Queensland University of Technology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Influence of parent and educator feeding practices on child self-regulation. This project aims to be the first study to investigate whether children who experience consistent and responsive feeding practices both at home and in early childhood education and care have higher levels of self-regulation, optimal eating behaviour and diet quality. The project expects to develop simple and low-cost strategies that parents and educators can use at mealtimes to enhance child self-regulation. With one million Australian children in care during their parent’s working week, outcomes of this project have widespread benefits. Higher self-regulation improves a child's health and well-being and provides short- and long-term social and economic benefits including school readiness, academic achievement and workforce participation. Field of research: 3213 - Paediatrics Investing in optimal child health and well being in the earliest years of life reaps returns for the individual, their family and the wider Australian Community. This project aims to develop simple strategies that parents and educators in early childhood education and care can use at mealtimes to enhance child self-regulation, eating behaviour and diet quality. With one million Australian children in care during their parent’s working week, outcomes of this project have widespread benefits. Higher self-regulation improves a child's health and well-being and provides short- and long-term social and economic benefits including enhanced school readiness, academic achievement and increased workforce participation. These strategies align with the existing Early Years Learning Framework and can be incorporated into the curriculum of educator training programs and ECEC centre routines at minimal cost. This has potential for commercial benefits for ECEC centres as they use this as evidence to support adherence to the National Quality Standards and promote their high quality care services to families.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Real-time mass spectrometry for advanced aerosol chemical characterisation. Atmospheric aerosols profoundly affect climate and human health. Aerosol chemical composition is a major factor that controls these effects. This project aims to enhance Australian aerosol research capabilities by acquiring for the first time two complementary high-sensitivity field-deployable mass spectrometers for real-time aerosol chemical characterisation. Real-time aerosol mass spectrometry revolutionises studies of dynamics of atmospheric processes, not possible using classic filter sampling and laboratory processing. This new capability will support cutting edge studies on atmospheric processes related to climate, air quality & human health, sustainability, and efficiency enhancement of industrial and energy generation processes. Field of research: 3701 - Atmospheric Sciences Aerosols are tiny airborne particles that are present in the air we breathe both indoors and outdoors. These aerosols profoundly influence outcomes both for climate and human health, such as recently experienced through the COVID-19 pandemic where airborne particles were shown to be vectors for transmission of disease. In both indoor and outdoor contexts, the chemical composition of aerosols is the major factor dictating outcomes for humanity and the environment. This project will enable real-time measurement of the chemical composition of aerosols using state-of-the-art instruments capable of characterising the particles in air across different environments and contexts. The expert analysis of data collected using these instruments will guide physical (e.g., changes to building design to minimise particle-borne virus transmission) or policy-based (e.g., changes to fuel and vehicular standards to minimise particle emissions and improve air quality) interventions that will improve health, environmental and climate outcomes for all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The Material Science of Biomimetic Soft Network Composites. Nature combines stiff and strong collagen fibres intertwined within a weak polymer matrix of proteoglycans into soft tissues with outstanding mechanical durability and biological properties. We converge a biomimetic design strategy inspired in the architecture of natural soft tissues and a novel additive manufacturing technology termed melt electrowriting (MEW) to manufacture advanced biomimetic soft network composites (BSNC). The SNCs are composed of a weak polymer matrix and a MEW reinforcing fibrous phase printed at the nanometre scale, containing patterns mimicking the natural tissue architectures. Advanced computational tools are applied for the rational design of the SNC while reducing costs and times associated to experimental work. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering Using new 3D printing technologies developed in the QUT laboratory this project will inform understanding of the underlying material science important to the advanced manufacturing industry to develop new products and enhance their capability to compete in international markets. This project will provide essential new insights on how to develop advanced materials such as a new class of soft network composites that meet the design and performance criteria for high-tech products in soft robotics, marine science and agriculture, tissue engineering and wearable and stretchable electronics. In the manufacturing sector research is vitally needed in critical process advances related to the manufacturability of advanced materials and the manufacture of both new and existing products. This project will lead to significant economic and commercial benefits to Australian given its potential to revolutionize healthcare, wearable devices, manufacturing, and robotics. Translation of the research outcomes will be via publications, presentation to forums of the advanced manufacturing industries as well as spin off companies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Light Powered Materials for Producing Chemical Fuels. This project aims to develop a hybrid, solar-powered catalytic material for the manufacture of liquid hydrocarbon chemicals, without consuming external heating. The key concept is to transform hydrogen and carbon monoxide into long-chain hydrocarbons over hybrid materials that can convert light energy into heat and simultaneously catalyze the chemical transformation. Investigations on the relations between material synthesis, nanostructures, and performance of the new catalysis processes will be conducted using experiments and theoretical computation. Expected outcomes include low cost and efficient materials for solar-to-fuel conversion, will provide benefits to low-carbon living, new clean energy resource and environmental protections. