Australian National University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Religion, Ritual and Health in HIV-Affected Thai Communities. This project aims to understand how socially marginalised Thai gay men and transgenders draw on Buddhist healing traditions as alternative and complementary therapies in dealing with HIV/AIDS and other health emergencies. Through case studies undertaken in several culturally diverse Thai regions, this project expects to provide comparative insight into the intersections of religion and health in Asian societies suffering HIV epidemics and among Asian migrant communities in Australia. Expected outcomes include enhanced approaches to HIV education among vulnerable minority communities in Thailand and other Southeast Asian societies as well as among Asian gay men in Australia, whose recourse to alternative therapies is poorly understood. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies Our project’s findings on how religious involvement shapes recourse to alternative therapies in Buddhist communities will have social benefits for Australia in promoting the wellbeing of the many Southeast Asian gay migrants and students residing in this country. Because these migrants share similar religious and sexual cultures with gay men in Thailand, this project’s cross-cultural understandings have the practical potential to be applied to enhance culturally appropriate responses to HIV and other health issues in Asian gay communities in Australia. This project’s results will also benefit Australia’s international health security initiatives by being applicable in Southeast Asian countries that share cultural similarities with Thailand and are major recipients of Australian aid. This project will contribute to DFAT’s Health for Development Strategy 2015-2020, which identifies fighting AIDS as a central plank of an effective global health response, and the 2017 Health Security Initiative for the Indo-Pacific Region, which aims to apply Australia’s unique strengths in health security in Southeast Asia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Fake News and Post-Truth Impacts: Responses to Conflictive Uncertainty. Attributions of fake news and post-truth are symptoms of uncertainty arising from conflicting information. Little is known about human responses to conflictive uncertainty other than that people find it aversive. This project aims to identify the determinants of human attitudes towards conflictive uncertainty. The aims will be achieved via the development of measures of attitudes toward conflictive uncertainty, and studies identifying the major influences thereof. Expected outcomes include advances in knowledge of how conflictive uncertainty attitudes relate to risk orientations, personality, and situational factors. Anticipated benefits include improved strategies for decision makers and communicators faced with conflictive uncertainty. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Uncertainty arising from conflicting information has the worst effects on decisions and negotiations of any kind of uncertainty. It often is the basis of disagreements and it leads to distrust and indecision. People are more risk-averse and pessimistic under conflictive uncertainty than other kinds of uncertainty, even when risk-aversion is irrational. For the past several decades, the Australian public has increasingly been exposed to divergent risk messages about important issues, such as financial investment, health risks, terrorism, and climate change. This has increased polarisation of public opinions and decreased trust in experts and other authorities. Little is known about why and when people are averse to conflictive uncertainty. This project combines methods and insights from psychology and behavioural economics to develop valid measures of their attitudes towards it, find out why and when they find it aversive, and develop and test effective strategies for dealing with it and mitigating its negative effects. Project outcomes will have applications in risk management and risk communication.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The Missing Millennium and the Origins of Agriculture in Southeast Asia. This project aims to investigate the missing millennium – a significant gap in our understanding of the arrival of food producing populations into northern Vietnam between 5000 and 4000 years ago, before their expansion across the rest of Mainland Southeast Asia. Substantial new insights will include information on cultural development and population ancestry, an enhanced archaeological chronology, and details of the subsistence economies of both farmers and hunter-gatherers in the region. Significant benefits are expected in understanding the population history behind modern Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology Australia’s relationship with Asia is a national priority; after all, the 21st century has been called the Asian Century due to predicted growth in Asia’s economies, populations and cultures. The Government is encouraging this growth through a $20-million-dollar Asian Innovation Strategy, and a new long-term Trans Pacific Partnership. Yet we know little of of the origins of Asian economies. This project reveals these beginnings: it combines archaeological discovery with cutting-edge science to reveal the foundations of Vietnam’s contemporary economy and cultures between 3000 and 2000 BC. The focus is on Vietnam because of its location between China and the rest of Mainland South East Asia, its well-preserved and accessible archaeological record, and our excellent collaborations. This project will benefit not only the Australian community but also the Vietnamese in terms of greater appreciation of the country’s cultural and economic origins. The project’s new techniques will also benefit those seeking to discover the early origins of other economies, populations and cultures of the world that exist today.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Regulating nutrient uptake in intracellular parasites. Parasites impose a major economic and medical burden on human societies. In order to grow and reproduce, parasites scavenge nutrients from their animal or human hosts. As they move within and between hosts they encounter different levels of nutrients; how they adapt to these differences is poorly understood. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the model parasite Toxoplasma senses and responds to the nutrients in its environment, thereby shedding light on how they adapt to the different environments that they inhabit and, in the longer term, informing novel treatment strategies that aim to limit the parasites’ nutrient supply. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Apicomplexans are important parasites of livestock, poultry, and other animals, and impose large economic costs on human societies, including in Australia. Eimeria tenella is a major pathogen of poultry, causing billions of dollars of losses in the poultry industry annually. Tick-borne pathogens such as Babesia and Theileria species are a major threat to the cattle industry in tropical areas, including in northern Australia. Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii (the study species of this grant) cause >25% of abortions in cattle and sheep. Treatment options against these apicomplexans are limited, and are prone to drug resistance and inefficacy against particular stages of the parasite life cycle. Nutrient scavenging is central to the parasitic way of life, and this project aims to address major gaps in knowledge about how apicomplexans sense and respond to the nutrient conditions they encounter in their hosts. This may pave the way for novel treatment strategies that limit nutrient uptake in these nefarious pathogens.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Impact of hot gas on volcanic rocks and ore-forming processes. High temperature gases move from Earth's interior to the atmosphere at volcanoes, but little is known about how they react. Recent work shows that exceptionally rapid reactions occur between hot gases and the surfaces of solids. These reactions are instrumental in forming ore deposits. The proposed work aims to apply state-of-the-art chemical analysis of natural samples and investigate gas-solid reactions experimentally to determine how chemical elements, including metals, are distributed in these reactions. The study seeks to create robust geochenmical models for understanding geochemical and ore-forming processes. Improved understanding of ore deposition will enhance the long-term viability of Australia's metals sector. Field of research: 0403 - Geology Metals contribute to around 7% of Australia's export market and include significant copper and gold resources. This project is focused on how reactions between hot magmatic gases and solids can concentrate and form metal deposits. The examination of rocks that preserve evidence of past gas will provide chemical clues on how metals are concentrated and deposited in nature. Complementary experiments to simulate metal mobilisation in reactions between gases and solids will provide models to inform both ore deposit exploration and mining strategies. The project will develop advanced analysis protocols and novel synthesis approaches that are key to the Australian Academy of Science's UNCOVER initiative. The expertise of the team members is expected to have spin-offs for improving advanced material synthesis and analysis and clean energy research. The work is relevant to volcanic ash that disrupts air transport and may be a hazard to health and the environment. Finally, the techniques and the modelling used in the project will help build a cohort of scientists who can solve problems in space science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Molecular basis for susceptibility and immunity to Fusarium wilt disease. Fusarium wilt is a devastating disease of many important crop plants, including banana, cotton and tomato. There are significant gaps in our understanding of this disease that need to be addressed to enable better disease management. This project aims to identify and analyse tomato proteins targeted by Fusarium effector proteins (virulence factors), determine how corresponding tomato receptors (resistance proteins) recognise these effectors, and identify the signalling pathways and critical defence responses activated by these receptors. The intention is to close the gaps in our understanding and use the knowledge gained to develop new strategies for disease control by interfering with fungal pathogenicity and enhancing plant resistance. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology Fusraium wilt diseases are a significant cause of lost crop production in Australia and worldwide, and a threat to food security. Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) has already destroyed the banana industry in the Northern Territory and recent outbreaks now threaten the industry in Queensland. Similarly, Fusarium wilt is an ongoing threat to the Australian cotton industry with some growing areas already taken out of production. Fusarium wilt also remains a threat to a number of other crops including tomato. The proposed research will use the tomato – Fusarium wilt pathosystem to investigate the molecular processes enabling the Fusarium wilt fungus to infect susceptible plants, and conversely, resistant plants to halt infection. It aims to generate the knowledge and understanding essential for the development of new intervention strategies to manage Fusarium wilt diseases. Such strategies have the potential to enable long-term chemical-free crop protection with both economic and environmental benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The roles of pathogen effectors in promoting rust diseases of plants. Rust diseases threaten global food security. This cross-institutional project aims to discover how proteins secreted by rust fungi promote disease following their translocation into plant cells. It will use the interaction between flax and the flax rust fungus as a powerful model system to test the hypothesis that manipulation of host RNA metabolism is a fundamental mechanism underpinning rust pathogenesis. This research is intended to dramatically improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by rust fungi to establish infection. The knowledge gained is expected to facilitate the development of new strategies for rust disease management in food crops by identifying pathogenic processes that can be targeted for intervention. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology Rust diseases are a significant cause of lost food production in Australia and worldwide. In Australia, stripe rust alone is estimated to cause $127M p.a. in lost wheat production and to cost $102M p.a. to control using fungicides. Without fungicides and breeding for rust resistance, stripe rust would likely cause $994M p.a. in lost wheat production and stem rust a further $478M p.a. With mutations to fungicide resistance and mutations overcoming resistance, the rust fungi pose an ongoing threat to crop production. To help combat this problem, the proposed research will investigate the molecular processes underlying plant infection by rust fungi using the well-developed and powerful flax-rust model system to generate new knowledge and understanding about the mechanisms rust fungi use to manipulate their plant hosts. The aim is to then apply this knowledge to the development of new strategies and tools for the protection of Australian crops from rust diseases. Such strategies and tools have the potential to generate enormous economic and environmental benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

