UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-02

An Aboriginal History of Western Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-02

An Aboriginal History of Western Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-02

An Aboriginal History of Western Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Valuing Australia's surfing resources for sustainable coastal management Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Valuing Australia's surfing resources for sustainable coastal management Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Integrative geophysics Under cover: getting images of the Unknown... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Integrative geophysics Under cover: getting images of the Unknown... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Evaluating the benefits of teacher training in Einsteinian science Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Income Inequality, Asset Returns, and the Capital Share in Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Income Inequality, Asset Returns, and the Capital Share in Australia Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Strong Skin means Strong Health Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Photothermal Catalytic Methane Dry Reforming for Scalable Syngas Production. This project aims to develop novel non-noble metal/metal oxide materials with multiscale metal-support interfaces for unravelling photothermal catalytic mechanism, efficiently harnessing full-spectrum sunlight, and robustly converting carbon dioxide and natural gas into high value-added fuels. Innovations are expected in the rational design and tailoring of materials, fundamental knowledge in photo-driven catalysis and breakthroughs in solar energy utilisation for carbon dioxide and methane conversions. Expected outcomes will present a series of structure-tailored, activity-enhanced and selectivity-oriented photothermal catalysts for scaling production of solar fuels, tackling the challenges of energy crisis and climate change in Australia. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Climate change and energy crisis are devastating issues facing Australia and the World. Production of clean fuels emerges as a multifaceted solution with the potential to positively impact environmental sustainability, public health, economic development, and energy security. However, they are not currently viable due to the high production costs and unsatisfactory yields. This research project aims to overcome these economic and technical barriers by strategically leveraging the functionalisation of photothermal catalysts and designing and engineering advanced reaction devices to harness full-spectrum sunlight for converting carbon dioxide and methane into clean syngas fuels. Successful implementation of this project will promote Australia’s leading role in developing strategies for cost-effective utilisations of natural gas resources and solar energy, both for clean fuels generation and beyond it, with potential implications in environmental sustainability. The results will also have great significance for innovating conventional chemical industry to a low-carbon and sustainable manner, thereby delivering significant benefits to Australian industries and the living environment. Beyond disseminating research outcomes in prestigious journals, wider community engagement will be conducted through workshop with potential end users, enabling the transformative impacts to clean energy sector.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Developing effective, efficient and scalable clinical pathways for... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Mapping the structure-function relationship of DNA origami in cells. DNA origami enables the precise design and creation of nanoparticles of any size and shape with unprecedented control. However, there is limited fundamental knowledge regarding the interactions between DNA origami nanotechnology and the intracellular environment. The proposed project will address this significant knowledge gap and dissect the structure-function relationship between DNA origami nanotechnology and the intracellular environment. The effect that material properties, such as size, shape and sequence, have on the stability, and fate of DNA origami objects in cells, will be elucidated. This multidisciplinary work will advance knowledge in bionanotechnology and cell biology, for engineering functional nanomaterials. Field of research: 3106 - Industrial Biotechnology Although in its infancy, the global DNA nanotechnology market is growing at a rate of over 10% per year, and is set to surpass USD$88 million by 2031 with applications across computing, robotics, light, energy, agriculture, sensing and diagnostics and biotechnology. Together governmental bodies, universities, and biotechnology industries across Europe, Asia and North American are significantly investing in DNA nanotechnologies. Yet, there are still several significant questions surrounding how these DNA nanoparticles interact within cellular environment, how long they remain in the cell, and where they localise. These questions limit further widespread research and adoption of the technology, particularly for biotechnology applications. The proposed research will investigate the relationship between DNA nanotechnology and the internal cell environment, to enable better design and engineering of functional materials. The project will advance both basic and practical knowledge at the forefront of DNA bionanotechnology, and cell biology. The research program brings together expertise in chemistry, nanotechnology, cell biology