UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Wild cities: an environmental history of urban nature in Australia. This project aims to understand relationships between people and nature in modern cities through their history. In an increasingly urbanised world, nature in cities is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, but today’s urban wildlife, trees and reserves—and residents’ relationships with them—are legacies of a largely unknown past. By providing insights into the drivers of urban residents’ everyday relationships with nature from 1880-2020 and engaging the public through historical narratives, the research will inform current urban greening, conservation and restoration projects and policy. The project expects to promote urban sustainability and produce vital new insights into changing urban cultures and environments. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies This fellowship will innovatively use history to address the real-world problem of reconciling human and environmental needs in cities. It will enable us to learn from the past about the risks and opportunities associated with urban nature such as remnant bushland, waterways and wetlands, urban forest and wildlife. It will empower and inspire communities and residents concerned with urban greening, conservation and restoration by preserving and promoting their local stories, and highlighting the scale and impact of past projects. Through exhibitions, publications and working directly with stakeholders, this historical research will assist local governments, NGOs and residents of Australian cities to engage in management and restoration of urban nature to achieve liveability, climate resilience and biodiversity objectives. It will also strengthen and expand Australia’s international research networks in the growing and dynamic field of environmental history, and provide high quality research training.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Hot Fuzz: The evolution of satellite galaxies via mergers and stripping. In this project I will be uncovering the fate of satellite galaxies over cosmic time - a major question in astronomy. I will determine whether their mass is lost to direct mergers, or if their stellar material is spread about the dark matter halo they reside in. To tackle this project we will be using two main threads: observing how the occupation of satellite galaxies evolves over time by using data from two major Australian 3D galaxy surveys, and using analysis from the largest ever Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival project to directly detect the faint fuzz of stellar material in these halos. Both these threads involve advanced computation, and will train the next generation of researchers in skills applicable in many domains. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences In 2018 the federal Megan Clark Review highlighted the space industry, in particular satellite development and exploitation, as a key part of Australia’s economic future. The research proposed here will generate tools and knowledge essential to support and grow the next generation of space research for the Australian space industry, which currently attracts $10m/yr in government funding and $5b/yr from industry. This fellowship is fundamental to the largest Hubble Space Telescope (HST) project ever awarded and will launch a major international collaboration with research agencies including NASA. This, along with the development of innovative computing tools, will help strengthen Australia’s expertise in satellite image analysis, and could potentially bring further revenue to the Australian space industry. These tools will also provide key software for HST’s $20b replacement: the James Webb Space Telescope (launch 2021). The image analysis tools developed will also have potential commercial applications in biomedical imaging ($60b/yr) and geospatial imaging ($15b/yr) industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Fill it, Squeeze it, Crush it: Extreme Gas Uptake in Microporous Materials . Porous materials have the potential to be used as exceptional carbon capture materials, as well as for trapping and releasing other useful gases, such as those used in medical applications. They work, because they contain small holes where these gases can be trapped. Unfortunately, finding gas inside these holes experimentally is incredibly difficult, making it challenging to make better porous materials. In this project, I will use extreme pressures to saturate these holes with gas molecules, allowing us to ‘see’ them. Not only will this mean that better porous materials can be designed and made, but will provide a unique approach to storing and trapping gases to be used in a variety of applications, from the energy to medical sectors. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) This project brings together researchers from national and international Universities to develop a new approach to gas storage and release, resulting in a step-change in the methods used to design, and manufacture porous materials, with applications in carbon capture, energy materials and in delivering medical gases. The aim is to apply extreme pressures to porous materials. An approach requiring a unique laboratory facility. In Western Australia, I have now designed, built and tested high-pressure equipment which will provide a unique facility (with regular access) to Australian researchers interested in applying pressure to any material. Because of the focus of this project on toxic gases, energy materials, carbon capture technologies, and the manufacture of pressure cell technology, the project aligns well with the Australian Government’s National Science and Research Priorities, in particular Energy, Advanced Manufacturing and Environmental Change. Funding of this research will therefore have a wide-reaching economic, commercial, environmental and social impact to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

