UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Deep Time Images in the Age of Globalisation. Using rock art as a focus, this innovative comparative project will examine the processes that create contemporary heritage. The project aims to answer questions such as: What motivates tourists to visit rock art sites in different parts of the world? And what preconceptions do tourists and Traditional Owners have about each other? This project will transform our understanding of rock art heritage sites and provide invaluable foundations for future approaches towards heritage management, preservation, and communication. For the first time, the creation of rock art heritage will be analysed simultaneously in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere as the product of global intertwined intellectual processes and ongoing legacies. Field of research: 4301 - Archaeology Australia’s significant rock art is part of contemporary Aboriginal culture and is of importance to a national and international community with interests in heritage, art, and culture. This heritage is often contested and subject to cross-cultural misunderstandings, threatening the preservation of its tangible and intangible components. The project will undertake a comparative analysis of some of the world’s most significant rock art locations, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites. The project will generate unique new knowledge related to the processes of production, management, and communication of heritage. The project will contribute to a more balanced and reflective treatment of Aboriginal heritage in Australia and will have direct commercial implications for a better understanding of tourist biases and expectations. These aspects are crucially important for Australia’s post-Covid recovery and the development of responsible and sustainable cultural tourism for remote Aboriginal communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Carboxylate exudation and phosphorus acquisition in eucalypts. Eucalypts are thought to rely on mycorrhizas to acquire phosphorus (P). Using leaf manganese concentrations in the field to proxy rhizosphere carboxylates, followed by plant growth in low P-solutions, it was shown that some, but not all eucalypts that grow on P-impoverished soils release carboxylates from their roots. This trait is a strategy of Proteaceae to access soil P, but assumed not to be used by eucalypts. This game-changing discovery challenges the current dogma that eucalypts invariably rely on mycorrhizas to acquire P. This project will explore the significance of this newly-described trait for functioning of eucalypts more broadly and produce results that are important for conservation, restoration and forestry activities. Field of research: 3007 - Forestry Sciences Native Australian eucalypts are thought to depend on fungi living close to their roots to acquire phosphorus, an essential nutrient that frequently limits plant growth. However recent research has shown that this is not always the case, because some eucalypts instead release organic acids which convert unavailable soil phosphorus into a form that is available to roots. This project will explore how widespread the release of these organic acids is among Australian eucalypts. This will allow conservationists and tree growers to decide which species to grow based on known soil and climate conditions.  This will also result in economic and environmental benefit for Australia as we will be able to breed for eucalypts that are better able to access soil phosphorus and reduce the dependence on phosphorus fertilisers.  Adoption of these results will be through communication with conservationists, eucalypt growers and breeders.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Brain-skull interface: discovering the missing piece of head biomechanics. Overall objective of this project is to measure, mathematically describe and implement in software mechanical properties of brain-skull interface – a critical component of current large and sophisticated computational models of the brain and the last missing piece of brain biomechanics knowledge. This will allow increased reliability of comprehensive biomechanical models used to simulate realistic injury and surgery scenarios. The problem is significant and urgent. Every year in Australia, there are over 22,000 cases of traumatic brain injury, some of which could be prevented by better passive and active countermeasures; and over 12,000 neurosurgical procedures that surgical simulation could make more accurate and therefore safer. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering Every year in Australia over 22,000 people suffer a traumatic brain injury, and over 12,000 neurosurgical operations are performed. This project integrates knowledge of brain biomechanics with computer modelling techniques to create software to design safety devices to prevent traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as surgical simulation to improve surgery accuracy and safety. Currently, gaps in knowledge of brain function and limitations of current computational techniques limit our ability to improve design of safety devices and create accurate surgical simulations. Our research will uncover this missing knowledge and develop software for advanced computer simulations to run on off-the-shelf personal computers. Software produced as a result of this research will be made available to the engineering and medical communities, to enable adoption of the outcomes. Australia will benefit economically through a reduced incidence of disabling brain injuries, and reduced costs from caring for people with brain injury.