UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Understanding disease resistance gene evolution across the Brassicaceae. Pan genomes represent the diversity of a species, including structural and sequence variation, which cannot be provided by a reference genome alone. In this project we will characterise resistance gene diversity across the Brassicaceae pan genomes. Through comparison with resistance gene diversity in cultivated Brassica species we will understand selection underlying resistance gene evolution in wild species and subsequent domestication and breeding. Knowledge on how variation affects disease susceptibility, especially to the devastating fungal pathogen blackleg, and contributes to phenotypic variation, will lead to improved plant protection strategies and increased crop resilience. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics Genome sequencing is changing our understanding of biology and evolution, with implications for agriculture. However, a reference genome does not represent a species' diversity. Through sequence analysis of many individuals of a species (pan genomics) we can identify genes that are conserved or different within and between species. Brassicas constitute the world’s main vegetable and oil crops; however pathogens lead to substantial yield loss, and the cultivated species contain little diversity for identification of novel resistance sources. This project will build on the CIs experience in characterisation of resistance genes in cultivated Brassica species for crop improvement. We will focus on characterising resistance genes across wild Brassica species and study their evolution and selection. An understanding of the diversity of the genes and how they affect disease resistance will help in the design of novel plant protection strategies and significantly increase crop yields. This project will accelerate the breeding of canola, a major Australian export crop, enhancing food security and rural economies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Why do galaxies stop forming stars? This project aims to use the most powerful radio and optical telescopes in the world to identify the mechanisms driving the quenching of star formation in the most massive structures in the Universe. This research expects to answer some of the fundamental questions identified by the international astronomy community regarding how galaxies form and evolve, how star formation proceeds and why nearly half of the galaxies in the local Universe have stopped forming stars. It will forge strong links with international partners, strengthen Australian expertise in a critical area of astronomical research, offer an ideal platform for accelerating the training of students in STEM and contribute to public outreach work. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This project will constitute major progress against two of the six fundamental science questions highlighted in the Decadal plan for Australian astronomy. It will enhance Australia’s international standing as a leading country in fundamental research and capitalise on the investments by the Federal Government in the field of astronomy (e.g., the Square Kilometer Array and the European Southern Observatory, ESO). By exploiting data collected by the most powerful telescopes in the world, this project will help prepare our community for a future full membership of ESO, a key milestone for securing industry involvement in the construction of next-generation astronomy facilities. Moreover, it will provide a unique training ground for HDR students and young researchers in the field of STEM, who are set to drive Australia’s future economic growth across academia, industry and finance. Lastly, this project is designed to produce unique outreach material that will be disseminated to the general public, and will be key for inspiring and encouraging future generations in pursuing an education in science and technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Ejaculate-mediated paternal effects on offspring fitness. This project aims to unravel the evolutionary importance of ejaculate-mediated paternal effects, through which paternal lifestyle factors, such as diet and exposure to toxicants, influence offspring growth and health independently of genes. By identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying these non-genetic sources of inheritance, their adaptive value, and their potential to fuel evolutionary change, the project expects to generate new knowledge that will be relevant across the biological, medical and agricultural sectors. Expected outcomes and benefits include building institutional and interdisciplinary collaborations and the development of tools to understand the evolutionary impacts of paternal lifestyle choices for offspring traits. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology This research will address both fundamental and practical challenges that will have significant benefits to the environmental, agricultural and health sectors. The project aims to use a vertebrate (fish) model to understand how paternal lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and health, influence the growth and fitness of offspring. The evolutionary insights gained from this project will be of particular interest to the biomedical, clinical and animal production industries, where an understanding of the evolutionary impacts of non-genetic inheritance has numerous potential applications. The choice of model means short-term translational opportunities are most likely in relation to animal health (e.g. in finfish aquaculture), but all of these industries will benefit from improved understanding of the factors that impact organismal performance across successive generations. Finally, the research is aligned with the Australian Academy of Science’s decadal plan for nutrition science in Australia, which aims to provide broad benefits for social, cultural, economic and health outcomes in the region.