and advanced imaging to achieve the proposed overarching goals. We will provide training to the research community at the cutting edge of cross-disciplinary science. The outcomes from the project will also deliver intellectual property, positioning Australia at the forefront of DNA nanotechnology and enabling translation to industrial applications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Uncovering the evolution of the nitrogen cycle with carbonate chemistry . Nitrogen is essential for all life on Earth, but current methods are unable to quantify many aspects of the evolving nitrogen cycle, impeding our understanding of its effects on ecosystems and environmental change. This project will pioneer a groundbreaking method using nitrogen species trapped inside carbonate minerals to directly measure ocean nitrogen abundances and isotope compositions over Earth history. The new method developed by this project will revolutionize our grasp of complex patterns in the nitrogen cycle and its effects on life and Earth. These insights will not only bolster foundational scientific knowledge but also pave the way for informed environmental interventions and further discoveries in environmental science. Field of research: 3703 - Geochemistry The nitrogen cycle is a vital part of Earth's ecosystems and environment, but current methods are unable to quantify many aspects of the evolving nitrogen cycle. This project will develop a ground-breaking method to study Earth's nitrogen cycle and its impact on ecosystems and environmental change. The new method developed in this project will result in discoveries regarding the connections between life, environmental change and the nitrogen cycle, which will provide Australians with diverse benefits over time. For example, understanding how nitrogen cycling behaved during periods of extreme climate change will be economically beneficial, as it could lead to new marine management systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of N2O and reduce health costs associated with climate change. Environmentally, it may help better manage water and marine systems during environmental change, potentially securing marine food supply. Insights into the nitrogen cycle can also be transformative for ecosystems like coral reefs which rely on nitrogen and are biodiversity and tourism hotspots. New discoveries about the nitrogen cycle resulting from this project will become accessible to policymakers, and industry through scientific literature and workshops. It will be accessible to the general public on digital platforms and media, ensuring the research's insights permeate society, leading to broader understanding and practical applications of nitrogen cycling and its benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Emerging blue carbon pathways as natural climate solutions. This project aims to uncover whether two previously-overlooked pathways of the coastal carbon cycle can provide climate mitigation benefits. Using innovative experiments and oceanographic modelling, this project will quantify coastal carbon injection to the deep sea and carbon storage in unvegetated shelf sediments, helping solve outstanding questions regarding the role of coastal vegetated ecosystems in the ocean carbon budget. Project outcomes will deliver robust models for cost-effective carbon accounting, and a tool to verify the climate benefits of managing coastal ecosystems. This will facilitate the development of novel climate mitigation activities, positioning Australia at the leading edge of ocean-based climate action. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Managing ecosystems to remove and store more carbon lies at the core of Australia’s nature-based climate change mitigation strategy. Protecting the carbon exported from coastal ecosystems to the deep sea, or the carbon stored in continental shelf sediments, is a promising avenue for new climate action. Yet, accurately measuring the amount of carbon removed and stored beyond the coastal zone remains challenging. This research will quantify the carbon transported from mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and seaweed beds to the deep sea, establishing a more complete picture of the carbon cycle of coastal ecosystems. It will also map the carbon stored across Australia’s offshore marine sediments and its vulnerability to human disturbance. This project is of national significance because it will deliver high-resolution carbon stock data for Australia’s first National Ocean Account and expand the nature-based ways Australia can fight climate change. Project outcomes will facilitate the development of ocean-based climate mitigation activities in the emerging Australian voluntary carbon market by creating cost-effective carbon accounting models and a tool to verify carbon removal in coastal regions. This project is of global significance because it will provide fundamental understanding of the coastal carbon cycle, enabling more accurate modelling and carbon budgets of the ocean.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Enhancing Antimicrobial Activity Using Synergistic Resistance Mitigation. This project aims to combat antibiotic resistance by developing synergistic compounds targeting the extracellular polymeric substance in biofilms. Utilizing Neolixir's NeoX-101 platform, compounds will be screened to identify combinations disrupting the extracellular polymeric matrix. New insights into nanoscale extracellular polymeric matrix interactions will be generated using metabolomics and high-resolution imaging. Outcomes include an extracellular polymeric matrix-targeting toolbox for potentiating antibiotics and a robust screening pipeline. Benefits include accelerating novel antibiotic resistance strategies and fostering polymer and nanoscale imaging innovation against biofilm infections. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry This project tackles the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, a critical challenge facing Australia and the world. By developing innovative compounds that target the protective layer around bacterial communities called biofilms, this research aims to make existing antibiotics more effective. The project combines cutting-edge imaging techniques and advanced analysis methods to understand how these compounds interact with biofilms at the nanoscale level. Successful outcomes could lead to new strategies for treating persistent infections, reducing the impact of antibiotic resistance on healthcare and agriculture in Australia. This could result in significant economic benefits by lowering healthcare costs, improving productivity, and creating opportunities for the development of new products and technologies. The research team will actively engage with industry partners, policymakers, and the public through workshops, media outreach, and community events to ensure that the findings are widely understood and can be translated into practical applications. By raising awareness of this important issue and promoting the adoption of new solutions, this project has the potential to make a tangible difference in the lives of Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Anchoring Australia's future in floating offshore wind. This project aligns world leading academic and industry expertise in offshore engineering to undertake research with the aim of developing design guidance for the adoption of Suction Embedded Plate Anchors (SEPLAs) on floating wind energy developments in Australia and globally. Geotechnical centrifuge modelling and field testing will enable validated installation techniques to be developed for a variety of seabed types, while also demonstrating the anchor reliability needed for safe adoption of this technology. Representing a significant portion of overall project cost, the use of the cheaper SEPLA technology means this project can significantly improve the economics of floating wind, supporting Australia’s target of net zero by 2050. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Achieving Australia's target of net zero by 2050 will require a mix of renewable energy sources, including the installation of hundreds of floating wind turbines around our coasts, in order to produce enough affordable electricity to power all the homes across the country. This scale of offshore wind energy will require thousands of anchors to keep floating wind turbines in position. However, anchoring costs are a barrier to Australia’s offshore wind energy ambitions – given they represent a large proportion of the upfront capital investment. This project will produce outcomes that will enable the use of much smaller (and therefore less expensive) anchors on Australian offshore wind energy developments. These outcomes include software and design recommendations for direct adoption in engineering practice by the industry partners, as well as the requisite validated evidence to support development of associated (industry wide) design guidelines. The timing of this project is optimal as feasibility licences for offshore wind zones are now being awarded, requiring developers to consider technologies that will improve the economics of floating wind farms. This project will result in economic, environmental and societal benefits for Australia through the generation of affordable clean energy, bringing with it the generation of sustainable jobs, while training the next generation of engineers for this industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

An operando characterisation platform for clean energy transition in WA. This project aims to investigate the transitional properties of energy materials in clean energy generation, storage, conversion, and utilisation under real synthesis and catalysis conditions by establishing an in situ and operando analysis platform. The project expects to generate new knowledge in materials chemistry and reaction kinetics with varying temperature, gases, light, and/or electrolytes. Expected outcomes include innovative catalyst design strategies and insights into clean energy transition and decarbonisation, as well as enhanced interdisciplinary collaborations. This research will provide significant benefits, such as the development of new knowledge and technology, contributing to Australia's transition towards clean energy. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering This project aims to establish an operando analysis platform that enables in situ and operando characterisations for the synthesis and optimisation of novel energy catalyst materials as well as their applications in clean energy transition and decarbonisation. The research integrates and advances the in situ/operando functions of dilatometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and integrated Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The proposed facility will enable the study of materials in real synthetic or catalytic conditions, including high temperature, gas reactants, light or electrolyte employed. This configuration bridges the research gaps between catalyst design principles and the understanding of reaction mechanisms. By engaging with clean hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, fuel cells, batteries, and solar energy conversion, this research can bring significant benefits to Australia. For instance, economic and commercial benefits can be derived from the novel catalysts materials as the products, cost-effective clean energy, and renewable energy conversion. Clean energy transition and decarbonisation will benefit the environment and promote future sustainability, leading to social and cultural benefits. The proposed facility will be showcased in conferences, public lectures and government policy consultation processes.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