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australia has an abundance of sunlight. Converting this solar energy into other forms of energy that can be easily stored, transported and used is of great importance to sustainably ensuring Australia’s productivity and quality of life. This project creates a new material that converts greenhouse gases in the atmosphere into high value fuels using sunlight as the only energy source. The process is an ideal strategy with zero carbon emissions as carbon dioxide gas is reused to produce fuels rather than being released back into the atmosphere. The application of this technique will contribute to Australia’s response to the global fuel crisis and will also help mitigate the effects of climate change around the world, saving ecosystems and ensuring food production is not threatened. This project will provide a new pathway to take advantage of solar energy, complementing the solar panels already in use across Australia. Close collaboration with the green energy industry will be adopted to promote the advancement of the proposed technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Artistic Practice in Australian Videogame Development. The game industry is the largest cultural industry in the world. Its economic growth relies in part on the artistic innovations of non-commercial developers and communities operating beyond the industry’s purview. Policymakers and researchers alike struggle to account for the cultural contexts and creative origins of game development. This project conceptualises and empirically investigates ‘artist-gamemaking’ to generate new knowledge on the ambitions, techniques and histories of Australia’s game industry. It develops resources that will enable cultural institutions to better support them. This research is important as it articulates the cultural and economic value of a vital site of creative practice in contemporary Australia. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies Australian videogame developers have built global reputations and successful businesses from ideas that began as artistic, non-commercial projects. The game industry is well understood to be a creative industry, but we don’t yet understand how the creative innovations of developers who consider themselves first-and-foremost ‘artists’ interacts with and drives commercial ambitions and success. This limits current policy options for growing the game industry in Australia. This project identifies new sites of creative innovation by examining the practices, work contexts, ambitions, and communities of Australian game developers. This will inform future funding and support strategies to enhance Australian game developers’ ability to compete in a global marketplace now worth over $150 billion. Research outcomes will be shared with industry bodies (such as the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association) and policymakers (such as the Australia Council of the Arts) through reports, a website, and an information-sharing symposium to be held at the end of the project.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Computational modelling of nanofluids for industrial applications. The use of nanoparticles in heat transfer fluids, then known as nanofluids, increases their specific heat and thermal conductivity. Recent experimental works highlight that anomalous transport phenomena are evident in nanofluids that cannot be adequately described by classical conservation laws. We will extend these conservation laws to incorporate fractional operators to capture the fluid memory effects and the impact of particle clustering. Computational modelling and experimental investigations will be undertaken to identify the heat transfer mechanisms of various nanofluids. The outcomes of the work will increase knowledge on nanofluids and offer a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency of many thermal engineering systems. Field of research: 4901 - Applied Mathematics As energy consumption continues to rise sharply, many industries are focused on the implementation of technologies that provide improvements in energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. Heat transfer fluids are widely used in these industries as cooling systems for this purpose. This project will use a combination of computational modelling and experimentation to expand current knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of the unique enhancement in heat transfer properties of the fluid observed when small solid particles are added to heat transfer fluid (to make what are called nanofluids). This study will form a new framework enabling the broader application of nanofluids across the Australian energy sector. This framework will be vital for optimising the design and adoption of efficient and high-performance energy systems having the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across many fields of technology, including power plants, biomedical technologies, solar energy, microelectronics, and microfluidics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Transforming Australian bio-based industries through multiscale modelling. Agricultural and forestry biomass can be converted into feedstocks for production of biofuels and biomaterials via synthetic biology. A key challenge is the complex biomass microstructure renders it highly resistant to conversion, and pretreatment is crucial for enhancing process efficiency. Micro-CT imaging