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Male-male competition vs female choice: same-same or something different? This project aims to increase our understanding of the phenotypic, genetic and genomic outcomes of evolution, by both enhancing, and reversing, sexual selection in laboratory fruit flies. In doing so, this project expects to separate the entangled effects of female choice and male competition, generating new knowledge in evolutionary ecology and genetics. Expected outcomes of this project include identifying the separate molecular effects on the genome of selection through male competition and female choice. This should provide significant benefits in understanding the role of different forms of sexual selection in removing mutations and maintaining population fitness: vital factors in securing the long term viability of vulnerable species. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology It is clear that sexual selection, where one sex competes and the other chooses, has evolved as a biological filter: a filter that helps to sift-out the mutations that continually arise in the DNA of all species and that negatively impact survival and reproduction. Researchers are on the cusp of being able to detect these mutations at a molecular level through genome sequencing, this proposal uses genomics to provide a breakthrough in understanding what it is in the sexual selection process that removes mutations from a population. This is an important goal that has profound relevance to health, food security and conservation. There is increasing the need for the micro-management of small populations, wild and domestic, due to global insect declines that threaten the collapse of ecosystems and pollination services and the fragmentation of natural habitats by human land-use. This research, by revealing the mechanisms that sift-out mutations, has the potential to increase Australia’s resilience to threats against its biodiversity and agriculture, yielding environmental, social and economic benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Social practices of oral health in Australian preschool children. The aim of the study is to explore "social practices" of oral health in Australian (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) preschool children. We use this emerging theory to move away from focusing on individuals and individual behaviour (and blame) to identify and map social practices: actions, materials and meanings families attribute to child’s oral health. Expected project outcomes include identifying practices promoting or undermining children’s oral health that can inform upstream and downstream policy directions and practices to improve health outcomes. This offers a new approach to "wicked" problems such as oral health where extensive effort has not reduced morbidity and cost despite rhetoric that oral health is preventable. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services Oral disease is one of the most common and costly diseases of early childhood (with even higher rates in Aboriginal children), impacting across the life-course leading to pain, infections, lost productivity, delayed growth and cognitive development, interfering with nutrition, concentration and school participation. It is a major cause of preventable hospital admissions in children. Dental services in Australia cost over $10 billion per annum. This project will investigate the social practices (routine activities and interactions in families) to understand which factors in daily activities and interactions support or undermine oral health in preschoolers. Providing a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of decision making around preschool children's oral health will inform new Australian policy and oral health promotion interventions to better meet the oral health needs of these children. This in turn will impact on Australians' life-long health and reduce economic burden on the national and local health systems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Intelligent Virtual Human Companions. This research aims to develop intelligent virtual human companions that can seemingly integrate our immediate physical environment and understand their surroundings including people’s emotions, behaviours, actions and interactions. Such a technology will be enabled by leveraging recent advances in mixed/augmented reality technologies, and by developing innovative artificial intelligence and computer vision and graphics algorithms for dynamic real-world environments. Unlike robots, the proposed technology will be low cost, readily deployable and customisable, and will not have any physical limitations or maintenance requirements. It will thus have a wide range of applications from elderly care, healthcare care to educational training. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Australia’s rapidly ageing population poses major socio-economic challenges from reduced workforce to unprecedented pressure on health and social services with spending projected to surge by $16 billions over the next decade. This project aims to tackle these challenges by developing virtual humans capable of real-time perception, cognition, emotion, and interaction. Leveraging recent advances in mixed/augmented reality head-mounted see-through displays, these intelligent virtual humans will seamlessly integrate our immediate physical environment and behave as if they were integral part of the real-world. Unlike robots, they will not have any physical limitations or maintenance requirements. The proposed technology will thus be low cost and readily deployable in a variety of sectors to support workers and improve productivity. Potential applications include 24/7 remote human-like personalised support and monitoring of patients, reducing the social isolation of the elderly and sick, prevention and early diagnosis of medical conditions or promotion of healthy lifestyle and diet through motivational coaching.