WA lightsheet microscopy facility for fast and gentle volumetric imaging. Lightsheet is a fluorescence microscopy technique that is ideal for​ volumetric imaging of microscopically large 3-dimensional samples in a fast, gentle and nondestructive way. It allows the observation of living specimens, such as developing embryos, zebrafish, plant roots or engineered tissues, over an extended time frame (hours or days) with subcellular resolution. Over the past 10 years, this technique has become a standard tool in many fields of research, but it is not yet available anywhere in Western Australia (WA). This project will install WA's first lightsheet microscope in an openly accessible core facility, where it will benefit WA based researchers from many fields, including agriculture, engineering, and biological sciences. Field of research: 3004 - Crop and Pasture Production Lightsheet is a special microscopy technique that is ideal for long term observation of living and developing samples, such as embryos, organelles, zebrafish and plant roots, as well as microscopically large fixed samples such as whole mouse brains. Lightsheet microscopes are now a standard tool in many fields of research and widely available, but this technology is not yet available anywhere in Western Australia. Due to interstate quarantine limitations, costs and issues with transporting living samples, instruments located on Australia’s East Coast are out of reach for many researchers in WA. This project will bring lightsheet technology to WA, and make it openly accessible to all publicly funded researchers. WA researchers in the fields of agriculture, engineering, materials science and biology will utilise this infrastructure, for example in improving the yield and stress tolerance of commercial crops; developing bioengineered heart valves; and studying the evolution of vertebrate skeleton and healthy ageing of brain. It will help recruit and retain high-quality researchers and train PhD candidates of international quality, increase the standard of research training, and provide world-class research environments to sustain leadership and innovation in many Australian priority sectors including Agriculture, Cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, Biological Sciences, Crop and Pasture, Ecology, Mechanical Engineering, Neurosciences, Plant Biology, Soil Science, and Zoology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Can sharing the "mental load" close the leadership gender gap? . The mental load is the thinking work required to achieve goals for others. At home (thinking for family), it is disproportionately shouldered by women. At work (thinking for colleagues), our data show the same pattern. In parallel, women are underrepresented in leadership positions, with little sign of closing this gap. We connect these problems, suggesting the mental load stunts the emergence of female leaders, especially if they take on high load at home and work, or if the load is unfairly shared with their male partner/colleagues. We test predictions in field studies (eg leader development programs). Results will inform policies aimed at ensuring gender equity in the mental load with implications for closing the leadership gender gap. Field of research: 5201 - Applied and Developmental Psychology This project connects two problems—the “mental load” and leadership gender gaps—to offer scientifically-informed solutions to closing this gap via equitable distribution of the mental load at home and work. The mental load is thinking work required to achieve goals for others (at home or work) and is usually shouldered by women. It is topical in the press, with belief that it stunts women’s careers. But research is inconclusive—we do not know when or why the mental load helps vs hinders leadership progression. Gender equality is an Australian strategic priority and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. But reports show that these goals are not being met. Gender Equity Insights (WGEA, 2023) and Women in the Workplace (McKinsey & Company, 2023) reports highlight the underrepresentation of women in management and its detrimental impact on the leadership pipeline and business performance. Currently considered factors that contribute to leadership gender gaps are not sufficient to explain or address it. The mental load, as the thinking work in relation to communal goals done mostly by women, has direct relevance to leadership gender gaps. Connecting these problems therefore promises not just to advance knowledge of the mental load and leadership gender gaps; but our field-interventions and stakeholder engagement promise scientifically-informed policy change and interventions aimed at increasing gender equity in the mental load and closing the leadership gender gap.