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The Dark-side of the Milky Way. Astronomers have long sought to determine the 3-dimensional structure of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, with limited success owing to its immense size and obscuration by dust at optical wavelengths. We know more about structure of tens of thousands of other galaxies than we do about the structure of the Milky Way on the far-side of the Galactic Centre. This program will use Australian infrastructure to make the most accurate distance measurements to date of the far-side of the Milky Way visible from the Southern hemisphere, completing the 3-dimensional picture of our Galaxy. These results will be leveraged to yield accurate distances, providing fundamental information on the stellar masses, luminosities, and ages. Field of research: 5101 - Astronomical Sciences The major outcome of this project will be a significant improvement in our knowledge of the structure of the Galaxy we live in, the Milky Way. We will use an innovative approach developed in Australia to reveal the spiral structure of the far-side of the Milky Way, more than 30000 light years away. To be able to answer fundamental questions about the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies we need to improve our understanding of our own galaxy as there are measurements we can only make here that are the foundation of our understanding. Australia has a long and distinguished history of major contributions to the study of the Milky Way, starting more than 60 years ago with pioneering mapping of hydrogen emission by J. L. Pawsey. The nation continues to invest heavily in radio astronomy infrastructure through developments like the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope. Beyond astronomy and its cultural value, the work undertaken in this project will provide benefits for spacecraft tracking and space domain awareness through development of new calibration methodologies. This project will also provide benefits for research end-users, such as the Australian Space Agency & Defence for spacecraft tracking & space domain awareness through development of new ultra-high precision calibration methods.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Roads to the Future: Infrastructure and the New Development in Africa. This project aims to conduct a comparative analysis of new road schemes in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean (a region which sits at the intersection of several major global transport and development corridors), in order to understand their economic, socio-political, cultural and public health effects. As global road-building accelerates at an unprecedented rate, especially in the developing world, there is an urgent need for new models for understanding roads' potential economic benefits, as well as their risks, including their environmental risks. This project is benefitting citizens, NGOs, donors and governments, by generating new knowledge about how we have in the past, do at present, and should in the future, engage with roads. Field of research: 4404 - Development Studies This research is focusing on major new road-building projects in East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, a key region of economic and strategic importance to Australia. It is looking at these road projects’ economic, environmental, social, health and governance impacts, and in so doing is creating benefits for communities living adjacent to them. Currently there is no way of knowing if these projects are achieving their claimed economic benefits, what environmental, health and social impacts they are having, or how they are reshaping regional geo-politics. This research will place Australia at the forefront of sustainable international development at a time when China and Russia are investing billions in development finance, and the G7 is launching A$900 billion of new investment in sustainable infrastructure in developing economies. It will provide Australian policymakers and businesses with a blueprint for developing partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries, and for forecasting impacts of new road projects at home, especially in remote communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A New Spin on Liquid Hydrogen: Controlled Cold Energy. While hydrogen is set to play a leading role in global decarbonisation, significant challenges remain regarding methods for its reliable storage and transportation. Hydrogen liquefaction has emerged as a promising approach in this regard due to its high energy density and hydrogen purity, but is currently prohibitively expensive. In this project we will exploit the peculiar spin physics of hydrogen to alleviate liquefactions costs through the provision of controllable refrigeration (so-called 'cold energy') following regasification. In particular we will measure, optimise and exploit the highly endothermic catalysed conversion of para- to ortho- hydrogen, which can provide up to 525 kJ/kg of cooling at convenient temperatures. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering Australia is very favourably placed to generate much of its energy needs from renewable sources such as wind and solar.  However in order to ensure a continuous supply of energy from these sources, we need to develop cost-effective methods to store the energy generated.   One option is to convert this energy into hydrogen, and then liquefy it for storage and transport. However, this process consumes a lot of additional energy and is expensive.  The outcomes of this project will reduce the cost of converting hydrogen to a liquid by designing equipment to efficiently recover most of the additional energy used in this process, and then use this energy directly for refrigeration and air conditioning.  This will have economic and environmental benefits for Australia as energy companies will be able to integrate this new technology into future liquid hydrogen facilities and hence provide cheaper storage of renewable energy.  