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Saving seagrass from climate change. This research aims to test whether seagrass ecosystems can be safeguarded from climate change impacts by enhancing genetic connectivity in range edge populations using novel genetic rescue approaches. We will use the range edge seagrass meadows of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shark Bay as our model, which was significantly impacted by a marine heat wave in 2010/2011. The project will generate new knowledge on how seagrasses can adapt and survive in situ. Expected outcomes are improved conservation, management and restoration practices for seagrass meadows. This should provide significant benefits for long-term resilience of this economically and culturally significant ecosystem. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics This project will allow Australia to improve the management of the ecological foundation species, seagrasses, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shark Bay. By pioneering novel genetic rescue approaches, this work would help conserve and restore the economically and culturally significant fisheries and biodiversity that depend on healthy seagrass meadows. These meadows are at great risk of collapse due to extreme climate events, which have already had dramatic impacts on this ecosystem. This research would develop long-term and practical sustainability improvements in partnership with local Traditional Owners and environmental managers. More generally, this research tests landscape scale genetic rescue as a practical and widely applicable contribution to increasing the resilience of populations most at threat from climate change.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

“Beacons in the Night” unveiling how galaxies light up dark matter. How dark matter influences the formation and evolution of galaxies is to this day an outstanding question in astrophysics. To answer it, world-class facilities and a unique combination of observations and theory are required. This DP team, a world-class team of observers and theorists, will tackle this question by leveraging on two multi-million dollar projects: the MAGPI galaxy survey and the hydrodynamical simulations suite EAGLE-XL. MAGPI will deliver exquisite kinematics for hundreds of galaxies in the middle ages of the Universe, providing a view to the effect of dark matter on galaxies at this critical time, while EAGLE-XL represents the technological frontier in simulations and provides the best interpretative framework for MAGPI. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This Discovery Project (DP) will exploit the first and so far only large program granted within the Australia-European Southern Observatory (ESO) $129m (10 years) partnership. Australia and ESO (a consortium of 15 countries) entered a ‘big science’ strategic partnership in 2018 to provide Australia with long-term access to the world’s best telescopes, and pave the way to build advanced instrumentation and technologies for ESO. This DP's research will demonstrate Australia is capable of fully exploiting state-of-the-art instruments, galvanizing the profile required to gain technological investment from ESO to Australia (typically €8m/project) in Australian-made instruments and turn the partnership into a long term commitment. In addition, the DP simulations will be run on the new $70m federally funded supercomputer and will be a demonstrator for exascale computing in Australia, providing a testbed for the next generation of national supercomputers. The DP’s high-performance computing techniques and tools developed will have potential commercial applications in geoscience and genetics industries ($100+b/yr).

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The coming of the dingo and its interaction with Indigenous Australians. This project will identify more precisely the time of the entry of dingoes into Australia and will investigate their impact on the lives of Indigenous Australians. Archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests that Indigenous people rapidly incorporated dingoes into their lives. Dingoes were used for a variety of purposes and were particularly valued as hunters by women, effectively increasing their access to meat. Impact would include a re-organisation of gender roles and an associated improvement in women's fecundity. By examining evidence for such changes, this project will significantly contribute to knowledge about implications of the arrival of a living technology in Australia and, more generally, the human/dog relationship. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology By providing knowledge about the social impacts of the arrival of one of Australia's most iconic animals, the dingo, this research will potentially have substantial social and cultural benefits. Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated and are the species that form the closest bonds with humans, e.g. there are about 5 million pet dogs in Australia. In our modern society they are used as working dogs on farms, as companions and hunting assistants. As such, there is an enormous interest in dog behaviours and of the development of the human/dog relationship. Research on the impact of the arrival of the dingo on Indigenous Australian societies will not only provide a new narrative about the role of dingoes in Indigenous people's lives but will add substantially to understandings of this relationship The results of the research will also have wider implications for the scientific community, particularly in environmental science where the detailed analysis of Holocene palaeontological sites will provide information on the effect of dingoes on the natural environment including its role in past extinctions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A Cultural and Intellectual History of Automated Labour . This project will trace how debates about labour automation have been shaped by cultural depictions of work, from the eighteenth century to today. It will