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Molecular "safety catches" for controlled modification of RNA. Synthetic biology is yielding novel tools that allow the modification of RNA in cells, to alter traits in agricultural, environmental and medically-relevant backgrounds. However, poorly-controlled modification of RNA is dangerous: off-target modifications can be fatal. We will uncover how pentatricopeptide repeat sequence-specific RNA editing and nuclease proteins are able to structurally couple binding to the correct RNA sequence with enzyme activity. These mechanisms prevent off-target effects. We will then design and test protein fusions with other editing and nuclease proteins, and will build regulated, safe-to-use, versions of these proteins, testing their activity both in vitro and in planta, ready for use in agrobiotech. Field of research: 3101 - 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. Cells have molecular systems which can modify the RNA instructions, and we seek to develop ways to control such modifications using biotechnology. A key issue is how cells ensure that modifications happen only in the correct message. This project aims to understand how cells use ensure only the correct information is altered, and to adapt that knowledge to develop further biotechnological tools that 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.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Strong Skin means Strong Health Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Understanding social-ecological feedbacks in protected area resilience. The project aims to describe, quantify and understand feedbacks between societies and ecosystems, both in and adjacent to protected areas. Using the Coupled Infrastructure Systems Framework to describe and quantify system structure, it will collect empirical data from 40 protected areas and progress from statistical analysis to empirical simulation models of feedbacks. Models of feedbacks will be used to clarify influences on protected area resilience. The project will improve understanding of how to efficiently monitor social-ecological dynamics and enhance protected area resilience to climate change and other shocks. Insights resulting from the analysis will support protected area governance and management in Australia and South Africa. Field of research: 4104 - Environmental Management The project asks how protected areas operate and how feedbacks between people and nature influence conservation success and sustainability. It will collect data about people, ecosystems, infrastructure, and governance across >20 protected areas in Western Australia. This information will be used to develop generic social-ecological models of protected area management, based on a well-developed theoretical framework. The analysis and modelling will address important gaps in our knowledge of how feedbacks between people and protected areas arise, are managed, and can influence the sustainability of conservation efforts. It will also guide decisions about what should be monitored to understand and respond to change in protected areas. The research will benefit Australians by providing a deeper understanding of the social and economic issues that influence biodiversity conservation, and by mobilising this knowledge for improved management and resilience of protected areas (that in turn provide numerous benefits to Australians). Our four-pronged communication plan promotes knowledge sharing with academics, practitioners and implementers, policy makers, and the general public respectively through targeted communications. The engagement of managers and traditional owners throughout the process will facilitate learning and knowledge transfer direct to the most relevant groups and stakeholders. We will also prepare policy briefs and focused summaries for high-level policy makers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Controllable spallation. This project aims to develop theoretical foundations of controllable spallation in rocks as an alternative to the conventional drilling and data-driven AI monitoring methods. Conventional rock drilling is expensive and not environmentally friendly. Thermal spallation drilling is a viable alternative to the conventional drilling which mitigates its shortcomings. The absence of the theory which gives optimal controlling parameters – flame temperature and direction, area of heat application and hot gas pressure – restricts the use of the technology in the industry. Thermal spallation drilling will bring considerable economic and environmental benefits to this country and thus contributing to the advancement of Australian industry. Field of research: 4019 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy Thermal spallation drilling of wellbores for resource and energy extraction is cheaper, more flexible and environmentally friendly than the conventional mechanical drilling. For instance, it reduces the CO2 emission associated with the drill bit manufacturing. The project will address the gap in the methods of control of thermal spallation drilling associated with the lack of understanding of the mechanics of the spallation drilling. This gap prevents the industrial use of the technology. The project will develop mechanical foundations and monitoring methods of controllable spallation in rocks as an alternative to the conventional drilling. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be trained for optimising the thermal spallation parameters and ensure the maximum drilling speed under the existing geomechanics conditions. Given the size of the industry and the market growth, the economic benefit for Australia is estimated $66-$88M for oil and mineral exploration alone. We plan to create a demonstration prototype controlled by artificial intelligence. The prototype will be used for promotion of the thermal spallation drilling method to end-users, general public and school leavers. The prototype will also be used for teaching in Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering and Petroleum.