We will work with energy companies towards adoption of this cost effective energy storage solution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Monitoring Desalination Membrane Fouling using Sodium Magnetic Resonance. Seawater desalination using membrane modules is critical technology for potable water access, however it faces significant challenges due to fouling. Sodium magnetic resonance techniques will be developed to non-invasively detect and image salt accumulation in these opaque membrane modules due to fouling. These data will first be used to improve our understanding of the unexplored interplay between fouling and detrimental salt accumulation in the modules (known as cake-enhanced concentration polarisation) and thus validate 3D simulations of this phenomenon. The ability to unambiguously detect salt accumulation in membrane modules will then be extrapolated to a non-invasive monitoring tool for membrane fouling in desalination facilities. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering Desalination is a method used to produce clean water supplies from sea water and is especially useful in Australia as it does not depend on rainfall.  In order to purify the sea water, it is filtered through membranes, which can clog easily (called fouling) resulting in increased costs and less efficient production of fresh water.  Early detection of fouling is essential to allow the membrane surface to be cleaned before the fouling becomes impossible to remove.  However, current measurements are unable to detect this early fouling.   This project aims to develop novel detection methods of the start of membrane fouling.  Early detection will have economic and environmental benefits for Australia, saving money currently spent on filter cleaning and replacement, resulting in more reliable supplies of fresh water for a growing population.  Australian industry and government agencies that make use of desalination will be able to easily adopt this technology to make the resultant clean water both cheaper and more reliable.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Counting the Electrons: Nickel Catalysed Electrochemical C-H Activation. Modern chemical synthetic methods using organometallic catalysts are highly prized in chemical industry and provide a multibillion dollar driver for world economies. However, traditional catalysis is expensive because of the reliance on rare earth metals often conjunction with toxic additives or reagents. The aim of this work is to develop new inexpensive transition metal catalysts based on earth abundant nickel and harness the power of electrons through electrochemistry to dramatically improve the reactivity of these catalysts. This project will seek to improve the way both complex and commonly used chemicals constructed through an atom economical process with potentially renewably produced electrons. Field of research: 3402 - Inorganic Chemistry The ability to produce advanced materials, drugs and agricultural chemicals is important for the national economy. However, the preparation of these chemicals currently requires the use of expensive materials to speed up chemical reactions - catalysts - that are not manufactured in Australia and must be imported. This project aims to develop alternative catalysts based on nickel, which is an abundant Australian resource, in a process that can be driven by solar power. These new, low-cost and readily available catalysts can contribute to the growth and innovation of the Australian manufacturing industry by improving the supply chain for critical chemicals. This project will add value to our natural resources through the production of advanced materials, drugs, agricultural chemicals and new manufacturing processes. Australian manufacturers will be able to directly use these chemicals to create new potentially life-saving drugs and crop-protecting chemicals and bypass supply chain limitations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Building a CO2 foundry for sustainable carbon capture and utilisation. This project aims to develop innovative carbon capture and utilisation technology that fuses synthetic biology with inorganic chemistry. The project expects to develop nano-structured electrocatalysts to efficiently convert CO2 from industrial emission into acetate, and genetically-engineered microbes to rapidly transform acetate into platform chemicals and biopolymers. Expected outcomes include an integrated electro-/biocatalytic prototype with unprecedented CO2 conversion efficiency, as well as building a multidisciplinary research capacity in synthetic biology and nanotechnology. This should provide significant benefits, by reducing greenhouse gases and providing the basis for a carbon-negative chemical industry. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology has immense potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and convert them into value-added products. Coupling electrochemistry with synthetic biology, this project seeks to develop a highly efficient CCU technology, which harnesses power from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals and biopolymers. The research will enhance the Australian multidisciplinary research base in world-leading CCU technologies. It will benefit Australia environmentally via decarbonising Australia's carbon-intensive industries and providing a greener way of manufacturing chemicals and bioplastics that are traditionally made from crude oil. The outcomes will open up new opportunities for building an economically and environmentally sustainable, carbon-negative chemical industry that leverages Australia's rapidly expanding solar power sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Fungi Power: Designer Fungal Cell Factories for Advanced Biomanufacturing. This project aims to build an advanced biomanufacturing platform based on filamentous fungi in collaboration with industry. Using synthetic biology, the project expects to engineer superior fungal host strains customisable to the needs of the industry and to address their technological gaps. The expected outcomes include the development of cost-efficient and sustainable fungal-based bioprocesses for the companies to produce products, such as fine chemicals, pharmaceutical actives and food ingredients. The project would provide significant benefits by enabling existing and emerging companies' commercial successes and competitiveness in global markets, creating new jobs and resulting in the growth of the bio-economy in Australia. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Fungi have enormous potential to produce valuable products, including life-saving drugs and antibiotics. Through recent advancements in DNA technology, it is now possible to modify fungi to produce an even wider range of useful substances. However, Australia is falling behind in adopting these fungal technologies. Our project aims to bridge this gap by working with industries to develop new fungal technologies that can be used to produce a range of high-value products in a sustainable manner, such as pharmaceutical drugs, biopesticides, fine chemicals, and specialised food and health ingredients. Our research will develop new, cost-efficient, and sustainable manufacturing processes to create these valuable substances. This will benefit our industry partners (Microbial Screening Technologies, Natural MedTech and Nourish Ingredients) and the Australian public by improving our competitiveness in global markets, addressing important challenges in our society, and meeting the needs of our growing population.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Quantifying eco-geomorphic linkages to enhance marine park management . This project aims to develop a novel framework for predicting the future resilience of reef-fronted coastal habitats within marine parks. Through innovative observations of reef-fronted coastal dynamics, it will quantify the relationships between coastline evolution, physical drivers, reef geomorphology, sediment supply and reef ecology. Expected outcomes include new practical tools and transferable knowledge that can identify coastal regions that are sensitive to changing environmental conditions and/or reef ecology. These tools will enable marine managers to identify areas that are most vulnerable or resilient to change, allowing prioritisation of resources, conservation efforts, restoration activities, and management interventions. Field of research: 3709 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Australia is renowned for its coastal ecosystems, including world heritage sites such as Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef. Management of these ecosystems often overlooks the complex processes that create and sustain beaches, which provide habitat for iconic species and are vital for recreation and tourism. Despite the value of the coastal zone, we still have limited knowledge of the best coastal management and conservation strategies in these ecosystems. Together with project partner WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, this project will deliver innovative approaches and practical tools to help management agencies to better understand and predict coastal dynamics. The project outcomes will identify areas most resilient or sensitive to physical and ecological change and will guide conservation strategies and management interventions to safeguard Australia’s iconic coastal ecosystems. These results will have environmental and social benefits for Australia by preserving our coastal environmental and recreational areas for people and wildlife.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Measuring real-time mental workload to improve our Defence capability. This project aims to develop a novel platform for measuring real-time variation in the cognitive workload of humans working with advanced Defence technologies. The project expects to combine innovative statistical techniques with cutting-edge psychological and neuroscience developments to measure and process workload-related brain activity in real-time. Expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced capacity to measure and respond to cognitive workload in the field. This should provide significant benefits such as enhanced performance and safety outcomes, which will provide a strategic advantage to the Australian Defence Force by facilitating the development of advanced technologies that respond to the capabilities of the human user. Field of research: 5202 - Biological Psychology Technology can provide opportunities to enhance our lives, but can also present unique risks. For example, our cars are becoming safer through warnings and alerts to dangers, but these alerts and displays may overwhelm us and lead to distraction or accidents. By being able to measure and respond to the demands placed on a human user we could avoid these negative outcomes. This research will use state-of-the-art science to monitor activity in the brain and understand when a technology user is being pushed too far. It will identify and openly publish the signs of these risks, providing strategic, economic and health benefits to Australia by informing creation of safer technologies that adapt to the demands experienced by the user. The Defence Forces (partners in this project) will be the first to use this research, where effective use of technology could be the difference between life and death. However, the results will also be relevant to emergency services, mining and heavy machinery and other industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Optimising bioengineered structures for resilient shorelines and habitats. Nature-based solutions for shoreline protection through ecosystem restoration are increasingly being considered by foreshore managers. However, habitat restoration efforts are greatly hampered by the time it takes to fully revegetate an area. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of wave interaction with bioengineered structures that provide shelter from wave impacts and promote revegetation and contribute to shoreline flood and erosion mitigation. Expected outcomes of this project include quantitative design guidelines and predictive tools that will help foreshore managers to develop more robust and cost-effective nature-based shoreline protection strategies. Field of research: 4015 - Maritime Engineering Shoreline flooding and erosion are major threats to human safety, property and infrastructure in Australia. With sea level rise and increased storms more than $220 billion in homes, businesses, roads, railways and other infrastructure will be at risk from flooding by 2100. Native foreshore vegetation can provide important protection, but has often been degraded or removed entirely, especially in Australia’s metropolitan areas. Restoration efforts have shown great potential but are hampered by the time it takes for plants to be full-grown and be able to withstand storm waves. This project aims to provide design guidelines for bioengineered structures that are used to create calm environments for replanted vegetation to reach its full potential. It is expected to boost the uptake of nature-inspired solutions for shoreline protection by allowing for more resilient, efficient and cost-effective approaches. While many countries are increasingly battling with rising sea levels, this project can help Australia develop more robust and sustainable protection strategies and become a leader in their implementation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Quantifying kelp carbon and nutrient flows for nature-based solutions . This fellowship aims to resolve carbon removal and nutrient mitigation potential of Australia’s kelp forests now and in future. It will create new understanding of the ecosystem services provided by the Great Southern Reef, and the capacity of kelp forests to provide nature-based solutions to reduce emissions and improve coastal water quality. Using a combination of global models and ecological experiments on kelp forests and their replacement ecosystem states, the fellowship will predict changes in function with warming. This information is critical to determine net ecosystem mitigation potential and will significantly advance our understanding of the potential of kelp forests to generate co-benefits while conserving biodiversity. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology This fellowship will provide new insight on the nutrient and climate-regulating benefits of Australia’s kelp forests. It will quantify the transport of carbon and nitrogen bound in kelp tissue out of coastal zone and into deep ocean sinks, and predict climate-driven shifts in these pathways. To confront the current climate and environmental crisis, we need to understand all mitigation options, including natural climate solutions from kelp forests. Beyond carbon, this fellowship explores if the removal of nitrogen by kelp forests is significant globally. This will help generate new options for Australia to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets, while exploring a nature-based solution to improve coastal water quality. The knowledge generated is also required for Australia’s Environmental Economic Accounting activities and Nationally Determined Contributions for coastal ecosystems. Sound understanding of services from kelp forests can facilitate new conservation and restoration efforts that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals: ‘Climate action (SDG13)’ and ‘Life below water (SDG14)’.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Developing a multimodal imaging pipeline for antisense technology. Antisense molecules represent a revolutionary drug discovery platform for life science, but to understand their distributions in cells and tissues is challenging. By integrating nanobiotechnology approaches, this project expects to develop and apply innovative imaging workflow to track antisense molecules in cells and tissues with nanoscale precision. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of the trafficking of these molecules across cells and tissues and refined imaging methods. This project should provide more strategic delivery of antisense molecules to specific cells and tissue, which will have significant downstream economic and social benefits to the Australian community. Field of research: 3106 - Industrial Biotechnology The development of new drugs is a challenge for the entire pharmaceutical industry. Recently there have been advances in RNA technology that could help develop new drugs. RNA is a molecule in our cells that can control which genes are turned on or off. These advances can use small pieces of RNA to  bind to the existing RNA in our cells, switching off genes that lead to disease development. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how these RNA segments behave once inside our body. This project will develop new imaging technology that will allow us to visualise these RNA segments moving through cells. This new technology will have major benefits for the Australian pharmaceutical industry and reinforce Australia’s world-leading position in the field of RNA technology. Development of this technology, here in Australia, will result in economic benefits for Australia, as well as eventual health benefits for Australians. We will work with our industry partners to ensure the technology is adopted and used effectively.