produce new knowledge about how people have viewed industrial transformation, from the steam engine to modern forms of labour saving - electronic, digital, biological, and artificial intelligence. The project will combine historical study with an examination of the way artists and writers have responded to labour automation. Expected benefits include informing public debate about the future of work, and shaping policy in arts-science museums and laboratories. Outcomes will include publications, public forums, conferences, training of research students and international collaboration. Field of research: 2202 - History and Philosophy of Specific Fields A key concern in Australian public debate about the future of work is the impact of automation technologies. A recent Australian Government report suggested that up to 40 percent of jobs in Australia would be transformed by automation technologies over the next decade. This Discovery Project will show how public hopes and fears about automation technologies - such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and bio technologies - are shaped by cultural depictions of automated labour. The project will improve understanding of the factors that shape the experience of labour automation in the public imagination, leading to social benefit. It will also show how representations of automated labour impact our perceptions of human-machine interactions in everyday life. In addition to this social benefit, the project will have cultural and commercial benefit by charting the historical impact of automation in the creative industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Nanoscale Dynamics and Structure of SAILs at Electrodes. This project will produce new, high performance, surface active ionic liquids. Surface active ionic liquids are pure salts in which one of the ions is based on a surfactant molecule. Surface active ionic liquids are much more effective than conventional electrolytes for some applications, but only at elevated temperature; at low temperature, ion dynamics are too slow. We will use cutting edge techniques to probe ion dynamics in surface active ionic liquids in the bulk and at electrode surfaces, and use this to elucidate rules for the rational design of new surface active ionic liquids with fast dynamics at low temperature, towards their use at room temperature in diverse areas; this project will target capacitors and gas sensors. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) For renewable energy to be viable in Australia for baseline power and transport, much more efficient electrical energy storage devices, with higher energy densities, must be developed. The two main types of devices for storing electrical energy are batteries and capacitors. Batteries recharge slowly and need to be replaced every few years. Capacitors can absorb and release charge much more quickly, can be cycled a vast number of times without degrading, but currently have low energy storage volumes. In order to overcome this impediment this project will produce new surface active ionic liquids as electrolytes with fast dynamics for use in high-performance capacitors. The new surface active ionic liquids will also be used in electrochemical sensors for the detection and monitoring of such as O2, and H2. This is highly significant for personal safety applications in Australia, e.g. enclosed space and hazard monitoring. The surface active ionic liquids prepared have potential for wide impact and uptake in both large scale operations and specialist industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Ascorbate and glutathione integrate the control of grapevine development. This project aims to make a step-change in understanding how the growth of woody perennial crops is regulated. The study of herbaceous annual plants has established that the antioxidants, ascorbate and glutathione, are important in regulating every step of plant development. However, this cannot readily translate to perennial life cycles. This project will develop novel genetic tools in grapevine that enable functional studies of these antioxidants in a perennial plant for the first time. It will investigate how ascorbate and glutathione regulate the development of grapevine, and how these functions integrate with hormone and energy metabolism. The outcomes will advance our ability to manage perennial crops in current and future climates. Field of research: 1001 - Agricultural Biotechnology Grapevine is the most economically important fruit crop in Australia, one of its top export commodities, and a major contributor to rural economies. Grapevine is highly responsive to changes in climate, and managing the impact of short and long term climate change is a major strategic priority of the wine and table grape industries. Our current understanding of perennial crop growth is critically lagging behind annual species such as cereals, due to the lack of genetic resources and time required to develop these. Australia has a world-leading capacity to genetically manipulate grapevine for the advancement of science and productivity. This project will exploit this capacity to investigate the functions of ascorbate and glutathione - key regulators of annual plant growth - in regulating the perennial life cycle. Because more than 95% of fruit and nut crops are woody perennials, an improved understanding of the growth and development of grapevine will guide new strategies to manage perennial crops in current and future Australian climates.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