How Location Governs Longevity in the Lifecycle of Typical Galaxies . The Universe is dying. All across the cosmos for the last 10 billion years galaxies have been continuously killed, and we still don't know why. Today the Universe is littered with dead galaxies, and their distribution is correlated with location (environment). This suggests that location is one of the prime suspects in this galactic whodunit. However, previous observations and techniques have restricted us to only measuring galaxy environments in the nearby Universe, inhibiting our ability to identify when, where and why they are killed. This project aims to use my new state-of-the-art Australian survey and innovative analysis techniques to measure the smoking gun factors that kill galaxies in the distant Universe for the very first time. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This fellowship capitalises on recent multi-million dollar government investments in astronomy (e.g. European Southern Observatory, Square Kilometre Array, Australian Space Agency), to maximise Australian participation, leadership, and return. It globally showcases two leading Australian technologies: astronomical instrumentation (i.e. optical fibre positioners used to collect data) and big data management. These technologies, adding an estimated $20m/yr to Australian industry, rely on the visible successes of large scale projects, such as those in this fellowship, to secure future large-scale engineering contracts for Australia - leading to future jobs, investment and benefit to the economy. The project will also produce novel techniques in data processing and analysis, leading to innovation in computing and data science, enhancing Australia’s position in these global industries. Finally, this science is ideal for engaging the next generation; it will attract and train future research leaders, providing highly desirable and transferable skills to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Histories of recovery and adaptation in the Australian Anthropocene. This project seeks to understand how vulnerable communities cope and adapt when faced with multiple environmental challenges in the Anthropocene. Its aim is to help prepare for future environmental change by producing a major new study of historical and contemporary experiences in remote, rural, and coastal communities grappling with freshwater renewal, vegetation regeneration, and pollution legacies. The expected outcomes include critical insights into cultural and social capacity for thriving in uncertain ecological futures. The project will build capacity in Australian environmental history and humanities, and make a significant contribution to a growing area of international research activity. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies In a time of increasing environmental change and uncertainty, this innovative and urgently relevant project uses place-based histories to learn from the ways in which people have responded and adapted to the impacts of environmental change. By identifying how people in three regional Australian communities have experienced and coped with past environmental disruptions, this project’s findings will assist other Australian coastal, rural and remote communities to prepare effectively for future environmental change. The project’s insights into the cultural, social and economic factors that have shaped people’s capacity to adapt to environmental change will enable local and state government planners and policymakers to develop more equitable and effective strategies for building community resilience. To maximise benefit, the researchers will workshop ideas with communities, present seminars to policymakers and relevant organisations, and share findings on social media and in mainstream media articles and interviews.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Improving airborne electromagnetic surveying for minerals and groundwater. Groundwater is vital in many parts of Australia due to low surface water availability while much of Australia’s mineral wealth is obscured by conductive cover. Airborne surveys are key to mapping minerals and water over large areas. This project aims to enhance the resolution of airborne electromagnetic surveying technology by developing advanced new aircraft transmitters and receivers. The project expects to enable complex groundwater structures to be mapped more accurately and increase the depth to which conductive ore bodies can be detected. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new economic mineral and water resources. This should provide significant benefits to the mining and agricultural industries. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering The mining industry is an important part of the Australian economy but the rate of discovery of new economic deposits has been declining for decades. This is partly because of the difficulty in exploring for buried deposits under conductive overburden which covers much of Australia. This project aims to increase the ability of airborne electromagnetic surveying to map under conductive cover and look deeper into the Earth. The anticipated goal is a greater probability of discovery of new economic mineral and hydrocarbon resources that could contribute strongly to the Australian economy. Due to low surface water availability, groundwater is vital in many parts of Australia and can act as a strategic reserve in times of drought. Groundwater depletion and salinisation are serious problems affecting numerous areas. The project aims to enable airborne electromagnetic surveys to map complex groundwater structures at significantly higher resolution. This could help water-resource managers develop efficient water management plans and identify new groundwater resources.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The cognitive basis of anxiety-linked heightened negative expectancies. Problems with anxiety tear at the social and economic fabric of our nation. Individuals with an elevated vulnerability to experience high levels of anxiety display a heightened tendency to expect that the future will be emotionally negative. The current project will test compelling new hypotheses concerning the cognitive mechanisms that causally underpin such negative expectancies, using cutting-edge cognitive methodologies that permit not only the sensitive assessment, but also the direct manipulation, of these mechanisms. The findings generated will exert major scientific impact, and will directly contribute to our national strategic efforts to improve the mental well-being of our citizens, and to build healthy and resilient communities. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Developing strong restorer-of-fertility genes for hybrid wheat breeding. Hybrid wheat varieties yield 10-15% more than conventional lines but a cost-effective system to produce hybrid seeds on a commercial scale is missing. This project aims to deliver such a system for use in hybrid wheat breeding programmes. The outcome will be ultimately higher wheat yield gains in Australia and worldwide. Higher and more stable yields will contribute to higher food security for the growing human population. Field of research: 0703 - Crop and Pasture Production Wheat makes an important contribution to the Australian economy both regionally and nationally, but yields vary greatly from year to year (from 2.6 tonnes per hectare harvested in 2017 to only 1.6 forecast for 2020). Hybrid varieties are expected to show higher and more stable yields, as seen in other crops such as maize and canola. This project will provide the capability to develop a breeding system for creating hybrid wheat varieties to take advantage of this promise. The economic benefit of modern wheat hybrid varieties tailored to the challenges of the Australian climate should be substantial. The approach taken in this project will be transferable to other cereals such as barley and sorghum, two other major staples that contribute to Australian agricultural exports. The social benefit of these discoveries will ensue through more sustainable yields which will guarantee better food and market security in the future. In addition, this project will strengthen collaborative activities between major wheat breeding companies in Europe and Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Ecosystem resilience of Shark Bay under changing ocean climate. This project aims to investigate the resilience of the Shark Bay World Heritage Site to projected climate change. This project will generate new knowledge for marine conservation through analyses of habitat loss on nutrient budgets and productivity in seagrass and microbialite ecosystems. Expected outcomes are an improved understanding of climate-driven shifts on ecosystem processes in Shark Bay, incorporating science-based evidence for better conservation and management. This will provide significant benefits by contributing to the future-proofing of Shark Bay’s World Heritage values to climate change, and more broadly by demonstrating the consequences of the continued tropicalisation of Australia’s coastline. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications Shark Bay, like other marine ecosystems, has undergone significant changes such as habitat loss and fisheries collapse resulting from ocean warming events. These threaten the substantial ecosystem functions and ecosystem services this World Heritage Site provides, making Shark Bay an ideal model ecosystem to understand likely ecosystem-wide responses to future climate change. This research will generate significant knowledge that will allow us to understand and better plan for future changes in Shark Bay and contribute to the management of this iconic ecosystem. This project will significantly enhance national and international collaborative research and foster independent thinking and development of graduate students. This project will benefit local stakeholders – fisheries, landowners, tourists, and Indigenous communities – as well as the broader community through changing how we manage the resources and services Shark Bay and similar seagrass ecosystems support. Outcomes will be applicable to other marine ecosystems where habitat-forming foundation species are predicted to be lost due to climate change.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Tightening the phosphorus cycle for grain legumes. Using unique core collections of chickpea, soybean and peanut with diverse genetic backgrounds, this project aims to unravel the mechanisms underlying high phosphorus-use efficiency (PUE) at morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular levels in three major legume crops. Reduced levels of phosphorus and phytate in seeds will improve seed quality for humans and livestock and dramatically reduce phosphorus-fertiliser inputs. The identification of traits and genes associated with high PUE will allow transfer of key traits into commercial cultivars using molecular breeding approaches. Cultivars with improved PUE will enable reduced phosphate fertiliser input and loss of phosphate in runoff from agricultural systems. Field of research: 0703 - Crop and Pasture Production The intended outcome of the project is to offer a range of physiological traits and new genes to improve phosphorus-use efficiency of grain legumes (chickpea, soybean and peanut). The development of grain legume genotypes with low seed phosphorus and phytate concentrations will reduce phosphorus-fertiliser inputs, and significantly improve human and livestock nutrition by reducing binding of micronutrients by phytate (rendering them unavailable for ingestion) whilst also reducing environmental pollution due to phosphorus excretion. Newly identified genes and traits will be invaluable in the screening of large breeding populations and development of more phosphorus-efficient cultivars. The information developed for chickpea, soybean and peanut will likely be applicable to other crop legumes, thus benefiting global legume production through lower fertiliser input and reduced environmental impact from phosphorus movement off farm. The ultimate benefits will accrue to farming communities, consumers of grain legumes and society in general through economic, health and environmental benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Quantitative structure-property relations for molecular crystals. Most of the known molecular compounds exist in crystalline form, and their stability and properties depend upon the structure and interactions in crystals. This project aims to develop methods in the field of quantum crystallography to accurately estimate the electronic properties of molecular crystals, their stability, and associated energetics. The outcomes will be directly applicable in the design of new solid-state forms of pharmaceutical drugs with enhanced solubility and efficacy and hence reduced drug dosage. Understanding the electronic properties in molecular semiconductor crystals, and the strategies to tune and control these properties will contribute to future generation electronic device material manufacturing. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