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Unravelling the genetics of Kangaroo paws for climate-resilient gardens. The project will produce the first DNA-anchored plant lineage map of Kangaroo paws and gain novel insights into their resilient growth characteristics. Using novel genome and data-driven strategies, this project addresses the knowledge gap around the genetic heirloom of more than 200 iconic Kangaroo paw varieties to speed up the breeding of new varieties with enticing leaf patterns and flower colour combinations. While unravelling the inheritability and breeding barriers, immediate industry adoption will boost horticultural breeding programs long-term. This project uses cutting-edge science to enhance industry capacity for providing new Kangaroo paws for climate-resilient urban green spaces on the national and international market. Field of research: 3102 - Bioinformatics and Computational Biology The project aims to decipher the relationship and genetic diversity of Kangaroo paw varieties contributing to visual and growth characteristics, including a rare variety with mottled leaves. Cutting-edge genome sequencing and data-driven approaches are used to decode the ancestry of >200 variants from 12 distinct Kangaroo paw species unique to Western Australia. The project will produce the first plant lineage map of horticultural Kangaroo paw breeds anchored by DNA and gain novel insights into their resilient growth characteristics. Closing the knowledge gap around the genetic heirloom will assist horticultural breeding programs with the selection of breeding partners and circumvent breeding barriers. Predictability of breeding outcomes will accelerate the development of new Kangaroo paws with enticing leaf and flower colour combinations for climate-resilient urban green spaces. This will benefit urban life quality, mental health as well as assist the conservation and increase national and international market value of this unique Australian resource through established Kangaroo Paw marketing pipelines.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Between a hot place & hypoxia: Quantifying fish-kill risk in inland rivers. Native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers are highly valued but are subject to widespread decline. During drought waterholes serve as critical refuges for native fish, however thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. Whilst we know the general conditions that lead to fish-kills, we do not have a clear understanding of why some species are more tolerant than others, or how we can help decision-makers anticipate fish-kill risks. This project will combine laboratory ecophysiology investigations and novel field monitoring techniques to develop a next-generation fish habitat model for stakeholders to use to assess fish-kill risks and plan for restoration. Field of research: 3707 - Hydrology Fish-kills in stressed rivers have become unacceptable within the Australian community, yet the effects of water allocation and climate change is increasing the incidence and impact of these events. Waterholes are critical components of inland river ecosystems providing refuge for fish during times of drought, but high temperatures and low oxygen (hypoxia) means that these refuges – that should be a safe haven – have become fish-kill hot-spots. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of how native an invasive fish respond to these extreme conditions by looking at their behaviour and metabolism, and to use this knowledge to develop a new model of river ecohydrology, that will give us an unprecedented understanding of drivers of fish-kill risks. The project partner has identified a clear pathway for adoption of the project outputs, whereby the model will provide the evidence to improve stewardship of Queensland river systems, by supporting managers and policy makers to anticipate catastrophic events brought about by hypoxia, and plan appropriate restoration activities for degraded river reaches.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Resolving the role of kelp in blue carbon cycles to enable management. We aim to uncover how kelp forests contribute to carbon storage, biodiversity enhancement and nutrient mitigation in Australia. We will combine mapping and modelling to identify local variation in kelp carbon stocks and sequestration potential and verify kelp carbon export to deep ocean sinks through genetic tracing in seawater and sediments. Co-benefits will be identified through nutrient experiments and reef surveys. We will also assess the risk that calcification and production of halogenic gas within the kelp forest could offset its climate mitigation potential. Project outcomes will enable management to consider kelp ecosystem services broadly and optimize our capacity to meet current emission reduction and biodiversity commitments. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Sound management of natural carbon sinks is key to confronting our current climate crisis. We aim to resolve carbon storage potential, and its overlap with other co-benefits from kelp forests, at scales relevant to marine management in Australia. We will characterize spatial and temporal variability of kelp carbon storage, linked with biodiversity and nutrient removal, and verify the transfer of kelp carbon to long-term sinks. The project will provide concrete information on the climate change mitigation potential of kelp forests, including maps and models of key areas across the Great Southern Reef. Australia’s kelp forests are currently not managed for their role in carbon storage, so this will provide critical information to support marine estate management and policies required to deliver on Australia’s commitments to reduce net emissions and protect biodiversity. Government scientists, marine managers and policy makers will be involved throughout the project, ensuring co-creation and integration of new knowledge into existing management and policy frameworks for informed decisions on kelp forests.