconducting quantum devices.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Bioelectrochemical interconversion of the building blocks of life. This project aims to harness the efficiency of enzymes (Nature’s catalysts) by coupling them with an electrode for the electrochemical interconversion of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and formate; the organic building blocks of life. The significance of this research is that the efficient capture and reduction of carbon dioxide is an important quest in the environment and energy sectors. The expected outcomes of this project will be an understanding of the reactivity of these enzymes and the conditions under which they may be utilised as part of a renewable electrochemical system. Benefits of this research should emerge in energy efficient technologies for generating fuels (formic acid) from waste products (carbon dioxide). Field of research: 0302 - Inorganic Chemistry The current world focus on carbon capture and storage and the demands for new sources of energy intersect with the biological world where these synthetically challenging chemical reactions are carried out by enzymes routinely. Capturing carbon dioxide and efficiently converting it into energy sources (fuels) of the future is still a major challenge. This project will harness the power and versatility of two enzyme biocatalysts to develop rapid and efficient methods for interconverting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and formic acid; the carbon-based, building blocks of life. This research entails coupling enzymes with electrodes to produce bio-electrochemical methods for turning carbon dioxide into formic acid; a waste product into a potential fuel. The innovation in this approach will be integration of these biological catalysts with an electrode so that these reactions can be driven efficiently with electricity rather than chemicals. Long term benefits to Australia include technological advances in utilising biological systems to address issues of renewable energy sources and carbon capture.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Integrating community and family aged care for diverse Australians . This project aims to identify optimal ways to integrate community and family care to support older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds to age well at home and in their communities. Using an innovative research design, the project seeks to generate new policy and practice relevant knowledge of care networks and expectations of diverse older Australians, their families and service providers to identify new avenues for enabling family and community collaboration to meet care needs. Expected outcomes include enhancing Australia’s capacity to provide accessible, tailored and culturally responsive aged care, with significant benefits for improving care experiences for diverse older Australians, their families and service providers. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies Effectively supporting older Australians to age at home and in their communities relies on integrating community and family care. Yet, under-use of needed community services and over-reliance on families often ill-equipped to provide the needed care remains an ongoing well-being concern among older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. This project aims to generate new practice and policy relevant knowledge to facilitate community and family care collaboration. The research will advance understanding of care networks, experiences, and expectations of older CALD people, family carers, and community service providers. Using this new knowledge, it will engage community leaders and policy makers in identifying optimal ways to integrate community and family care to meet care needs. Significant benefits include building Australia’s capacity to provide accessible, tailored and culturally responsive support to enable diverse older Australians to age well and prevent premature entry into residential care facilities, with long-term social and economic benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Enhancing Genomic Prediction for Changing Environments in Wheat. Adverse weather is the primary risk faced by the Australian agriculture industry. This Project aims to develop the next generation of agriculture tools to unlock natural potential in wheat and improve yield stability across seasons and regions. Drawing on crop physiology, genetics and integrated modelling, this Project expects to generate new knowledge and technologies to untangle genetic and environmental interactions that affect productivity, enhance predictive capability, and initiate advanced breeding strategies to develop new crop varieties with superior resilience against changing climates. This should provide significant benefits, such as profit stability for wheat growers, elevated global market position and improved food security. Field of research: 0703 - Crop and Pasture Production As the fourth largest exporter of wheat, Australia is a key player in the global market. The Australian industry is valued at $5B per annum and has a substantial footprint in rural Australia and the national economy. However, wheat productivity is severely impacted by adverse weather. Yield reductions of 4.6% per decade are already being experienced, and these losses are expected to intensify in the future. This project expects to develop innovative trans-disciplinary approaches to enhance breeding efficiency and produce climate-adapted wheat varieties. Successful outcomes will reduce crippling yield variability in the industry and provide income security and a degree of much-needed stability for growers. As wheat is the primary source of protein in low-income nations, outcomes will also contribute to society more broadly through improved global food security. Importantly, new insights and tools from this Project are expected to be transferrable to other high-value crops, such as barley, oats, sorghum, canola and pulses, with further substantial economic, social, research and industry benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Innovations in Demographic Modelling for Government Analysis and Planning. This project aims to create innovative and cutting-edge demographic models to better meet the needs of practitioners and researchers. Together with the partner organisations, Commonwealth Treasury and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it will focus on creating more accurate and fit-for-purpose forecasting methods for Australian fertility, mortality, and migration, including a policy scenario model to produce population projections