CRISPR-based pathway activation for bioactive molecule discovery in fungi. Fungi produce an incredible array of unique bioactive molecules, many of which have contributed greatly to humanity (e.g. the antibiotic penicillin, which has saved millions of lives since its discovery). DNA sequencing has revealed many fungi contain the genetic instructions to produce new molecules that have not been seen previously. However, these genes are “switched off" by default and cannot be accessed. This project will develop innovative new methods to "hot-wire" these genes, allowing them to turn on and produce a treasure trove of new bioactive molecules. The outcomes of this project will transform our abilities to tap into the hidden potential of fungi to generate new lead molecules for the agricultural and medical industries. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Penicillin and statins are two classic examples of fungal molecules that have saved millions of human lives and have impacted the course of human history. Fungi have an extraordinary ability to produce these molecules, called secondary metabolites (SMs), which display a wide array of useful biological activities. Genome sequencing and SM research have shown that we have only explored a tip of an iceberg of the true potential of fungi, as many genes for the synthesis of SMs in fungi have been switched-off conditionally. This points to a hidden treasure trove of bioactive SMs in fungi waiting to be unlocked. This proposal aims to build a scalable platform technology, based on the revolutionary CRISPR genome editing tools, for "hot-wiring" the SM synthesis genes from "off" to "on" mode to unearth the hidden novel bioactive SMs in fungi. Achieving these outcomes could provide significant economic benefits to Australia through the generation of pharmaceutical, veterinary products, and agrichemicals, such as antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance and new pesticides desperately needed by Australian farmers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Quantifying vertical and lateral ocean transport due to fronts and eddies. This project aims to quantify the intensity and location of ocean currents at unprecedented fine spatial scales by using data from a new generation of high-resolution satellites. These fine scales dominate the lateral and vertical transport of ocean-borne material, including heat, larvae and pollutants like oil and plastics, yet are poorly understood. New algorithms for processing satellite data will be developed and tested using in situ data in the significant North West Shelf region. Expected outcomes will be novel methods to identify ocean currents and a paradigm shift in quantification of fine-scale ocean dynamics. This will benefit operational oceanography in the areas of maritime safety, defence, fisheries and the offshore industry. Field of research: 0405 - Oceanography Describing the lateral transport and spread of ocean-borne materials, such as heat, coral larvae, pollutants like oil and plastics and floating objects, is currently restricted by our inability to identify ocean fronts and eddies at horizontal scales less than 10 km. By using observations from a new generation of high-resolution satellites, this project will develop novel and robust methods to identify and describe ocean features and currents at unprecedented fine scales. This novel high-resolution ocean current information is directly applicable for use by search and rescue, offshore oil and gas operations, defence, ship routing, pollution response and ecosystem assessments in Australian waters. The project will therefore bring economic, human safety and environmental benefits to the nation. The research training provided in this project will also build Australian capacity in utilising remotely-sensed environmental data and more generally in the space technology sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Deep-sea coral records of Southern Ocean climate and nutrient dynamics . Deep-sea coral and seawater nutrient profiles collected from the Southern Ocean (SO) facing submarine canyons of south-west Australia will be used to provide new insights into the role of the SO overturning circulation in modulating global climate as well as supplying the essential nutrients that make these canyons biodiversity hot-spots for seasonal aggregations of killer and blue whales. This frontier project made possible by samples collected using Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) technology rarely available in Australia, will also help to understand how SO circulation has influenced past changes in global climate and its future role in controlling ocean productivity in a warming world with rapidly increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Field of research: 0401 - Atmospheric Sciences This research will focus on the biodiversity hotspots found within the virtually unknown submarine canyons of sw-Australia, providing new insights into their links with the all-important Southern Ocean (SO). The project will provide a baseline to assess the trajectories of climate and environmental changes within the SO which is at the heart of the global ocean-climate system. The outcomes will help resolve major uncertainties in how our SO region has responded in the past and how it is likely to respond in the future to ongoing climate and environmental changes in this key region. This is central to determining optimum local and national response strategies to better ensure the sustainability of our marine environment and the peoples that it supports. The project will also address one of the most critical problems currently facing society; the impacts of carbon dioxide driven ocean acidification and warming on the economies along coastal zones, on aqua-culture and agriculture, as well as the intrinsic ecotourism value of our natural marine treasures of southern Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Keeping Kinship in Mind. This project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the study of kinship by drawing on recent research from the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of science. It will incorporate this understanding into a more general international, collaborative network in the philosophy of anthropology. Kinship has been central to anthropology as a discipline, with disagreement over the relationships between biological and cultural dimensions to kinship