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A walk on the wild side: understanding disease resistance across plants. Plants are in constant battle with pests and pathogens. Wild species host genetic diversity, providing sources of disease resistance, while the narrow genetic base of crop varieties leads to an increasing reliance on the unsustainable application of chemical fungicides. Here I will apply the latest genomics approaches to characterise disease resistance gene diversity across the plant kingdom. Comparison of gene diversity within and between plant families will improve our understanding of resistance gene evolution in wild species and the impact of domestication and breeding on resistance gene diversity. Translation of this knowledge will support breeding for crop resilience, leading to durable resistance and more sustainable crop production Field of research: 3105 - Genetics DNA sequencing is changing our understanding of biology and evolution, with opportunities for agriculture. Through DNA analysis of many individuals of a species we can find genes that are the same or different within and between species. Globally, pests and pathogens lead to huge yield loss in food production and cultivated species contain little diversity of genes conferring resistance to these diseases. This project will identify and characterise disease resistance genes across the entire plant kingdom and study their evolution and how they affect disease resistance. This information will be used to design and breed disease resistant plants and increase crop yields. The results will be translated for industry through the identification of new resistance genes for major Brassica diseases. The ultimate goal is to ensure that there is enough food to feed the growing population and have an armoury of resistance genes that can be deployed as new diseases emerge. This project will accelerate crop breeding, ensuring food security and supporting rural economies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Making social cohesion ecocentric through Indigenous language and song . This project expects to develop Indigenous language and song in ways that reframe and Indigenise social cohesion, expanding it from a human-centric policy goal to include connections with everything in Country. Designing and implementing an unprecedented and sustained program of Noongar language and song revitalisation in the south of Western Australia across community, schools, and the performing arts, it should advance the potential for Indigenous expressive culture to nourish reciprocal social and ecological relationships that are adaptable to environmental change. Emerging from a hotspot for biodiversity and global warming, it intends to explore how Indigenous creative responses can focus and spur action on pressing global challenges. Field of research: 4501 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Language and History Indigenous languages and performance traditions simultaneously nourish a sense of community and a strong connection to the local landscape. Using mixed methods including interviews, surveys, and workshops, the project will work with communities to investigate how Australia can engage with Indigenous expressive culture to facilitate cooperative action on climate change. An important outcome will be development of understanding of how Indigenous ways of relating to the environment though language and performance can contribute to addressing global issues. This could enable productive Indigenous influence in policy. Apart from the direct environmental benefit through facilitating action on climate change, the project has significant social and cultural benefit by invigorating the Noongar language, enhancing cultural heritage and a sense of place, and encouraging locally distinctive Indigenous performance. The project also directly contributes to Closing the Gap.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Pyruvate provision for mitochondrial respiration in plants. This project aims to generate new knowledge about pyruvate provision for respiration in plants as it is a major pathway of carbon loss from plants. It will address specific gaps in knowledge about how pyruvate is provided to mitochondria for respiration, how channelling of pyruvate is achieved between components in this pathway and it will seek to engineering a new pyruvate supply pathway to change respiratory processes in plants. It will develop techniques for analysis of metabolic processes in plants and genetic proof for assumptions of how plant respiration works. Benefits will be training of early career researchers, enhanced international reputation of Australian plant science and new approaches to engineer respiratory rate in plants. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Agricultural crop plants absorb carbon. However, half the carbon that crop plants absorb through photosynthesis (making energy from sunlight) is subsequently lost back to the atmosphere as a waste product of plant growth processes (respiration). This CO2 release raises carbon emissions from agriculture and negatively affects the environment. This project will develop new approaches to decrease CO2 release by plants by pinpointing genes and biochemical strategies to slow unnecessary respiration. Plant breeding companies will be able to utilise this research to release new crop varieties that are more efficient and less environmentally damaging.  Decreasing plant carbon emissions will have economic and environmental benefits for Australia as we will be able to produce more crops for export while lowering the carbon emissions from those crops.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

New perspectives on nonlocal equations. This project aims at tackling cutting-edge problems in the field of mathematical analysis, with specific focus on nonlocal equations, by introducing innovative approaches and a unified perspective. It focuses on the use of long-range interactions to deeply understand new effects arising in several mathematical problems of great impact. The research will be performed through stimulating international collaborations, providing exchange opportunities and ideal conditions for students to complete their training. The expected outcomes include new techniques to solve difficult problems, high impact international research collaborations, training of the next generation of mathematicians and top tier journal publications. Field of research: 4904 - Pure Mathematics Mathematics is a cutting-edge science that is central to our understanding of all natural and social phenomena. This project will establish new solutions for mathematical problems in both natural and applied sciences, such as the study of the dynamics of populations of both humans and animals. For example, an enhanced understanding of how populations of endangered species move and reproduce would have far-reaching consequences for conservation. This project will also reinforce Australia’s international connections with top institutions in Europe and the USA, enhancing the reputation of Australia as a world-leader in science and mathematics. Translation of the outcomes of this research will be through liaison with scientists in other fields, such as biologists and physicists, since our results will shed new light on pivotal problems in their disciplines.