5D Imaging Flow Cytometry for in vivo Quantification of Biological Fluids. Rapid and accurate quantification of live biological fluid properties at sub-cellular and molecular levels forms the bedrock of biofluidic sciences. Majority of the biofluidic devices rely on quantifying biological fluids after its removal from the body in an in vitro Flow Cytometer (FC). FC faces many caveats i.e. biological degradation and small volume etc. In this project, we shall engineer the first in vivo 5D imaging flow cytometer (5D IFC) capable of continuous assessment of potentially entire blood volume in a living mice without removing fluid out of the body. The project represents a major advancement beyond any existing flow cytometer and overcome the engineering limits of state-of-art laser scanning imaging devices. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering Biofluidic science aims to quantify biological cells and their multitude of interactions in living vessels. Biofluidics is the key to discoveries of fundamental biological antagonists responsible for vascular disorders that lead to major clinical sequelae such as heart attack and ischaemic stroke. Existing biofluidic tools can only quantify biofluids at sub-cellular level out of living vessels. In this project, we aim to build the first ever 5D imaging flow cytometry system to operate in a living organism. We shall overcome the intractable technical constraints of existing biofluidic tools and greatly amplify our ability to study cells in living vessels. In doing so, we facilitate the future development of therapeutic avenues to treat disorders of biological circulatory systems. The instrument will also enable studies of other living biological organisms such as plants where biofluidics plays a major role for plant growth and productivity. The concepts developed in the project will be a milestone in biofluidics sciences and could potentially impact other larger scale fluidic-related fields in earth sciences.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

New methods for drug discovery by NMR spectroscopy. This project aims to advance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods in the field of drug discovery. It addresses a long-standing bottleneck for medicinal chemists in drug development: the rapid determination of how ligand molecules bind to proteins, where they bind and their orientation in the binding site. The methods include techniques for the attachment of NMR tags to ligands and target proteins, installation of new unnatural amino acids in proteins, and software for automated assignment of NMR spectra and 3D structure modelling of proteins using sparse distance restraints measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The outcome is to benefit the early stages of drug discovery in the biotech industries. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The development costs for new drugs in the pharmaceutical industries are spiralling. This project aims to accelerate the early stages of drug discovery, when suitable chemical compounds need to be selected for further development. Specifically, the project will develop methods for obtaining the structural information needed to guide medicinal chemists in the design of new compounds with improved pharmaceutical properties. Experimentally confirmed information on where and how exactly a compound binds on the target offers dramatic savings in time and costs compared to the many misses associated with traditional random searches. Drugs are very high value-add materials. Their early-stage discovery phase is primarily conducted in small biotech companies. The present project will add value by accelerating the rate with which these companies can secure intellectual property.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Enabling Methodologies for the Synthesis of Biologically Active Compounds. This project seeks to establish flexible methods of chemical synthesis for creating new molecular scaffolds capable of achieving selective enzyme inhibition. The approach aims to exploit the vast and biologically-programmed structural diversity associated with natural products. Unique, small molecule organic compounds will be obtained that reveal details of the operation of key enzymes in bacterial and mammalian systems. Such new knowledge would allow for the design of highly selective therapeutic agents relevant to the treatment of a range of diseases including bacterial infections, diabetes and cancer. The high-end scientific training and privileged forms of matter arising from this work would provide major benefit to the biotech sector. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry Chemical synthesis is central to many aspects of science as it offers a unique capacity to provide new, otherwise inaccessible and clearly-defined/clean forms of matter with bespoke properties. As such, chemical synthesis underpins major parts of contemporary scientific activity and is, therefore, an essential aspect of a modern, research-competitive economy and a self-sufficient, fully-functional society. The present proposal seeks to combine the remarkable shapes and properties of Nature’s molecules with new chemical reactions to be developed by the CI for purpose of rapidly and efficiently identifying and then constructing molecular systems capable of deployment in medical and/or agricultural settings. The processes to emerge from such studies are likely to be of broad utility and will provide new and distinctive forms of matter of both commercial value and societal benefit. They will help Australia become a key player in an internationally competitive area and enable the country to establish and maintain a distinctive technological and commercial edge within it.