New insights into fundamental carrier transport in type-II superlattices. Type-II superlattice (T2SL) based semiconductors have emerged as a rival to well-established HgCdTe-based IR detectors, promising comparable performance at significantly lower cost. T2SLs are complex nanostructures that exhibit multiple-carrier and highly-anisotropic electronic transport properties, which renders them exceedingly challenging to study experimentally. The lack of reliable experimental data has limited optimisation and modelling efforts, and thus hampered progress. This project aims to systematically study electronic transport in T2SLs, both experimentally and theoretically, by employing world-leading mobility spectrum techniques developed at UWA and state-of-the art T2SL structures from three world leaders in T2SLs. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering Infrared (IR) sensors are rapidly finding applications outside of their traditional niche in defence and aerospace applications, and are becoming increasingly important in medical and scientific instrumentation, precision agriculture and food security, mineral exploration and industrial safety, environmental monitoring, search and rescue, among many other applications. The semiconductor material technologies that will be investigated in this project, promise to deliver affordable and portable high-performance IR sensors. The research proposed in this project collaboratively leverages national and international expertise and facilities to overcome difficult experimental and theoretical challenges, and to gain new insight to fill fundamental knowledge gaps. This project will enable significant Australian research contribution in this field, and will further the development of native Australian expertise and capability in emerging infrared technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Envisaging Citizenship: Australian Histories and Global Connections. This project aims to investigate the ways that visual images have defined, contested and advanced ideas of Australian citizenship and rights from European settlement to the present. Responding to the lack of a shared mainstream understanding of Australian citizenship, it looks beyond legal definitions to explore cultural and especially visual views of citizenship over time. Through collaboration with museum, media and education sectors, it will provide a forward-looking and accessible public history, and utilise the potential of images to broaden contemporary debates about citizenship. Expected outcomes include a better public understanding of the pathways to citizenship, and enhanced engagement with Australian values and identity. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies Following new Australian citizenship laws, this project aims to support the Australian Government’s commitment to strengthen the integrity and effectiveness of the citizenship program. It aims to create a better historical and contemporary understanding of the pathways to citizenship, and to enhance public engagement with shared civic values and identity. The project will contribute to building a healthy and resilient community, and to maintaining social cohesion and security, by promoting public understanding of the meaning and value of citizenship. Visual images are a powerful and accessible way of sharing ideas about Australian identity and culture, so by providing a visual history of citizenship, this project will build new foundations for debating these issues in the present. The project includes a substantial public program of collaboration with museums, media organisations and communities to communicate our findings. It aims to produce innovative public and policy outcomes in media and policy to guide contemporary debates about citizenship in the media, law and politics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Western Australian Legacies of British Slavery . This project aims to bring Australia into the global history of slavery by exploring the legacies of British slavery in Western Australia. Through developing innovative methods for biographical research and digital mapping, it will trace the movement of capital, people and culture from slave-owning Britain to WA, and produce a new history of the continuing impact of slavery wealth in shaping colonial immigration, investment, and law. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced capacity to build international disciplinary collaborations, new research methods, and a major national online exhibition. Benefits include a radically new perspective on Australian history and abolition in the present, with major public outcomes. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies The project will re-write Australian history by revealing the hidden story of our links to British slavery. By exploring the movement of capital, people and attitudes from slave-owning Britain to Western Australia before and after the time of abolition (1833), the project aims to reveal slavery’s Australian legacies. Through an innovative digital mapping tool, new biographical methods (developed in collaboration with the Australian Dictionary of Biography), archival research and analysis by an international team, it aims to produce a new history of WA leading up to its bicentenary. It will communicate this new history to a broad mainstream audience via major public outcomes including an online exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum. By advancing new research methods, it will have considerable benefit in research training and development and increase Australia’s capacity to build international disciplinary collaborations. It will provide depth and context for current global campaigns against human trafficking involving Australia as a destination and in commercial supply chains.