by visa/citizenship category and Australians overseas. Expected outcomes of this project include improved forecasting methods reported in open-access papers, user-friendly forecasting software and tools for the partner organisations, and a stronger relationship between researchers and practitioners. Field of research: 1603 - Demography Population forecasts are widely used for planning and policy development. For example, they influence discussion about long-term economic policy options (as shown in the Intergenerational Report), affect superannuation expenditure forecasts, and inform decisions about the number of new schools needed. However, current methods have many limitations. This project will seek to improve the usefulness, detail, and accuracy of population projections and forecasts for Australia at the national, State/Territory, and large region scales. Historically, some population forecasts have proved highly inaccurate. The project will aim to increase the accuracy of fertility, mortality, and mortality forecasts, which are the key inputs to population projections, using the latest computational and statistical methods. It will also focus on creating user-friendly tools and programs for practitioners to try to narrow the gap between research and practice, and encourage greater exchange of knowledge and insights between researchers and practitioners.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

The Impact of Water Stress on Early Humans in the Kalahari Desert. This project aims to understand the impacts of water stressed environments for early modern human behaviour through state-of-the-art excavation techniques and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction at two new archaeological sites in the Kalahari. How humans mitigated water stress during a major technological transition is significant because adaptability to arid environments was crucial for humans expanding beyond Africa and into Australia. The expected outcome of this project is creation of new knowledge on the origins of human resilience to water stress. The benefit lies in the potential to gain insights into meeting future climate challenges by exploring the adaptive strategies developed by early modern humans in the southern Kalahari. Field of research: 0603 - Evolutionary Biology Water stress looms as a key concern for the future. The effects of climate change on water availability are first felt in arid regions, such as Australia. Humans evolved in areas with significant water variability. Adaptability to water stress may be part of what it means to be human. The context in which adaptability developed provides clues for meeting Australia's future water challenges. Yet the behavioural strategies for coping with past variability are poorly known. This project combines archaeology and geochronology to generate this knowledge. Detailed archaeological excavations from a key technological transition provide evidence of human adaptation. A record of climate change will be developed from previously unrecognised ancient lake sediments in the Kalahari. Insights for Australia's future water stress from our species' deep history provides a national benefit. International collaboration and domestic partnerships build Australia's research capacity and make this project possible. Arid regions help us understand past resilience and develop strategies for the future in the face of climate change.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Ecologically responsible mining to fuel a green energy transition. An energy transition is key to tackling climate change. However, renewable energy is mineral intensive and boosting its supply may create new mining threats to biodiversity. This project aims to facilitate strategic development of ecologically responsible mining. It expects to reveal where new mines will be needed to meet future energy demand, and create innovative tools to predict and mitigate threats to plants and animals. Expected outcomes include an improved ability to inform sustainable climate and energy policies, leading to strategic investment decisions, cleaner mineral supply chains and conservation outcomes that capture valuable environmental and social benefits and create a competitive advantage for Australia’s mining sector. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Australia is set to become a world leading supplier of the minerals needed to fuel an energy transition and address climate change. Careful strategic planning of new mines is essential to support a sustainable approach and avoid damage to our natural environment and its immense societal values. This research seeks to position Australia’s mining sector at the cutting edge of responsibly sourced energy transition minerals. It intends to advance understanding of where new mines may threaten species and minimise the net biodiversity impacts of climate policies. In partnership with industry and government, this project plans to create tools that streamline investment decisions in mining and energy infrastructure, and enable effective conservation planning. Explicitly integrating biodiversity risks into energy transition plans will not only enhance environmental and social benefits to Australia but also ensure businesses can capitalise on a market increasingly focussed on sustainability. This should bring a competitive advantage to Australia’s mining sector and a boost to our clean green economic future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Managing Carbon Offsets to Improve Australian Climate Policy Effectiveness. This project aims to evaluate the Emissions Reduction Fund-Australia’s flagship climate policy-by using a combination of state-of-the-art theoretical and experimental economic methods. This project expects to generate new knowledge by investigating how the use of aggregators (intermediaries) and contract design impact the current regulation. Expected outcomes of this project include a clear scholarly understanding of how to redesign the regulatory system to deliver better environmental outcomes for less public funds. The insights gained should provide significant benefits to both Federal and State Australian policymakers (as well as policymakers worldwide) on the design and implementation of carbon offsetting mechanisms. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics The control of greenhouse gases is one of the most pressing public policies challenges we face in Australia and across the world. A key challenge is the ability to design innovative regulatory controls that limit greenhouse gases at the lowest possible cost while also providing environmental benefits to Australia. This project aims to investigate the effectiveness of carbon offsetting and, in particular, analyse the current issues related to the Emission Reduction Fund. Two major aspects play a pivotal role in the regulation: (i) the use of intermediaries to aggregate small-scale offsetting potential and (ii) the design of alternative carbon contracts. This project investigates how these two features impact the efficiency and environmental effectiveness of Australia’s current climate policy. This will allow fresh design ideas to be generated in order to improve and develop Australia’s flagship policy. The findings will position Australia as a leader in the design and implementation of innovative carbon mitigation policies that could be applied and adapted across the world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Testing the Dark Emu hypothesis. How we define traditional Aboriginal food production and settlement systems is a key challenge to Australian archaeology in light of the far reaching success of Bruce Pascoe's popular book Dark Emu. This project aims to undertake a new trans-disciplinary investigation, the first incorporating archaeological science, plant genetics and palynology through the lens of Niche Construction Theory to generate new empirical data in order to determine how we best define Aboriginal socio-economic systems. Investigating the intricacies of Mithaka economy and possible 'village sites' with a focus on the idea of plant domestication, the project will identify how we best define these sophisticated cultural and economic systems. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology A renewed interest by Australian audiences to the complexity of past Aboriginal food production and settlement systems has emerged through engaging and accessible histories that question basic assumptions relating to the Aboriginal hunter-gatherer past. This project aims to provide the first transdisciplinary test of these popular histories in Mithaka country which is documented in ethnohistory as an area where people lived in villages and cultivated plants. A diverse outreach program aims to provide Australian society with a clear statement of the cultural complexity of Aboriginal food production systems through the Mithaka example, using Niche Construction Theory as an interpretive framework to establish if we can define it as a form of agriculture. Aligned with a palaeoenvironmental research program it will generate important new understandings of one of the world’s last unregulated desert channel systems. The project directly supports the Mithaka’s National Heritage nomination for the region, aimed at bringing greater conservation, education and sustainable economic growth through cultural tourism

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Balance of Power vs. Empire in International Relations: A Global Study. Why have some international systems seen power-balancing between competing Great Powers, while others have been dominated by a single empire? Drawing from European history, International Relations (IR) scholars have conventionally assumed that international systems tend towards a balance of power. Yet recent analyses of East Asia highlight the historical dominance of successive Chinese empires. Other, neglected regional systems vary between these extremes. IR scholars lack an explanation of when and why international systems tend towards balance of power or empire. This project aims to fill this knowledge gap. With US hegemony in doubt, and China rapidly rising, understanding what drives change in international systems is urgent. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science Policy-makers, scholars and pundits in Australia and globally are divided over whether the United States is in decline as a superpower, and whether China will dominate Asian or world politics in the 21st century. Much if not most of this debate, which is crucial for Australia's national security and foreign policy, is based on an assumption that international politics naturally tends towards a balance of power. This assumption is based on bad history, and is often wrong. Looking at history beyond Europe shows that sometimes the international system tends to balance, but sometimes it is dominated by a single power as an empire or hegemon. Because a key assumption on which much of Australia's national security and foreign policy is faulty, the policy may be badly flawed. By finding out when and why international systems tend towards either a balance of power or domination by a single power we will provide a firmer and more accurate intellectual foundation from which to advance Australia's national interests in world politics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Self-reinforced biopolymer composites. This project will pioneer high performance and biodegradable composites using self-reinforced biopolymer composites. Composites can have poor properties due to interfacial issues, and this reduces their performance. By producing a fully self-reinforced (where the fibre and the polymer are the same type of polymer) polymer composites, the project will develop a way to improve properties, increase the use of biobased materials, and improve recyclability and biodegradability. Outcomes include greater understanding of design of self-reinforced biopolymer composites structure, processing and properties. This will produce opportunities for high performance biobased composite manufacturing and a growing circular plastics economy for Australia. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Australia and the world are facing a plastic waste crisis. The solution will require a mix of technical, social and political change. This project focuses on the technical innovation of biobased and easily recyclable polymers that will be part of this solution. Biobased and biodegradable polymers are experiencing rapid growth (20% in 2016), but have not yet gained full market acceptance due, in part, to a lack of high performance properties, such as high impact strength and toughness. Conventional approaches through blending or fibre composites impair recyclability or degradability, causing a continuing waste burden on Australian society and environment. By developing high impact strength self-reinforced biocomposites, where both the fibre and matrix are made from biobased PHA and PGA, this project will unlock far broader applications for biopolymers and accelerate their widespread use as engineering products. This strongly supports Australia’s transition to a biobased and circular economy, providing key environmental, social and economic benefits.