will enable particle characterisation and identification of changes in the fibre composition during pretreatment. This information will be used to create a virtual biomass particle model for an in silico investigation to inform optimal process design. The framework will transform the way biomass is processed, contributing to the growth of the Australian bio-manufacturing industry by making it more productive, profitable and sustainable. Field of research: 4903 - Numerical and Computational Mathematics The Australian agricultural and forestry sectors produce large amounts of forest residues, wood and agricultural fibre wastes that are a major renewable organic material resource. This resource can be exploited by emerging industries to help grow Australia’s economy, by manufacturing renewable bioproducts such as biofuels, bioplastics, textiles, and biochemicals. This project will create new methods for optimising the development of bioproducts by bringing together advanced imaging, experimentation, and mathematical modelling to better understand fibre-based feedstocks, and how they are modified through manufacturing processes. The technologies developed will provide model-based approaches that can inform biomanufacturing industries on ways of improving process design, leading to efficient and sustainable operations along with reductions in overall manufacturing costs. The growth of biomanufacturing industries, through the production of high value bioproducts, will increase farm revenues and create knowledge-intensive jobs in regional and rural areas that will sustain communities in regional Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Novel framework for optimising battery-cooling microchannel heat exchangers. Thermal overheating can affect the capacity, safety and life expectancy of batteries for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. Microscale heat exchangers are a potential high-efficiency, low-bulk solution. This project aims to develop a novel computational methodology to optimise the design of those heat exchangers in which viscoelastic fluids are used to control flow instabilities and enhance heat transfer at the microscale. A new microscopic fluid physics model will provide data for an innovative neural network framework to optimise the working fluid conditions and microscale design, which could contribute to increased adoption of renewable energy technologies that are supported by microscale heat exchangers. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering Overheating of batteries reduces their lifetime and energy storage capacity, and can lead to fires. This project aims to develop a new method for designing a class of battery cooling devices known as microchannel heat exchangers. Based on a deeper understanding of the flow of novel cooling fluids, a machine learning-based software will be developed to optimise the design and operating parameters of new devices with significantly greater ability to remove heat. These devices will be lighter, easier to manufacture, and use less energy than alternative devices. They could be used for renewable energy storage, in electric vehicles, or for high-power electronics. As such, this research will aid Australia to reach its carbon emissions reduction targets of 43% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. QUT is already advancing battery manufacture through the National Battery Testing Centre established in collaboration with industry and state government participants of the Future Battery Industries CRC. These industry connections are a direct route to accelerate the adoption of the design software developed in this project.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

2D Multiferroics: From Materials Design to Device Conceptualization. This project aims to design new transistors with high efficiency and low energy costing for the storage applications based on two-dimensional multifunctional heterostructures. Extensive computational simulations and joint experiments will be employed to develop fundamental knowledge essential to understanding the phenomena of magnetoelectric coupling, which is used to guide rational device design and implementation. The designed magnetoelectric heterostructures and the multiferroic devices are expected to provide strong foundations for technological innovations resulting in devices with superior functionality and efficiency. The outcome of the project will significantly benefit high-tech electronics. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The continuous miniaturization of silicon chips that have powered computers in the past decades is reaching the physical limit imposed by fundamental physics laws. This project will address this challenge by developing new electronic technologies based on ultra-thin materials, which are only one or a few atoms thick, through a synergy of theoretical prediction and experimental demonstration. This project will generate fundamental knowledge on the design of new digital memory and logic devices, which can operate faster, have higher information storage capacity and be more energy efficient than today’s silicon-based chips in smart devices. The produced knowledge and prototypes will inform further research in Australia to develop next-generation electronic devices and help place Australia at the vanguard of the global strategic microchip ecosystem. The technological know-how and intellectual property generated from this project will create paternship opportunities with Australia’s semiconductor sectors through licensing and commercialisation pathways for boosting this critical manufacturing capability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Innovative Stable Free Radical-Substituted Conjugated Electronic Polymers. The project aims to develop an innovative class of stable free radicals side-chain substituted conjugated donor-acceptor electronic polymers with unique polaronic and radical charge transport capabilities. The targeted optoelectronic material class is unique and has not been explored in depth before. The combination of unpaired electrons and delocalized backbone -electrons delivers exciting modes of charge transfer that provide these novel materials with clear potential as electroactive materials with applications in various nanoelectronics devices. Developing a fundamental understanding of charge transport properties and potential device applications will open up a new field of research in advanced optoelectronic technology. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering The active materials used in electronic devices are undergoing continual improvements to generate devices that are lighter, flexible, stretchable, and more energy efficient. This project will pioneer a new type of polymer with uniquely tunable electrical conductance provided by two parallel channels and a wide range of light absorption properties for incorporation into the next generation of advanced electronic devices. The composition of the innovative material can be tailored to enable significant improvements in energy efficiency and increased flexibility when it is printed for use in lightweight electronic devices such as transistors, wearable sensors, energy conversion, and storage devices. This work will provide a competitive advantage to Australian companies manufacturing materials for electronic devices and facilitate a shift towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient society. It is anticipated that these advances in materials design and manufacture will be translated into commercial products through established partnerships with industries within the advanced manufacturing sector.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

2D oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation. This project aims to develop two-dimensional oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation from water and CO2 using combined theoretical and experimental investigations. The outcomes of this project will offer atomic and electronic level principles in designing high-performance catalysts and provide novel approaches on green fuel generations for emerging energy technologies. The success of this project will meet the knowledge gap between advanced materials and practical sustainable energy technologies, and contribute to the development of sustainable society of Australia and international community by supplying low-cost and green fuels. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Research on sustainable fuel generation is urgently needed to meet Australia’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. This proposal seeks to generate clean hydrogen from water and to convert the over-emitted CO2 in the atmosphere to carbon-containing fuels. The sustainable generation of fuels, however, can only be realised with the help of catalysts, which unfortunately suffer from issues of high-cost and low-efficiency. This project will develop new theory and experimental validation for the design of novel catalysts with maximum efficiency for hydrogen production and CO2-fuel conversion. We will also develop new design principle to minimise the use of costly active metals in these processes. The breakthroughs in catalysts we will achieve in this project will be translated into building hydrogen industries as a part of the National Hydrogen Strategy. Project outcomes will position Australia as a leader in clean energy technologies, will advance cutting-edge sustainable technologies, and will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions for the environmental benefit of Australia and beyond.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Understanding bone structure evolution using machine learning. Bone remodeling is the ancient process of bone resorption and formation that optimises material properties and has led to evolution of terrestrial vertebrates. To date it is not understood how remodeling achieves tuning of bone material. This proposal aims to develop a machine learning based approach, linking computational modeling and imaging to address this problem. Intended outcomes are development of a multiscale model of remodeling and machine learning algorithms for image analysis. This approach will help establish a structural-functional link between remodeling and bone material optimisation which ultimately provides significant benefits for bone tissue engineering, fracture healing and improved therapies for osteoporosis. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering There is a clear lack of understanding of how human bones are optimised towards being strong and light weight at the same time. This project will provide new insights into the structural-functional links that lead to optimisation of bone material properties. Relying on knowledge that exists only in the QUT laboratory this project will develop a new technological platform for bone research that will allow testing to determine how exercise and/or drug treatments can strengthen bones. This project has the potential to help identify better osteoporosis treatments including combinational therapies based on optimised bone material properties. Understanding how bones are mechanically optimised to resist fracture is of major relevance to Australia’s national interest, because osteoporotic bone fractures have major detrimental effects on an economic and social level. Research outcomes will be shared in the form of presentations to relevant health system providers. To ensure translation and adoption of these research findings engagement with Australian bone health foundations and societies will be sought.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Building A Better Built Environment for Older Australian's Ageing-in-place. Most older Australians prefer to age in place after their retirement. This project aims to understand how the built environment as a comprehensive system supports (or hinders) their ageing-in-place given that the existing Australian built environment fails to meet older Australians' requirements for independent living. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of ageing-friendly communities using Bayesian Network analysis and interactive design charrettes. Expected outcomes include an evidence-based Bayesian network model that determines how the built environment affects independent living in the community and design innovation and guidelines to improve the built environment design for older Australians' ageing-in-place. Field of research: 3302 - Building Most older Australians prefer to age-in-place, meaning they want to live independently in their homes within their familiar community for as long as possible. However, most existing built environments in communities do not make it easy for older people with reduced mobility and strength, and may not always fully support their physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. This project investigates how the built environment as a system affects and supports older Australians’ ageing-in-place. This new knowledge will benefit older Australians by enabling them to continue to engage and remain active in age-friendly communities. This project will deliver practical guidelines for urban planning departments at all government levels, architects, and facilities managers to better plan, design and manage the built environment to support older Australians’ ageing-in-place. Application of these guidelines will lead to socio-economic benefits as prolonged independent living of older Australians not only improves their quality of life but also significantly reduces public expenditure on aged and clinical care.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Global integration of microbial community and climate data. Microbial communities in the environment control the cycling of carbon and nutrients on Earth, but climate models do not directly incorporate microbial inputs. This interdisciplinary project will link planetary-scale climate modelling data with novel large-scale microbial community analysis, using climate information to provide insight into the fantastic diversity of microbial processes on our planet. The interdisciplinary approach will inform the next generation of climate models and better predict our future climate’s feedbacks. Conversely, it will make progress on the grand challenge of understanding microbial community function by enabling microbial ecology to be treated as a data-intensive machine learning problem. Field of research: 3107 - Microbiology Microorganisms play key but underappreciated roles in the health of our planet - some contribute to climate change while others constrain it. Yet current models of climate change mostly ignore the influence of microbial communities. This study will be the first of its kind to incorporate large scale microbial data into climate change models, thereby increasing their accuracy. Sharing our new results on microbial community profiles with traditional climate change scientists will enhance the utility of climate prediction models. In the long run, better climate models will help inform practical ways that Australian society and businesses can adapt to offset the many socio-economic and environmental challenges of climate change. The project will also help us better understand how environmental conditions shape microbial communities. A project website will illustrate the complex relationship between Earth’s ecosystems and microbiology. Our findings will guide novel applications of microbiology in environmental sustainability, industrial enzyme use and human microbiome health.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A Biologically Responsive and Anatomically Authentic Human Nasal Model. As respiratory conditions caused by pollutants and viruses become more prevalent, human nasal models to study infection/protection mechanisms and nasal drug/vaccine delivery are increasingly important. This project aims to develop a world-first human nasal model to mimic both anatomical and biological aspects of the nasal cavity and predict the distribution and deposition of fine particles and the resultant biological response from the nasal mucosa. The aim is to overcome a key fabrication challenge - to 3D print an anatomically accurate nasal construct with a porous wall on which to grow and mature functional nasal tissue that lines a nasal cavity wall. The benefit would be enabling faster development of more targeted drugs and vaccines. Field of research: 4003 - Biomedical Engineering This project aims to develop a world-first combined physical and biological model of the human nose. It can replicate and measure the movement of particles (e.g. pollutants, allergens and viruses) within the human nasal cavity and their subsequent biological interaction with cells lining the cavity. This would overcome current reliance on a battery of computational, cell and animal models to conduct preclinical testing of new antiviral therapeutic or preventive medicine as well as drugs or vaccines delivered through the nose, which is slow and often inaccurately predicts human responses. This model could help Australian therapeutics companies tap into the USD 71 billion intranasal antiviral therapeutics and USD 70 billion intranasal drug delivery markets by accelerating and diversifying their product development. To facilitate adoption QUT will utilise its extensive relationships with Australia's biofabrication industry stakeholders, to negotiate a licence to manufacture the new nasal models for therapeutics companies or for preclinical testing service providers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Microspheres from (Sun)Light – A Sustainable Materials Platform. This project will break new ground in light-induced step-growth precipitation polymerisation techniques for polymer particle formation that do not require any initiator, surfactants, additives or heating, thus constituting an environmentally friendly process. The project will establish the underpinning photochemical particle formation processes and establish a broad monomer base for the production of particles with a wide property profile, including particles with tailored surface properties and the ability to degrade upon a defined trigger signal. Scaling the particles' synthesis, including using Australian sunlight, will enable multi-gram production allowing real-world applications. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry The project will pioneer a new energy-efficient method for harnessing sunlight to produce materials used in diagnostic tests (such as COVID rapid antigen tests or home-pregnancy kits) as well as for drug delivery. These materials ̶ known as polymeric microspheres ̶ are constituted of long chains of molecules that assemble into spheres, usually via a thermal process. Our project will develop novel chemistries exploiting Australia’s sunlight for the production of microspheres featuring a wide range of properties with less waste and at lower energy cost, ultimately being scaled into commercial production. This project is particularly tailored to Australia by leveraging its abundance - yet underutilized resource - of natural sunlight and will place Australia at the forefront of chemical innovation with an environmentally friendly approach. Once established, this Australian owned technology can be commercialised through partnerships with leading healthcare or diagnostic companies or through the potential foundation of start-up ventures to produce and sell bespoke microsphere products.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Sequence-Defined Polymers with Optical Information Readout. The project aim is to introduce the first optically readable sequence-defined polymers based on fluorophore excimers, whose information content can be read as simply as conventional barcodes. These macromolecular barcodes, embedded in solid polymer matrices, will overcome the current limitations of reading information from synthetic macromolecules. An interdisciplinary effort will fuse chemistry, law, and criminology to develop the technology in ways that are expected to address illicit plastic waste trafficking – ending the anonymity of polymer waste by creating a regulatory and criminological paradigm for tracing plastic waste to hold actors in the value chain responsible. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Plastic waste is one of the biggest issues facing Australia and the world. A barrier to reducing plastic waste is the lack of effective traceability along supply chains. Knowing who produced a plastic product and how they produced it is important for recycling, incentivising new manufacturing practices and combatting illegal plastic waste. Our project creates a way to trace plastics through supply chains by unique object identification. As well as developing the technology required to trace plastics, our project investigates how to embed plastic traceability in supply chains and law. The project is an investment in Australia's ability to regulate plastics trading in light of the newly introduced ban on the export of plastic waste, the National Plastics Plan and the international treaty developed to combat plastic waste. The project’s outcomes will engage plastic manufacturers and regulators in Australia and globally. Ultimately, industries and regulators will be provided with a new technology for plastics traceability and the knowledge about how to use this technology to combat plastic pollution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Teacher attraction and retention in hard-to-staff schools. Australia is facing a teacher shortage crisis. Many schools have become ‘hard-to-staff’ – evident through either a lack of teachers or a high teacher turnover. The aim of this project is to provide the foundations for strategies that can be implemented by schools and systems to address this problem. Due to the schools’ locations, these shortages can have severe consequences for already educationally vulnerable young people. This has been a significant concern of governments nationally and internationally. An important outcome from the project will be how best to attract and retain teachers in hard-to-staff schools. This will have benefits for the teaching profession, young people who attend hard-to-staff schools and the broader community. Field of research: 3902 - Education Policy, Sociology and Philosophy This project will enhance Australia’s capability to address teacher shortages by investigating the problems that schools in ‘less desirable’ locations have had in attracting and retaining teachers and how they have sought to address these, and by tracking teachers who begin their careers in these schools. The project will produce substantial educational, economic and social benefits for the Australian and international community by ensuring that the most marginalised young people in Australia have access to a high quality and stable teaching workforce. It will offer high quality postdoctoral mentoring and postgraduate training in a world class intellectually stimulating environment. The findings will inform future approaches to the global problem of teacher shortages, especially in hard to staff schools, nationally and internationally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

New mathematical approaches to learn the equations of life from noisy data. New mathematical models and mathematical modelling methods must be continually developed to interpret emerging biotechnology experiments. Contemporary research in tissue engineering involves growing tissues on 3d-printed scaffolds to mimic constrained in vivo geometries. Previous mathematical models of tissue growth focus on computationally expensive discrete mathematical models that are poorly suited for parameter inference and experimental design. This project will deliver and deploy high-fidelity, computationally efficient moving boundary continuum mathematical models that will: (i) predict/interpret new experiments, (ii) provide quantitative insight into biological mechanisms, and (iii) enable reproducible experimental design. Field of research: 4901 - Applied Mathematics Tissue growth experiments produce artificial tissues in the laboratory, with the long-term aim of repairing damaged or diseased tissues (e.g. skin, bone, muscle). Current experiments are developed using trial-and-error, which is expensive and wasteful, and provides limited biological information. In contrast, mathematical models can speed up the design and interpretation of these complicated experiments. This project will produce new mathematical models of tissue growth experiments that will benefit the Australian biotechnology sector