UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Fungal Ribosomally Synthesised and Post-translationally Modified Peptides. Fungi produce an array of molecules called secondary metabolites (SMs) that impact on everyday life (e.g. penicillin). This project aims to investigate a new class of fungal peptide SMs called RiPPs which are structurally unique from existing molecules and offer the exciting prospect of harbouring new and novel biological activities. This project expects to discover the mechanisms of RiPP synthesis and their biological roles in plant pathogenic fungi, and uncover and engineer novel RiPPs with desired bioactivities. The expected outcome from this project will be a seminal advance in fungal SM biology which should provide significant benefits through the generation of exciting new lead molecules for the agricultural and medical industries. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Fungi have an extraordinary ability to produce molecules that have impacted on the course of human history. For example, Penicillin and Lovastatin are two classic examples of fungal molecules that have saved millions of human lives. These molecules are called secondary metabolites and display a wide array of novel biological activities. Very recently, a completely new class of secondary metabolites was discovered in fungi (called RiPPs) that offer significant potential as novel lead molecules for the medicinal and agricultural industries. To date, only a handful of RiPP molecules have been discovered in fungi. This proposal aims to discover and characterise RiPPs in important Australian plant pathogenic fungi, determine the mechanism by which they are synthesised and engineer new molecules with desired activities. Achieving these outcomes could provide significant economic benefits to Australia via the implementation of improved plant disease management strategies as well as through the generation of medical products, such as antibiotics, and new herbicides that are desperately needed by Australian farmers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Deciphering organelle transport mechanisms in plants. Plant growth, productivity and seed yield all depend on organelle function which requires metabolites and proteins to be transported across membranes. This mechanism of transport is carried out by specific transporters that have the ability to transport macromolecules, and regulate organelle function. We have identified new transporters that are involved in amino acid and protein transport in the mitochondria, chloroplast and peroxisomes. We will assign function to each protein and investigate the importance in regulating organelle biogenesis. This will allow us to modulate plant energy production for optimal growth and to withstand abiotic stress, all of which have agriculturally beneficial consequences. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology This project will investigate key biological processes in plant cells that can regulate plant growth, development and responses to external factors such as the environment. This project will provide knowledge of intracellular transport of proteins and amino acids which is of particular interest to Australia's biotechnological and agricultural sectors. We will increase our fundamental knowledge on essential pathways that will contribute to the development of new strategies in crop research to provide more sustainable solutions for improving crop productivity and improve plants resistance to environmental stress.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Advances in Conformal Field Theory with Extended Symmetry. This project aims to develop novel methods to formulate conformal field theories with extended symmetry that are important in variety of applications ranging from pure mathematics to phenomenology of elementary particles. The project expects to advance our knowledge in the most challenging areas of modern theoretical physics - Quantum Gravity and physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Its expected outcomes will include conceptual results of major significance for modern theoretical and mathematical physics, thus placing Australia at the forefront of this research. A rich intellectual environment will be provided for training Australian PhD students by internationally recognised experts. Field of research: 0105 - Mathematical Physics Conformal field theory is a branch of modern theoretical physics. Conformal field theories with extended symmetry have been the focus of enormous interest worldwide in the last two decades, in particular in the framework of Quantum Gravity and extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In addition to important scientific outcomes, further research in this direction will establish deeper interactions with world leading universities and scientists, thus raising Australia to a more prominent position in theoretical physics on the world stage. It is important for the scientific and cultural profile of Australia to be involved and be widely represented in modern fundamental science. Moreover, carrying out fundamental research at high level is necessary to keep high educational standards and attract international students. This research project will allow the team of well-known experts in the field to establish an outstanding educational environment for a young generation of Australian based researchers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The synchronisation hierarchy of permutation groups. This project aims to make significant advances in understanding finite primitive permutation groups, which are the basic building blocks of the mathematical study of symmetry. A recently-developed perspective, inspired by the notion of a synchronising automaton, has revealed that these groups fall into a natural hierarchy. While the outline of this synchronisation hierarchy is known, many questions remain about exactly which primitive groups lie in which layers. Answering these questions using techniques from group theory, graph theory and finite geometry will substantially deepen our understanding. The benefits of this include new knowledge and enhanced insight into this fundamental class of groups and new tools for their analysis. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics Advances in science and technology are usually underpinned by earlier advances in mathematics. This project will make progress in an exciting new topic in pure mathematics that combines group theory, graph theory and geometry. It will enhance Australia's international reputation in these areas by producing publications in leading international journals and by maintaining a thriving research community through the training of young mathematicians and collaboration with leading international mathematicians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Utilising artificial intelligence to elucidate the physics of galaxies. For decades astronomers have puzzled over the connection between the structure and evolution of galaxies and the role played by host environments. This project aims to resolve this problem by combining multi-wavelength observations, multi-component simulations, and pioneering data analysis using artificial intelligence. In particular, we target the nearby Fornax galaxy cluster as a laboratory for studying galaxy formation in dense environments. Using our novel machine learning techniques, we will elucidate the physical mechanisms that drive the rapid evolution of star formation, galactic nuclei, and gas and dust content within Fornax. Our predictions will benefit ongoing and future surveys at the national and international level. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This project will dramatically improve our understanding of the physical processes of galaxy evolution through a new combination of multi-wavelength observations, state-of-the-art multi-component supercomputer simulations, and artificial intelligence (AI). Our project will provide the theoretical basis for interpreting observations from ongoing national facilities and thereby enhance their scientific impact. Our pioneering methods will serve as a template for scientists in fields beyond astronomy to use AI as a powerful tool to analyse big data for scientific purposes. The novel strategy and the key AI elements in this project will also be a compelling reference for those in industry to use the same technology to bring commercial benefits to their companies. Furthermore, we will conduct outreach activities to convey our scientific breakthroughs and novel AI methods to young Australians. We hope to inspire Australian students to pursue diverse STEM careers across academia and industry. Thus, this project will have economic, commercial, educational, and social benefits to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Going wild: Neural processing in freely moving animals. This project aims to use new techniques in wireless neural recording to reveal how small neural networks process visual information to make fast, accurate decisions. The project is designed to generate new knowledge about biological solutions to contextual information processing and how tiny, simple biological neural systems control critical animal behaviours such as predator avoidance. Expected outcomes will be new biological insights with which to develop novel bio-inspired decision-making processing systems as required in small, autonomous robots. The anticipated benefits of this project will be advances in fundamental neuroscience and animal behaviour and is expected to provide significant value to a fast-developing industrial sector. Field of research: 0608 - Zoology The miniaturization of autonomous sensors and agents, as used by industry, the military, and the general public, requires increasingly sophisticated on-board information processing. Biologically-inspired engineering has high potential to leverage evolutionary solutions to miniaturize decision making systems with low power, low data transfer rates, and limited processing that are crucial for robotics and autonomous vehicles. By developing, for the first time in Australia, a unique, miniature, wireless neural recording device, weighing not much more than a grain of rice, this project will allow measurements to be made of neural activity in freely moving animals. Discovering how neural function changes when animals are no longer restricted to laboratory conditions will demonstrate how biological systems have found solutions to information processing without the need for large, power-hungry hardware. The project aims to bring findings from biology directly to the attention of relevant Australian industries to develop future applied projects in this fast advancing, and crucial new sector of the economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Wake dynamics of oscillating cylinder in steady currents. This project aims at advancing knowledge in flow/structure interactions and developing improved methodology for predicting wave and current loading on marine structures, which are vital in many practical applications such as extraction of oil and gas resources and renewable energy from the ocean. The improved methodology and much-needed database of hydrodynamic force coefficients developed through this project for estimating hydrodynamic loading on marine structures will significantly reduce the high, costly uncertainly levels that are being experienced in the design, construction and maintenance of marine structures (and facilities) and increase the competiveness of Australian relevant industries. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering Australian energy industries are moving into relatively deep waters and remote fields, requiring development of new concepts to design the infrastructure. However, present design approaches are very approximate and conservative in their treatment of multiple ocean flows and structural movements. The knowledge advancement in fluid dynamics from this project will enable Australian offshore industry to improve design, reduce project costs and increase efficiency. This is not only limited for the offshore oil and gas industry, where Australia is set to become the world's biggest natural gas exporter, but also to the ocean renewable energy industry, adding diversity to the available Australian energy sources. Both of these industries rely on safe and economical design tools to design infrastructure to withstand environmental loading and to stay competitive globally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Benefits and costs of non-market valuation for environmental management. Benefits from environmental policies are often unpriced “non-market values” (NMVs). Environmental agencies struggle to know how best to measure these relatively intangible benefits, but doing so is important to ensure value for money from public investments. Environmental economists have developed and applied a wide range of methods for estimating NMVs. The methods vary in their comprehensiveness, accuracy and cost. Yet no rigorous tool is available to assess (a) which NMV method is best to implement, accounting for its cost and its potential to improve decisions, or (b) whether any NMV method improves decisions enough to warrant its cost. In creating such a tool, this project will deliver a key breakthrough in environmental economics. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics Environmental policies and programs in Australia cost billions of dollars per year. Decision making about these policies often lacks sophistication regarding the role of community preferences and values. This research will help managers make better decisions about how best to capture community values for the environment. For the various available methods for quantifying community values, the project will allow a sophisticated comparison of the benefits of the information (due to improved decision making) versus the costs of obtaining the information. This will support a cost-effective approach to decision making about which method to use. Given the scale of environmental programs, the potential benefits from improved decision making about their design and implementation are very large. There is a ready audience for the study. The research team collaborates closely with environmental managers and policy makers across Australia and internationally. In a range of environmental bodies, there is growing demand for quantitative information about the community’s environmental preferences and values.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Adaptive function of insect cuticular lipids. Insects secrete onto their surface a cocktail of high melting-point waxes. These biological compounds have been found to be involved in communication but are also thought to protect the insect from water loss and pathogen invasion. Insects represent the most abundant group of animals on Earth. It has been suggested that the dual role of surface waxes in ecological adaptation and reproduction may be key to their remarkable divergence. However, little is known of the function of individual compounds within mixtures of insect waxes. Using chemical analysis, neurophysiology and whole animal performance, the aim of this project is to provide a detailed understanding of the function of insect surface wax with potential for bioinspired products. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology This research will examine the function of a class of lipids, insect surface waxes, their ability to prevent desiccation, to act as a barrier to pathogens, and to encode information. The research will determine whether these compounds respond to natural selection and so assess the vulnerability of insects to environmental change. Such knowledge is critical given catastrophic declines in insect species globally, with over 40% threatened with extinction due to habitat modification and changing climate. Yet insects play critical roles in agriculture and the environment, from pollination to nutrient recycling, and feed animals higher in the food chain. The economic value of insect pollination alone has been estimated as > $28 bn in Australia and ~$200 bn globally. Research on the function of natural compounds also underpins the development of innovative solutions to problems in engineering and medicine. The development of self-cleaning surfaces arose directly from research on the hydrophobic properties of insect wings. The discoveries made in this project may have the potential for new bioinspired products.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

TSuNAMi: Time Series Network Animal Modelling. Our proposal is motivated by and based upon the successful representation of time series as a network (or graph). We construct an abstract representation of a system from measurements of its changing behaviour over time. Properties of that structure (the network) then allow us to infer diagnostic information of the system. Specifically, we propose to apply this to livestock welfare during transport. By measuring the biological and environment condition of the animal we construct a network representation of that system. Geometric features of that network can then be used to infer health or duress of the subject. This proposal will develop the generic mathematical machinery to connect geometric features of the network with system behaviour. Field of research: 0102 - Applied Mathematics In enumerable applications of importance to the Australian economy, better prediction of the health of a system from data would be invaluable. For example, (as in this proposal) the well-being of livestock from biometric data; an individuals cardiovascular health inferred from routine electrocardiogram; predictive maintenance of machinery components or mine sit operations; or, the reliability of a mineral or chemical processing plant. This proposal develops generic techniques to do exactly this. As a real application, this proposal also focusses specifically on the livestock transport industry - Australia's red meat and livestock exports (including co-products) exceeds $14B per annum. A large portion of that industry relies on livestock arriving at their destination in a healthy state. The monitoring techniques developed in this proposal will allow for livestock to be accurately and efficiently monitored to ensure successful and humane transport.