structuring much of that history. Keeping Kinship in Mind will extend into the philosophy of the social sciences the productive interactions between philosophers and scientists that are an internationally recognized research strength of Australian philosophy of science. Field of research: 2202 - History and Philosophy of Specific Fields Kinship is central to all cultures, including that of Australia. Conceptions of kinship and family change with the growth of scientific knowledge and biotechnology. This project (1) provides a better understanding of the integrated nature of biological and cultural dimensions to kinship. That understanding (2) informs social policies and public discussions of the place of emerging biotechnologies in family life. Australian indigenous kinship systems have also played an important role in the history of the study of kinship. This history has often underestimated the depth of cultural knowledge built into those systems. This project also (3) enhances community knowledge of the relationship between indigenous and other kinship systems. Finally, the project (4) makes available to the Australian public insights about the relationship between contemporary kinship and family life in Australia and in other parts of the world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

From energy stress to hormones: new signals in bacteria and plants. This project will use molecular tools to detect and identify new chemical signals, known as butenolides, that regulate the growth and development of bacteria and plants. This project will use innovative, interdisciplinary techniques to discover where these butenolide signals come from, and how both bacteria and plants detect them. Expected outcomes of this project include a greater understanding of how plants use butenolides to cope with stress such as drought or salinity, and the design of new technologies for manipulating the growth of both plants and bacteria. The long-term benefits of this work should include fresh approaches for enhancing plant performance under sub-optimal conditions. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology The processes of plant growth and development underpin one of Australia’s primary export industries, namely agriculture. Although yield gains have kept pace with demand to date, the prevalence of stresses like drought and salinity mean that new technologies will be needed to maintain plant performance into the future. This project seeks to discover new chemical compounds that regulate the growth response of plants to stress signals from the environment. It will use innovative techniques in the biological and chemical sciences to generate knowledge that will translate into new tools for farmers, plant breeders and the agri-biotechnology industry. Ultimately these tools will support improved efficiency in food production, with accompanied environmental and economic benefits for the nation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A predictive framework for the flow control of environmental roughness. This project aims to develop a new framework to accurately predict how macro-roughness controls flow, turbulence and transport in environmental systems. Exemplar systems range from flows over seagrass meadows, coral reefs and permeable beds in aquatic environments to flows over urban roughness in atmospheric environments. The overall health and function of these systems is intimately linked to how they modify the incoming flow and the transport of nutrients, contaminants, heat and biota. Expected outcomes include novel theory and new predictive models to quantify the flow and transport 'climate' in these complex roughness systems. This will transform best practice in our understanding, management and protection of these critical ecosystems. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering The significance of this research to Australia is unparalleled, as the roughness systems considered here are iconic parts of the Australian environment. The coastal ecosystems alone (coral, seagrass, kelp) provide a range of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, coastal protection and enhanced biodiversity. Through tourism, recreation and these ecosystem services, they contribute tens of billions of dollars annually to the Australian economy. Project outcomes will provide fundamental predictive capacity that will inform environmental policy by helping provide managers & regulatory agencies with answers to such questions as: How do we design successful restoration programs for seagrass meadows? When do elevated ocean temperatures create irreversible coral bleaching? How do we employ urban design to promote healthier cities? This project will help position Australia to develop world-leading, transformative solutions for the sustainable management, preservation and restoration of these systems, while optimising the ecosystem services and economic benefits that they provide.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Signalling in Plants . This proposal aims to define the mechanisms of how mitochondrial growth and stress signalling interact and are regulated. Mitochondria are central machines in cells that use energy obtained through photosynthesis to drive growth and also play an important role in sensing and responding to non-optimal environmental growth conditions. As mitochondrial growth and stress signalling are antagonistic, growth is retarded when stress signalling is activated. Thus, the outcomes will be new knowledge and understanding of how plants balance growth and stress responses. This benefit of this knowledge and understanding is that it can be used to pursue novel avenues to optimise crop performance in changing and adverse environments. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology Agriculture is an important industry in Australia, directly and indirectly it employs over 300,000 people, has stewardship over 48% of the landmass of Australia and accounts for $65 billion of export earnings. The agriculture industry as a whole, but plant agriculture in particular, is facing challenges from increasing competition (due to South American and Balkan production increasing over time) and adverse and variable climate conditions are increasingly impacting sustainability. This research is directed to identifying and defining novel growth and stress signalling pathways, how they are regulated and how they interact to affect overall plant growth and response to non-optimal environmental growth conditions. The knowledge that these pathways existed has only emerged and hence their impacts and affects on crop plant growth and stress responses are unknown. This proposal will define the components of these pathways and how they effect growth and stress responses. The new knowledge gained can be used as an additional route to optimise plant performance in limiting conditions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

IDENTIFYING CONTROL ELEMENTS IN CHLOROPLAST GENE EXPRESSION. Energy from sunlight is captured by photosynthesis in plants, providing the basis for the terrestrial food chain. This process takes place in chloroplasts, subcellular structures that derived from photosynthetic bacteria a billion years ago. Chloroplasts have their own DNA, containing genes encoding the most important photosynthetic proteins. This project aims to provide the world’s best resources for the study of chloroplast genes. In the process, we will discover how these important genes are regulated to provide photosynthetic proteins in the right amounts, in the right cells, at the right time. The knowledge and resources gained will facilitate improvement of photosynthetic function in future agricultural crops. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Photosynthesis drives crop production — a $20 billion industry in Australia — and is entirely dependent on a small number of key components made inside leaf chloroplasts. This project will provide tools and resources for better understanding how these key components are made, and in particular, how their synthesis is controlled in response to developmental or environmental cues. This knowledge is particularly important at a time when the factors affecting photosynthetic rates (carbon dioxide levels, temperature, drought) are changing rapidly, and is crucial for the development of plants better adapted to future growth conditions. In addition, outputs from the project will include validated DNA parts suitable for synthetic biology. These will facilitate biotechnological production of high-value products such as drugs or vaccines.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Engineering improved and multifunctional gene editing systems. Advances in genome editing have enabled the targeted modulation of gene expression in cells and provided new tools for biotechnology. This project will combine computational design and genetic selection to deliver the next generation of precision gene editing tools. These new technologies can be used for modification of genes in any cellular compartment and will be useful for understanding and improving energy metabolism. Increased cellular energy production can be harnessed to make valuable biological products, with unprecedented efficiency. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics This project will generate new biotechnological tools to expand the current set of gene editing systems. This will be of significant national interest through commercialisation of these technologies as well as the resulting engineered cells and chemical products as valuable commodities that will enhance the agricultural, mining, health and defence industries, which are the core strengths of Australia. These developments will make Australia economically stronger and significantly more competitive in the international markets while improving our security and well-being. The innovative technologies that will be generated by this project will enhance the bioprocessing industry in Australia and position it to be internationally leading to generate increased income and employment. Trainees and researchers from this project will be the next generation of multidisciplinary scientists, able to apply powerful new technologies to future challenges facing Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The Illustrated Literature of Papunya and Strelley, 1979-1998. Literature Production Centres at Papunya and Strelley (WA) published hundreds of illustrated books during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. They tell stories of the first contact, the Dreaming, bush plants, animals and life on pastoral stations, missions, government settlements and communities. This project will trace the histories of two key centres and the communities in which they were and are embedded, their authors and illustrators, to build a dynamic picture of Indigenous Australia that contributes another dimension to the history of art and literature in Australia. It will produce scholarly papers, a monograph and an exhibition that brings this story to the Australian public. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology At a time of renewed interest in Indigenous Australian languages, little is known of the development of Aboriginal literature in Aboriginal languages. This project aims to give insight into remote Australia in a time of profound change through exhibiting and publishing on the illustrated books of bi-lingual literature production centres in Papunya and Strelley. These places are important in Australia's history. The Western Desert art movement began at Papunya, while Strelley was a community founded by those who were part of the Pilbara Strike of 1946, and went on to develop their own pastoral and mining enterprises. These books were written and illustrated by artists and strikers who played a role in these histories, Indigenous authors and artists writing for their own community of readers. Through this project these books and the stories they represent will find a wider appreciation as this research brings these books out of their local sites of production to contribute to the wider history of Australian art and literature.