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Establishing Vibrio natriegens as Ultra-Rapid Host for Synthetic Biology. This project aims to harness Vibrio natriegens, the world’s fastest-growing bacterium, as a microbial cell factory for synthetic biology and biotechnology. The project expects to develop new genetic tools and genetically-engineered microbes that can rapidly transform cheap feedstocks, such as plastic waste, into valuable chemicals and bioplastics. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the mechanisms driving V. natriegens’ rapid growth, as well as building Australian multidisciplinary research capacity in synthetic biology that can translate this potential into bio-manufacturing processes. Significant benefits include the means to cut plastic pollution in our environment and to provide the basis for a carbon-negative chemical industry. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Plastics have been essential to modern life, but they generate incredible amounts of waste (300 million tonnes globally every year). Tackling plastic pollution is now an urgent global problem, however affordable methods to increase our plastic recycling capacity and develop biodegradable plastic alternatives are lacking. This project will use genetic engineering to turn the fastest growing bacteria on the planet into a "microbial recycling factory", allowing it (1) to rapidly decompose plastics into their building blocks, and (2) to efficiently produce natural alternatives to plastic from these building blocks. The outcomes of this project will pave our way into a greener, cleaner and cheaper plastic economy, with significant commercial benefits for Australian companies with whom we will liaise to encourage the adoption of the technology we create. There will also be broad environmental and ecological benefits for Australia, and the planet, due to less plastic pollution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources for the Future. The proposed ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources aims to train the next generation of geoscientists needed to enable resourcing of the transition to a high-tech, clean energy society. Training of PhD students and postdoctoral scientists will primarily focus on bridging the gap between mineral systems science, mineral exploration protocols and ore processing/metallurgical extraction. This will provide geoscientists with an essential understanding of the whole value chain of the critical resources of the future. Field of research: 3705 - Geology Climate change is driving a need for sustainable energy production. The transition to renewable energy requires secure supplies of lithium, rare earth elements and other critical metals. Australia has world class resources of these metals, but enhanced efficiency in responsible exploration, mining and ore processing are required to meet projected demand. This Centre will train the next generation of geoscientists and engineers to develop new methods for exploration and processing of critical metals, and for extraction of these elements from existing mine wastes. Centre outcomes include building a skilled future workforce and providing economic benefit to Australia through enhanced production of our critical resources, while ensuring best practice in environmental protection and community engagement. The industry partners already committed to this project will be pivotal in ensuring that the Centre outcomes are adopted.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Securing Australian floating wind developments with helical anchors. This project will reduce the cost of offshore floating wind energy by uniting leading academic expertise and innovative industry partners to develop the knowledge and practical tools that will enable the deployment of helical anchors as a cheap and reliable anchoring system for floating wind. Helical anchors are seen as the most promising solution to anchor wind turbines, but their deployment has been limited by uncertainties associated with the torque and vertical force required for installation in complex seabeds, and their performance under environmental loading. The project will address these specific points through a combination of physical, numerical and analytical modelling, using data and design scenarios provided by industry. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering The project will develop the science to underpin new offshore engineering design methods for the next generation of anchors for offshore wind turbines. This will reduce the cost and accelerate the deployment of offshore floating wind energy, contributing to the decarbonisation of electricity production. The reduction of capital cost, for which anchoring system can contribute up to 35%, is widely acknowledged as the key enabler for large scale deployment of offshore floating wind. Australia has current plans for 11 GW of floating wind projects around its coastlines, sufficient to power over 6 million Australian homes, with an expected total capacity of 260 GW by 2050. The knowledge and tools developed by the project will maintain Australia at the leading edge of offshore geotechnics and will support the rapidly growing offshore wind industry.