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Marine heatwaves drive loss of genetic diversity and selection in kelps. This project aims to unravel where and when marine heatwaves drive loss of genetic diversity and rapid directional selection in kelp forests. Although the devastating ecological impacts of marine heatwaves are well studied, empirical understanding of how marine heatwaves impact underlying evolutionary processes including adaptive capacity and resilience is lacking. This research will use a powerful combination of innovative heatwave analyses, cutting-edge genomics and physiological experiments to fill these knowledge gaps and represents a step change in our understanding of how kelp respond and adapt in multi-stressor seascapes. Results will pave the way for development of novel mitigation strategies to future-proof marine management. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology Kelp forests are among the most ecologically and socio-economically important marine habitats covering over ~71,000km2 of the Australian coast, yet are rapidly declining with the value of lost ecosystem services estimated at ~ $1,000,000 per km of coastline per year. This research will provide the first knowledge of how devastating marine heatwaves impact resilience and adaptability of kelp forests and improve capacity to predict heatwave impacts and kelp forest vulnerability. Such knowledge will help mitigate and alleviate the socio-economic impacts of extreme events and pave the way for development of novel and future-proof mitigation, conservation and management strategies to ensure the long term persistence of underwater forests and their values in multi-stressor seascapes. Moreover, this research falls within the Australian government priority areas of assessing environmental change and will significantly build national research capacity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Raising Rare Breeds: Domestication, Extinction and Meat in the Anthropocene. This project aims to advance knowledge of livestock breed extinctions and domestication in the climate change era. Through the first nationwide qualitative study of rare breed farmers, this project will produce fine-grained data on the values and practices of rare breed farmers, while raising awareness of the challenges they face in their critical conservation work. The project's findings are expected to provide innovative perspectives on human-animal relations and meat consumption in contemporary Australia. Benefits to rare breed farmers and the Australian community are anticipated through determining how Australia's livestock genetic diversity can best be supported for a food secure future. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Pacific Matildas: finding the women in the history of Pacific archaeology. This project aims to investigate the scientific lives and contributions of women in the development of a particular discipline; using Pacific archaeology as a case study. The history of science has traditionally produced gender biased narratives, so an innovative interdisciplinary approach will be developed to document the hidden role of women in the history of archaeology. New knowledge will be generated in the history of science, archaeology and gender studies. Anticipated outcomes include (i) a more inclusive history that provides diverse role models of women in science from our region, (ii) the identification of socio-cultural patterns limiting women's careers and successful strategies historically developed to overcome these. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Understanding the relationship between sociality and cognition. The evolution of cognition is a fundamentally important yet poorly researched area. It has recently become clear that rather than measuring cognitive performance between species, understanding the causes of intraspecific variation in cognitive performance is vital to accurately measure the selective benefits of cognition. Recent groundbreaking research on Australian magpies has revealed individual differences in cognitive performance are influenced by differences in sociality. This proposal will determine the causality of these results by examining the developmental and fitness consequences of individual differences in cognitive performance in relation to social interactions, thus directly addressing the sociality-cognition debate. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology This research investigates the factors influencing individual variation in cognition. In particular, it looks at how living socially influences cognition, and thus has direct relevance for the evolution of human society - from simple tribes to complex multilevel societies. The social intelligence hypothesis predicts that sociality has a key influence on the evolution of cognition, but thus far little empirical evidence exists. Recent research on social magpies provided detailed information about variation in cognition WITHIN a species sharing the SAME environment and thus significantly advanced support for the social intelligence hypothesis. However, what remains unknown is what ASPECT of sociality influences cognition. This is a question of significant national benefit, since cognition, defined as the way an animal processes information from its environment - is essential to all animals. Understanding the causal social factors influencing cognitive ability will therefore provide significant insight into the relationship between the evolution of societies and cognition.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Who’s who in the plant gene world? As many more plant genomes are sequenced, the bottleneck is being able to interrogate and translate this data into applications for crop improvement. This project will develop and apply a population graph database, hosting genome data for the world’s major crops and their wild relatives, allowing the characterisation of gene diversity on an unparalleled scale. Analysis of this data will reveal the presence/absence and sequence diversity for classes of genes for important agronomic traits including disease resistance, flowering time and legume nitrogen fixation which will enable plant breeders to identify and apply novel genes and allelic variants for use in breeding programmes, accelerating the production of improved crop varieties. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics Genome sequencing technology is changing our understanding of biology and evolution, with implications for health and agriculture. Australia remains an international leader in crop genomics and applied bioinformatics, relatively new fields of research which contribute to knowledge and the big data economy. As more plant genomes are sequenced, we need to find new ways to interrogate this data and translate it for improved crop production. This project builds on the CIs expertise in big data genomics, to collate the rapidly expanding plant genomic data being produced by the CIs and international collaborators within a population graph database. We will query the data to estimate how many genes are in major plant groups and which genes are conserved or differentiate between species. We will focus on genes of agronomic importance including those associated with flowering time, nodulation and disease resistance. Knowledge of the diversity of these gene classes will inform the breeding of improved crop varieties, supporting Australian agriculture, rural communities and the national economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Exceptionally symmetric combinatorial designs. Advances in digital technologies are underpinned by powerful mathematics; use of symmetry greatly simplifies complex problems. This project aims to exploit the mathematical theory of groups to advance our understanding of combinatorial designs with exceptional symmetry. New designs have become prominent through links with networks and error correcting codes. The project expects to generate constructions and classifications in these areas by utilising powerful group theory. As well as innovative methods for studying designs with symmetry based on group actions, expected outcomes include enhanced international collaboration, and highly trained combinatorial mathematicians to strengthen Australia’s research standing in fundamental science. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics Combinatorial designs underpin modern technological tasks such as web searches, and error-correcting codes for data transmission and data compression, as well as structured scientific experiments. Designs with high symmetry guarantee additional balance and regularity yielding greater power and efficiency in these applications. The theory of symmetry which this project aims to strengthen and exploit has broad applications in the mathematical and physical sciences and there is potential for far reaching economic, commercial and scientific benefits. Project goals include improved methods for studying designs with symmetry, as well as new constructions and design classifications. The project aims to enhance Australia’s international reputation and standing in research by anticipated fundamental conceptual advances in design theory. The supportive and high quality research environment at UWA is known globally for producing highly trained and internationally award-winning mathematicians to contribute to Australia's research efforts and maintain a vibrant mathematical sciences research community in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Facilitation of high leaf phosphorus-use efficiency by nitrate restraint. This project aims to determine the link between high phosphorus use efficiency and nitrogen metabolism in the Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Proteaceace, the three families of plants that co-dominate the flora on the extremely phosphorus-impoverished soils of south-western Australia, a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. It is expected that the extremely high phosphorus use efficiency in these plants is inextricably linked to a low capacity for nitrogen uptake. An anticipated outcome is new insight into how these plants achieve highly efficient phosphorus and nitrogen use, providing new understanding into the functioning of plants in an exceptionally biodiverse ecosystem and into traits that may lead to to crops with higher fertilizer use efficiency. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology The intensive agricultural systems that are central to the economic and social well-being of Australia rely on enormous inputs of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers that are expensive to produce and to apply. This research seeks to understand the interactions of phosphorus and nitrogen in plants that have evolved on the extremely nutrient-poor soils of southwest Australia. Due to their evolutionary history, these plants are highly efficient in the use of both phosphorus and nitrogen. This research aims to identify traits and metabolic concepts that are transferable to crop plants to make them less reliant on limited and expensive fertilizers. The goal of decreasing fertilizer use has direct economic benefits by decreasing production and application costs, has environmental benefits by decreasing the degradation of land and waterways by eutrophication and decreasing pollution and other environmental damage from manufacturing processes; and has societal benefits from making farming systems more productive, sustainable and economically viable.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Four Stage Permeability Evolution Theory for Low Permeable Rocks . There is a degree of public anxiety on how unconventional gases is extracted. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are two key enabling technologies to extract unconventional gases. But, the current study reveals well and field productivities exhibit steep declines. This implies that current practice may not be sustainable. The successful completion of this project will provide a scientific approach to look at the sustainability issue through testing a hypothesis that the properties of rock blocks between hydraulic fractures determine the sustainability of gas production instead of hydraulic fracturing. Field of research: 0914 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy According to Australian Energy Update 2018, natural gas production grew by 23 per cent in 2016–17, underpinned by increased coal seam gas production in Queensland. An Australian Council of Learned Academies report in 2013 found that Australia could have more than 1000 trillion cubic feet in recoverable shale gas. The parts of most likely commercial shale gas deposits are in Northern South Australia, Western Australia (the Canning Basin and the northern Perth Basin), The Northern Territory, and Western Queensland. Australia’s gas supply is growing as new technology allows companies to produce from large reserves that were too difficult to access until recently. The successful completion of this project will provide a scientific approach to look at the sustainability issue of both coal seam gas and shale gas through testing a research hypothesis that the evolution of rock matrix properties determines the sustainability of gas production instead of hydraulic fracking. This theory may also lead to a set of new technology on the modification of rock blocks between hydraulic fractures.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Advancing predictions of ecosystem-based coastal flood defence. This project aims to develop a new framework to accurately predict how a diverse range of coastal ecosystems (seagrasses, corals, mangroves) act to reduce coastal flooding. The project aspires to develop novel theory and models to quantify how the large, complex roughness of these ecosystems interacts with coastal flows to attenuate extreme water levels at coastlines. Expected outcomes include new predictive models and guidelines that can be immediately incorporated into coastal hazard forecasts and engineering practice. This will allow greatly-improved predictions of how coastal ecosystems support the safety and resilience of coastal communities worldwide, and new design guidelines to boost nature-based coastal defence projects. Field of research: 0911 - Maritime Engineering Coastal flooding presents a significant threat to public safety and property in Australia, one that will only worsen with rising sea levels and increasing extreme events. Australia is particularly vulnerable to coastal flooding, with its cities, towns & critical infrastructure disproportionately located in a thin coastal strip. Coastal zones that will be prone to flooding by the end of this century currently support over $220 billion of Australian infrastructure and assets. This project aims to quantify the capacity of coastal ecosystems (such as seagrasses, coral reefs and mangroves) to prevent coastal flooding. With our coastline recognised for its abundance of such ecosystems, Australia is uniquely placed to develop novel ‘win-win’ coastal defence strategies, whereby these ecosystems (and the services & economic benefits they generate) can be preserved, while providing critical defence against coastal flooding. As a leader in the Indo-Pacific region (surrounded by many particularly vulnerable countries), this project can help Australia develop transformative solutions to the threats of coastal flooding.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Illuminating Molecular Electronic Rectification. This project aims to develop molecular rectifiers incorporating organometallic complexes for future electronics applications. The organometallic molecules will be an integral part of the electronic device to ameliorate the technological problems arising from miniaturisation of semiconductors. Expected outcomes are a new approach to molecular designs that provide a rectifying response in single molecules and large area molecular junctions. This should build manufacturing capacity in Australia and enhance international collaboration and reputation by addressing significant challenges in molecular electronics. Benefits arising include skilled researchers, internationalisation of Australian research and contributions to fundamental science. Field of research: 0399 - Other Chemical Sciences The work here will impact on the very design of new electronic components providing a rectifying response through clever molecular design. Our efforts will be assisted by regional collaboration providing global impact. In addition to the fundamental science, the project will build national capacity in molecular electronics and measurement capabilities, providing training and advances in chemical science. Importantly, building capacity in electronics will help transition Australia to a skills based economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Modelling How Humans Adapt to Task Demands in Safety-Critical Workplaces . This project aims to explain how human operators make decisions in complex work environments that require multiple tasks to be completed under time pressure. This project expects to achieve a significant theoretical and practical advance by developing and testing a computational model of the psychological processes that allow operators to adapt to the types of workplace task demands that can increase human error and the risk of accidents. The expected outcome is a model that can explain operator decision-making and predict the conditions where operators are more likely to make delayed responses or errors. This should provide significant benefits by informing psychological theory and potentially reducing workplace incidents and accidents. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences As the modern workplace become more complex it is increasingly important to understand how human operators make safe and effective decisions to ensure the safety of the Australian public. The key outcome of the project will be a comprehensive computational model of the psychological processes by which operators strategically adapt to changes in task demand in safety critical work contexts such as aviation and defence. The computational model can potentially be used for a range of purposes, including the design of decision support tools, management of operator workload, redesign of operational procedures, and the training of staff. The project outcomes should deliver a competitive advantage to critical Australian work sectors and further Australia’s reputation for cutting edge research that extends basic science to complex work systems. The project will provide first-class research training for early career researchers and thereby expand Australia’s future research capability in applying mathematical psychology to human factors issues in the workplace.