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Advancing programmable genetic computation to control plant gene activity. Plants can sense diverse internal and external conditions and integrate them to appropriately tune their response and maximize fitness. Plant biotechnology relies heavily on manipulating gene activity to change cell functions and confer advantageous agronomic traits. However, our ability to control plant gene activity remains rudimentary, limiting our biotechnology capabilities. This project aims to develop synthetic gene logic gates in plants, to enable the construction of programmable genetically-encoded computational functions that can sense and process customizable inputs to drive desired changes in plant function. This advance will underpin useful applications in plant biotechnology such as improved crop stress tolerance and yield. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Modern plant biotechnology relies heavily on controlling gene activity to change plant functions and confer valuable agronomic traits. However, our ability to manipulate plant gene activity remains rudimentary, limiting our capability to deliberately change and improve plant performance. This project aims to develop a biological form of computation operating at the level of DNA, that is fully programmable and can be added to plant genomes to allow customisable and highly sophisticated control of gene activity. This technology would be a major advance in plant synthetic biology and biotechnology, allowing deliberate programming of advanced and valuable functions in plants that are not currently possible. This would deliver diverse benefits for plant biotechnology and agriculture, for example improving crop yield and stress resilience, and be of significant commercial and economic benefit to Australia. This research will also strengthen Australia’s investment in synthetic biology, which is poised to transform existing agricultural industries and provide valuable opportunities for Australian food production.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The roles and regulators of new plant cells linked to root transport. Plant genomics has moved to the single cell resolution, allowing precise investigations of previously hidden cell types and cell states that respond to environmental stress and that vary among differentially adapted plant populations. Here, we will extend our pioneering efforts that have mapped and discovered novel root cell types, to determine their salt and nutrient stress responses, and to elegantly dissect the underling causal genetic variation. The unique cell markers and regulatory networks will be validated with tissue specific and transgenic tools that can work across a host of plant species to reveal adaptive cellular responses to harsh environmental conditions. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics This project will develop critical new molecular, genomic, and computational tools to analyze individual cells of an essential plant tissue, and through this generate new discoveries that will underpin future improvements to crop performance in Australia. Plant roots probe the largely-invisible, below-ground world, with delicate sensing pathways that seek out water and nutrients, and avoid stress. Moreover, different plants have adapted to their unique soil environments by modification of these cellular signaling networks, which can now be revealed and understood at single cell resolution for the first time. The transformational methods developed in this proposal will allow Australian and international researchers to assay these key plant developmental responses in order to better select and enhance high performing plants for ever more challenging conditions. The technical skills and training to perform this analysis will give Australian researchers a key head start in research, development, and ultimately deployment of enhanced plant varieties able to withstand and improve their below ground environment.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

In-vivo functional imaging of cone photoreceptors and ganglion cell axons. Can we project a movie on a human retina, and measure the response of photoreceptor cells and connected nerve tissue? This project aims to investigate a new method for visualization of the quickest responses in human cone photoreceptors and nerve cells after a visible stimulus. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the origins of responses to a stimulus and how cells in the retina communicate. The scientific results will be helpful in a better understanding of the development of vision in the infant eye, to study peripheral vision in elite athletes and to quantify performance of virtual reality equipment for the military. The IP on the technology can be licensed or used for start-up company. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering This research will enable us to understand accurately and objectively what a person sees when faced with a stimulus, non-invasively and without any subjective input from the subject. It has enormous potential for a wide range of industries and applications including the training of pilots and military personnel, the design of displays for operators of heavy machinery and visual interfaces of robot-assisted surgery. Not only does this technology have the potential to assist and protect our Australian community through applications such as these, but the commercial and economic benefits of this technology are estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and the creation of substantial numbers of jobs in the Australian technology sector. This research will also enable us to understand how vision develops through childhood and declines among the elderly, and can be enhanced or optimised through training, such as happens among elite athletes.