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Mastering pyrimidine editing in RNA. Many plants and animals can alter their genetic information via RNA (ribonucleic acid) editing, a process that is often essential for the growth and development of the organism. This ability provides accurate control over gene expression and has great potential as a biotechnological tool in agriculture and medicine. RNA editing could be used to switch genes on or off in biotechnological production systems with an unprecedented degree of precision, or to correct genetic diseases. This project aims to understand two RNA editing pathways in plants, one of which is found nowhere else and likely to involve a novel enzymatic mechanism. We will use the understanding gained to develop novel RNA processing tools usable in any living organism. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The ability to alter the genetic information within a living cell is major step towards solving many of the challenges facing biologists, such as improving food production from crops or treating human genetic diseases. One form of this genetic information is ribonucleic acid (RNA), an essential intermediate between the heritable instructions in the genome and the proteins that carry out the functions needed in every living cell. This project aims to understand the natural process of RNA editing, by which cells modify their own RNA to achieve healthy growth and development. Our discoveries will have potential uses in biotechnology as an extremely precise method for controlling gene expression. This can be used, for example, in the production of hybrid crops or in the production of high-value products such as drugs or vaccines. RNA editing is also a potential treatment for genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis. These technical advances will be based on highly original discoveries in the basic science of RNA processing that will reinforce Australia’s pre-eminent reputation in this area of research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Does plasma membrane perception of 2,4-D influence auxin resistance? This project aims to investigate the role of the cell membrane in synthetic auxin herbicide resistance by analysing the functions and interaction partners of candidate resistance proteins. It is expected that this project will generate new knowledge about the very early response of plants to auxin and the difference between susceptible and resistant weeds in perceiving auxin herbicides. Expected outcomes of this project include the identification of potential herbicide synergists and a greater understanding of how weeds develop resistance to auxin herbicides. This should benefit Australian grain growers by providing more effective weed control options and lessening the amount of unnecessarily-applied herbicide in the environment. Field of research: 0703 - Crop and Pasture Production The proposed research has the potential to economically benefit Australia’s grain growers and exporters by providing a means of preserving the longevity of the auxinic herbicides, allowing more effective weed control and thus higher crop yields and grain quality. This is especially important if glyphosate, the world’s safest and most effective herbicide, is banned in Australia through societal pressure. With more efficient use of auxinic herbicides, farmers will also save money, water and fuel during the growing season, and less herbicide residue will make its way into the surrounding environment. There is also potential commercial benefit for Australia’s agrichemical industry, with the knowledge generated in this project ultimately leading to the development of more effective weed control packages tailored to Australian weeds and cropping systems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Crusty Seabeds: From (Bio-)Genesis To Reliable Offshore Design. The project aims to make deep water oil and gas developments safer and cheaper by understanding better the unique seabed ‘crust’ conditions that occur in Australian waters. By studying the biogenic, structural and mechanical properties of deepwater crusts in more detail than can be done in ‘live’ oil and gas projects, this project expects to make a step change in the understanding of these seabed crusts. Expected outcomes of this project include developing new seabed investigation and design approaches for these soils. This should provide significant benefits, by facilitating the design and installation of low-risk, yet low cost seabed infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, risers, shallow foundations etc.) in these problematical seabed types Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering New Australian deep water oil and gas fields have encountered 'crusty' near-surface soils which makes design of seabed infrastructure difficult. This project will investigate the behaviour of these seabed types (which may be unique to Australia) and how they affect the performance of seabed infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, subsea developments etc.) thereby reducing the risk of future infrastructure failures and/or having to over-spend to manage risk. The work will benefit Australia by facilitating upcoming LNG developments (increasing their likelihood of proceeding by reducing cost and risk), and by instilling new geotechnical engineers with the knowledge and skills which can be used to design Australian projects and can be exported from Australian companies to upcoming international projects.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response. This project aims to address uncertainties in the design of vibro-driven piles. This promising alternative to impact-driven piles offers faster installation and requires no noise mitigation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of the installation process in sand on in-service pile response by integrating findings from innovative experiments and numerical modelling. This is particularly important for highly sensitive structures such as offshore wind turbines, which provide a rapidly increasing share of global energy supply. Expected outcomes include practical recommendations for vibro-piles in sand. This should provide sizeable benefits by unlocking vibro-piles as a viable method to reduce offshore wind farm costs. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering This research is in Australia’s national interest as it contributes towards new clean energy sources through advances in geotechnical engineering knowledge and innovation directed at safe, economic and reliable foundation design. Foundations account for around 25% of the cost of offshore wind energy developments. Vibratory driven piles offer an economical, low ecological impact alternative to traditional impact-driven piles. This research will provide engineering recommendations based on rigorous physical and numerical modelling evidence. These will close the current gap in practical guidance identified by the industry, which stems from poorly understood behaviour of vibro-driven piles in sand. The scientific advance of this research will therefore be of economic and environmental benefit to Australia through the cost-effective development of renewable energy sources nationally and through the building of Australia’s innovation capacity as well as the provision of expertise in developments internationally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

A next-generation receiver for Radio Astronomy. This project will provide a next-generation radio astronomy receiver to be used on the Parkes radio telescope. This facility will provide a major increase in performance, particularly in sensitivity and survey speed. The science goals are to better understand the ionized and neutral components of the cosmic web, and their evolution, through observations of Fast Radio Bursts and neutral hydrogen. Advances in the understanding of pulsars, molecules, radio galaxies and cosmic rays will also be achieved with this facility. The technology is based on cryogenic cooling of a large phased array feed. This receiver is a major advance over existing receivers on the Parkes and Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescopes. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences This facility provides world-class infrastructure for Australian radio astronomers and their collaborators to conduct leading research in astronomy and astrophysics. It will lead to new discoveries, increased demand for the Parkes telescope, including from international institutes. The new discoveries will be shared with the Australian public, and the implications for our understanding of the Universe will be disseminated via media releases. The technology will likely generate revenue and prestige for Australian industry with the sale of similar instruments to overseas observatories. The techniques required to process the data from the facility will provide excellent training for a future generation of data scientists and analysts.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Design Waves: a new basis for safer and more efficient offshore systems. This project will overcome a fundamental issue at the heart of ocean engineering design, impacting our oil, gas and renewables industries. Ocean waves are random, yet the best design tools for wave-structure interaction (model testing and computational fluid dynamics) require short, precisely-defined wave sequences. This project will establish a paradigm shift, bridging this gap via a new unified Design Wave methodology developed for a diverse set of offshore systems, each with different criticalities. The new methodology will fuse advanced techniques in fluid mechanics, statistics and applied maths. The outcomes will create reductions in uncertainty and improvements in design and safety for facilities such as wind farms and gas platforms. Field of research: 0911 - Maritime Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Testing continental growth models with calcium and strontium isotopes. The Project aims to chart the evolution of the Earth’s primordial mantle and oceans between 3.75 and 2.8 billion years ago using calcium and strontium isotopes in ancient igneous and sedimentary rocks. A novel solution to the controversy over the timing and rate of growth of the Earth’s continents is expected. Anticipated outcomes include the establishment of innovative analytical tools for tracing geological and environmental processes, and stronger collaborative links with premier research institutions abroad. The significant benefits of the Project include an enhanced understanding of the environment in which early life evolved, and fresh insight into the formation of the richly mineralized nucleus of the Australian continent. Field of research: 0402 - Geochemistry This project is aimed at a fundamental understanding of the oldest parts of the Australian crust, which are strongly endowed in precious and strategic ore metals, and so addresses the national Science and Research Priority: Resources. Further assessment of the resource potential of these ancient rocks is intended, particularly for nickel, chromium and vanadium. Additional benefits of the project would include establishment of collaborative links with a leading UK university, the development of innovative tools and approaches for high precision geochemical analysis that are applicable to other disciplines, such as marine geoscience and environmental science, and an increased capability for high quality research training of postgraduate students. The promotion and understanding of Australia's rich and unique geological heritage, a treasure trove that includes the most ancient terrestrial minerals and evidence for traces of the oldest life on Earth, that would stem from this Project would be considered to align closely with the National Interest.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Defect generation in hetero-epitaxy on lattice mismatched substrates. High quality lattice mismatched semiconductor heterostructures are core enabling technologies for next generation electronic and optoelectronic devices with new functions and features such as monolithic integration, lower production costs, larger wafer size, and better system robustness. This project will generate new science on defect generation in lattice mismatched hetero-epitaxy with the aim of developing novel strategies for their minimisation. The direct outcome will be higher quality HgCdTe materials on lattice mismatched Si or III-V substrates with defect density low enough for fabricating high performance mid-wave and long-wave infrared arrays with features of lower cost, larger array format size, and higher operating temperature. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The successful completion of this project will lead to new technologies for epitaxial growth of high quality lattice mismatched semiconductor heterostructures, and to infrared sensors and imaging focal plane arrays with the unique combination of lower cost, higher yield, larger array format, and higher operating temperature, which will have a disruptive impact on the current infrared sensor industry. This will contribute to the strategic and long-term development of core Australian industry sectors such as aerospace & defence, environmental monitoring, medical imaging, space-based earth remote sensing, mining, and oil and gas, thus benefiting the Australian economy, society, environment, and national security.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Quantitative Movies of Nanoscale Dynamics by Video Atomic Force Microscopy. This project aims to address an urgent need for Australian researchers to undertake previously impossible real time studies of nanoscale dynamics concerning colloids and surfaces with unprecedented structural and temporal resolution using Video Rate Atomic Force Microscopy. This will lead to a step changes in understating, and rapid progress, in colloids and surfaces projects spanning chemistry, biology, biochemistry, medicine, engineering, sensors and materials science. The new information the delivered will enable colloids and surfaces to be refined with precision for function, build on domestic expertise in allied methods, and place Australian researchers at the forefront of the study of molecular scale process. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) This facility will provide access to a state-of-the-art high resolution Video Rate Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), which will allow physical, chemical and biological processes to be followed with atomic resolution in real time. It will generate new knowledge in a diverse range of fields spanning chemistry, biology and materials science and place Australian researchers at the forefront of nanoscale video research, build on local expertise in allied methods, and enable science to be harnessed at the nanoscale, enabling the devlopment of new high performance materials, electrochemical devices, medicines, biochemical processes and sensors. Technology transfer will be facilitated through existing local and international industry and research partnerships, and the project will train early career researchers and graduate students in cutting edge experimental techniques.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The Digitisation Centre of Western Australia (Phase 1). All five Western Australian Universities, the WA State Library and the WA Museum will collaborate to establish a world-class archival quality Digitisation Centre. There is no existing facility of this kind in WA. During this 12 month project all digitisation equipment will be acquired, installed and used to digitise a diverse range of cultural objects so as to ensure its ability to address the full spectrum of research needs. The Digitisation Centre will form a major piece of national research infrastructure with a prominent international profile and significance. The Centre will have the capacity to digitise all significant Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) research collections held by participating institutions within a decade. Field of research: 2102 - Curatorial and Related Studies The Western Australian Universities, the State Library of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum, hold extensive Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) collections that are of national and international significance. At present these are not available online and are mostly accessible only to the small number of local researchers able to visit these collections. Many items are too fragile to be handled or transported. This project will establish a dedicated Centre to digitise these collections. Digitisation will not only preserve the collections in digital format to guarantee that they remain a resource for future generations, but it will also make these collections accessible, for the first time, to people across Australia and beyond.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Australian Seismic Imaging Array. The project aims to create a facility for developing techniques for imaging the deep earth and the surface motion in ambient seismic waves created by wind, waves and human activity. The techniques will enable sources of seismic vibrations to be identified and suppressed, and will allow mapping techniques to be developed for monitoring and discovery of resources such as ground water. Gravitational wave researchers will benefit from the ability to suppress seismic vibrations, while geophysicists will benefit from new techniques and training. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences Australian physicists won international awards for their contribution to the discovery of gravitational waves announced in 2016. This proposal relates to the next generation of detectors for gravitational wave astronomy including one proposed for Australia. This project will use Australian developed tilt sensors in a seismic imaging array designed to image and suppress seismic vibrations. It will also develop new techniques for resource exploration. It will provide a resource for training as well as commercial opportunities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Evolution of Proterozoic multistage rift basins – key to mineral systems. This project will deliver a new quantitative and integrated exploratory framework for the mineral industry in Australia’s frontier sedimentary basins by integrating the latest advances in laboratory experimental tectonics with thermo-mechanical numerical, surface process and geophysical modelling. The project will use northern Australian basins