by developing new ways to rapidly design experiments without trial-and-error. Mathematical models will be translated into free-to-use computer algorithms and smartphone applications that biotechnologists will use to optimise data collection protocols that maximise biological insight, while minimising experimental cost and waste. This project will contribute to Australia’s long-term economic prosperity and social wellbeing by developing new tools to translate benefits of the biotechnology revolution into improved economic and health outcomes for all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A real-time traffic signal system for safe and efficient intersections . Road traffic crashes result in 1,200 fatalities and another 36,500 injuries on Australian roads each year. Signalised intersections represent a high-risk node in a transportation network, but the current signal designs only consider efficiency but not safety. This project aims to unleash the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and integrate with the advanced extreme value models for proactive and efficient detection of crash risk in real-time. Its innovations lie on developing a novel traffic signal control system balancing safety and efficiency of signalised intersections. The proposed real-time traffic signal system will fundamentally transform the intersection operation and lead to reductions of road fatalities, injuries and emissions. Field of research: 3509 - Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chains Road traffic crashes result in 1,200 fatalities and another 36,500 injuries on Australian roads each year. Signalised intersections represent a high-risk location type in the network, with one-third pedestrian and bicycle crashes in addition to a substantial portion of vehicular crashes. This project addresses the Australia’s Science and Research Priority in Transport by utilising the power of artificial intelligence for road safety. By applying cutting-edge video analytics, this project aims to analyse and assess risk at signalised intersections in real-time, make short-term safety and congestion forecasts based on current traffic trends, and offer a new traffic signal system balancing both safety and efficiency. The proposed research will bring social, economic, and environmental benefits to the society by reducing the road toll and the significant number of preventable injuries on Australian roads, enhancing transport mobility, promoting active transport users such as cyclists and pedestrians, and saving huge economic losses due to crashes and emissions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Australia’s first Green Biopharm . Protein-based medicines and vaccines represent the fastest growing sector of the pharmaceutical market, but their production by Australian small and medium enterprises is prohibited by the high infrastructure and operating costs of traditional manufacturing systems. This project aims to develop advanced methods to produce protein-based medicines using a native plant. The power of this technology will be demonstrated by making a biologic anti-parasite treatment, as an alternative to outdated chemical treatments. Expected outcomes include a unique scalable technology which will support Australia's sovereign capacity to produce high-value proteins, rapidly, affordably, and at scale, and with less complexity than current plant-based systems. Field of research: 3001 - Agricultural Biotechnology The demand for vaccines and protein-based medicines is growing rapidly, but Australia’s capacity to produce these at scale is limited by the high infrastructure and operating costs of traditional protein factories. This places Australia at risk of medicine shortages and is a barrier to smaller companies from entering the $380 billion global market for biologics. This project will demonstrate the power of a disruptive plant-based production system, which is being widely adopted overseas. The system will be used to make a new anti-parasite treatment, helping to combat the $530m in lost productivity that parasitic worms cost to the Australian livestock industries each year. While the new product could earn an Australian Small or Medium-sized Enterprise up to $40 million/year in extra revenue, wider adoption of this platform technology will also build Australia’s sovereign capacity to manufacture biologics at an unprecedented speed and scale, earn valuable export income, create skilled job opportunities, and protect our national security by ensuring the sovereign supply of life-saving medicines for the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Thermoelectric devices for high-performing localised coolers. This project aims to develop a lightweight, low-energy-consumption, and high-durability wearable thermoelectric cooler for localised cooling using a novel industry-led approach, coupled with device design and materials engineering strategies. The key breakthrough expected is to design wearable thermoelectric coolers by using flexible substrates and thermoelectric materials with engineered chemistry and unique structures for achieving localised, instant, and controllable cooling with super low power input for personal usage in building and mining industry. Expected outcomes include innovative technologies for achieving high-efficiency cooling, which will provide significant economic and commercial benefits for Australia. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Traditional cooling systems are heavy and high energy consumption. To overcome these issues, this project aims to innovatively develop wearable cooler system by using new-type functional materials. Eco-friendly and wearable coolers will be integrated to form smart localized cooling with super low power input for personal thermal regulation, which will significantly decrease energy consumption and reduce global warming. Such a brand-new technology and innovation will advance the scientific insights and significantly enhance the international visibility and impact of Australia in the development of smart cooling technology. The technology developed can be utilised by many industries for personal cooling management, which will help to create new employment opportunities in the mining, building, and medical industry, and provide economic, commercial and environment benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Novel minerals and mix design in low embodied carbon concrete products . Research and development in materials and mix design for concrete building products will target utilisation of abundant and low cost mineral materials including natural clay, hard rock quarry fines and unclassified fly ash resources. New mix design and preparation methods are targeting improved strength and production efficiency with reduced Portland cement and embodied carbon. This technology will be used in the manufacture of concrete blocks, roof tiles and brick and block mortar products currently manufactured by Brickworks. Outcomes are efficient and sustainable full scale manufacture of higher value, low embodied carbon, lightweight, large format and/or high durability products that are not currently available to the Australian market. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australian concrete product manufacturing creates $2.5bn revenue annually but is a major energy consumer and producer of carbon dioxide emission. Attempts to produce lighter weight products with reduced carbon have impacted product quality and reliability, resulting in usability limits, particularly where products require load bearing and energy efficiency properties. This project will develop methods to produce high quality, lighter, concrete products, such as blocks, roof tiles, and mortar using 35-50% less embodied carbon, decreasing emissions and energy use significantly. Using new material compositions and manufacturing processes using cheaper, local materials, the methods developed will enable construction of buildings with high-quality, long-lasting materials with a reduced carbon footprint at a competitive cost. The project builds on past successful innovations by an established collaborative team from Brickworks and QUT. Existing Brickworks manufacturing plants in Australia and the USA will be utilised to translate research outcomes to ensure benefits to Australian industries and consumers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Next generation soil carbon satellite-based measurement for carbon markets. Soil carbon sequestration is a federal government priority to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to advance this opportunity are hindered by the high technical costs of soil carbon quantification. This project will develop an innovative and potentially commercialisable technology that integrates ground data, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), satellites, Eddy covariance CO2 flux towers, soil carbon (C) models, and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy of satellite-based soil C modelling. The project will provide an accurate and cost-effective solution to quantification of soil C changes to unlock a large potential of carbon offsets in rangelands in Australia and worldwide. Field of research: 4101 - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Australia’s carbon crediting scheme aims to combat the effects of global warming by encouraging farmers to increase beneficial carbon storage in soils. Currently, the adoption and commitment of Australian graziers to this scheme is restricted due to the prohibitive costs of measuring soil carbon. This project will deliver a technology to cost-effectively integrate remote sensing, real-time carbon sensors, and artificial intelligence to significantly reduce the measurement costs by over 90%. The successful commercialisation of this innovative technology will allow thousands of graziers to participate in Australia’s carbon crediting scheme, saving Australia $57.3B in soil carbon measurement costs and generating an additional income of $61.6B from carbon credits over 25 years. The outcomes of this project will be integrated directly into Agrimix Pty Ltd’s commercial IT platform to provide a complete and cost-effective solution for quantification of soil carbon in grasslands in Australian and worldwide.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Sounds of change: using ecological knowledge to advance acoustic monitoring. To recover biodiversity, conservation actions must be informed by robust ecological data. In partnership with Bush Heritage Australia, this project aims to transform ecological monitoring with eco-acoustic technologies by developing new acoustic metrics to measure biodiversity at various levels, from individual species through to whole communities. This project will combine advanced computer methods with theories of animal sounds and communities to generate metrics that are informed by animal ecology and directly address monitoring needs of conservation organisations. By experimentally testing the metrics on long-duration real-world sound data, this project will provide new tools to measure conservation impact and prioritise actions. Field of research: 4104 - Environmental Management Biodiversity is declining rapidly, driven by habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, pollution, and the unsustainable use of natural resources. We urgently need to reverse this trend and, to do this, we need high-quality ecological data to inform the best conservation actions. This project will develop new ways to monitor biodiversity through sound. Healthy ecosystems have diverse soundscapes and, by recording and analysing ecological sounds, we can measure how species and ecosystems are changing. This project will integrate animal ecology and machine learning to create tools to track how species and ecosystems respond to threats and conservation actions. Partnering with Bush Heritage Australia, this exciting collaboration will ensure the methods are useful and shared with other conservation and government agencies, critical to inform and facilitate real-world conservation decisions. This research will benefit Australia more broadly by providing an efficient way to collect and report on data in line with national and international targets for improving biodiversity over the coming decade and beyond.