as a natural laboratory to address the fundamental processes involved in the development of sedimentary ore systems. The project will investigate how they can be detected by modern exploration techniques using a multidisciplinary approach with a team of experts with backgrounds in mineral and petroleum systems. Field of research: 0403 - Geology This project will contribute to the resources sector by providing a systematic study of the key constraints on sedimentary basin evolution in a minerals context. This will help guide future minerals exploration programs. The specific study areas we will use as test cases represent the single largest under-explored region of Australia and all data collected will feed into the publicly available database to support mineral explorers in the region. This project will also provide training opportunities for the next generation of geoscientists. The research team has a strong and extensive history of training future multi-disciplinary geoscientists that can bridge structural geology, tectonics, geophysical interpretation and geodynamics, skills which will only become more important for future researchers and mineral explorers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging tools that could be used to further study the molecular mechanisms of accumulation, metabolism and trafficking of these molecules. This project should provide new strategies to target these molecules to specific cells and tissues, which have significant social and economic benefits to the Australian community. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The project is expected to fundamentally improve our understanding of the trafficking of short RNA and DNA molecules in cells and tissues, which is a key question in the RNA-targeting pharmaceutical industry. The new knowledge and innovative imaging technology generated in our project could lead to new scientific directions. This project will lay the foundation for the potential long-term strategic research alliances with industry end-users. The cutting-edge and high-profile research is expected to expand Australia’s capabilities in RNA-targeted macromolecules and advanced biological imaging, which are research areas of increasing national and international importance. This project has the potential to lead to significant downstream applications in designing new chemistry for therapeutics to direct the trafficking of these molecules across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action, which has enormous economic and social benefits to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Experimental constraints on the genesis of gold-rich ore deposits. The project will provide a new set of tools to explore for gold-rich ore deposits in Australia and globally. By integrating geochemical studies with cutting-edge experiments carried out at three Australian universities in strategic partnership with industry, the outcomes of this project will provide much needed knowledge to predict the locations of large gold-rich deposits that are concealed beneath vast expanses of the Australian continent. The new results will translate into smarter exploration practice, significantly enhancing success in targeting ore deposits that are rich in high-value metal and display the smallest have a small environmental footprint, to underpin the sustainability of our nation into the future. Field of research: 0402 - Geochemistry As one of the world’s leading producers, gold mining contributes substantially to gross economic output in Australia. Most types of gold-rich ore deposits were formed by hot aqueous fluids released by crystallising magmas. We have discovered a suite of chemical characteristics of gold-ore-forming magmas that are now widely adopted for gold exploration by mining companies. However, a significant fraction of sites identified by these discriminants as gold fertile fail to yield ore, so refinement is needed. Secondly, some common igneous minerals, such as zircon and apatite, inherit from their parent magma the distinctive chemical indicators of gold fertility and survive sedimentary transport substantial distances from their eroded igneous source, potentially providing a more widespread signal for identification of watersheds containing gold-fertile igneous rocks. Empirically and experimentally calibrating chemical discriminants of gold-ore-forming igneous suites as compared to ordinary, gold-infertile igneous suites is expected to significantly enhance gold exploration success throughout Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Restoring blue forests with green gravel. This proposal aims to progress a novel marine restoration technique (green gravel) from concept to application. This is significant because it will overcome key challenges currently hindering success of kelp forest restoration and provide scalable and practical solutions to future-proof kelp forests against climate and anthropogenic stress. Outcomes include progression of marine restoration from science to practice and into policy through local and global communication. Benefits include strong local and global alliances to scale up kelp restoration and reverse habitat degradation and associated economic loss. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Kelp forests are among the most ecologically and socio-economically important marine habitats covering over ~71,000 km2 of the Australian coast, yet are rapidly declining with the value of economic loss estimated at ~ $1,000,000 per km of coastline per year. This research will overcome extant challenges hindering restoration of kelp forests by pioneering new techniques that will allow large scale, practical and cost-effective revival of these declining forests. These novel techniques will allow a broad range of user groups to reverse kelp loss and restore the biodiversity and economic values they underpin. Moreover, this research falls within the Australian government priority areas of environmental change by providing new options for responding, adapting and mitigating habitat loss. It firmly aligns with the National Marine Science Plan and will significantly build national research capacity.