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Photosynthesis under extreme conditions. The aim of this project is to characterise modifications to the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis of simple, single cell organisms that live under harsh environmental conditions including: i) elevated temperature; ii) low, variable and low energy (red) light; iii) arid and variable hydration; and iv) chemical stress e.g. low pH. In a changing biosphere brought about by anthropological climate change, a better understanding of existing adaptions of bacterial photosynthetic organisms may allow more resilient crops and other essential plants to be developed in the future. The project brings together an international consortium of world renowned experts across key aspects of photosynthesis. Field of research: 0299 - Other Physical Sciences We are living in a changing climate. Australia is becoming increasingly susceptible to more extreme weather. Growing food and other essential crops in this changing climate is becoming progressively more challenging, as plants do not necessarily have the properties to thrive in these conditions. There are however simple organisms, found on the periphery of the biosphere that can tolerate extremely hostile conditions growing in, for instance, boiling water, acidic lakes, dark and sheltered environs and in the desert. We seek to understanding how these species are adapted at the molecular level to cope with these conditions. Such knowledge will potentially provide a proof-of-principle strategy for introducing new favourable traits into crops and other desirable plants, thus building Australia’s capacity to respond to environmental change and improve economic competitiveness into the future. The objectives of this proposal are an area of great current interest. As such, this project provides excellent training for Honours and PhD students and will enhance international links in this field of research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Built-in electric field, light co-driven materials for energy and sensing . This project aims to resolve critical, bottleneck issues in the development of photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry - key technologies towards the realisation of a sustainable carbon-neutral society. This project expects to use an innovative strain-engineering approach establishing a built-in electric field within materials for highly efficient separation and transport of photoexcited carriers. Expected outcomes of this project are to create new, ground-breaking materials and/or nanosystems that overcome intrinsic weakness of conventional semiconductors and significantly improve their photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance, for the benefit of the utilisation of solar and light energy in energy, environment and health. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry This project will work in the Australian national interest in three main ways. Firstly, through the development of novel technologies for solar energy harvesting and conversion, it will contribute to using science and technology to harness new sources of economic growth, maximising Australia’s opportunity in a globalised world. Secondly, by creating highly efficient light-driven catalysts it will enable new wastewater treatments and the reduction of fossil fuel carbon emissions, which will directly maintain Australia's environment and resources and enhance Australia's international environmental reputation. Finally, the international cooperation built into this project will facilitate the development of new biosensors to monitor and detect diseases, benefiting Australian society directly as well as enhancing Australia's global position as a leader in innovative technology. This project will bring enormous commercialisation opportunities for Australia whilst providing state-of-the-art research training to Australian researchers, producing internationally competitive research with genuine impact.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Seeing the unseeable: A new generation of geophysical imaging. This project aims to develop novel mathematical frameworks for probabilistic geophysical imaging and inference, building on recent advances in statistics and machine learning. These will allow us to obtain a more detailed and robust understanding of structures and processes occurring within the Earth, including those relevant to the Australian minerals and/or energy industries. Outcomes of this research include mathematical and computational tools for imaging the subsurface, and greater understanding of Australian and global geoscience. This work can permit more effective exploitation of earth resources, as well as improving our understanding of how the Earth system has developed over geological history. Field of research: 0404 - Geophysics This research will improve Australia's ability to discover and make use of resources such as mineral deposits and energy reserves. It will allow us to build more reliable pictures of whatever may be hidden underground, giving decision-makers access to comprehensive information about the potential risks and rewards associated with resource exploitation. This will help maximise resource recovery while minimising wasted costs -- bringing clear benefits to the Australian economy -- and ensure that extraction operations can be carried out in a way that does not cause harm for the local community or ecosystems. It will also allow exploration activities to be better-targeted, ensuring these can proceed with the least environmental impact possible, and help us to learn more about how our planet 'works'. This project will continue Australia's history of innovation in geophysical exploration, ensuring that we maintain our reputation and pool of expertise in an area that is central to the long-term health of the national economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The rise of algae and the emergence of animals. This project aims to uncover the environmental changes that transformed the oceans 650 million years ago when complex algal cells started to replace bacteria as the dominant forms of life. Using a groundbreaking combination of molecular fossils and isotopes from ancient sedimentary rocks, the project aims to reveal how the flow of energy changed through Earth’s ecosystems. The expected outcomes include new knowledge about our own origins and the events that led to the emergence of the first animals. Additionally, new insights about the mechanisms that generated the oldest hydrocarbon reserves may lead to a new biomarker tool to aid discovery of major new oil or gas reserves in Australia’s Red Centre. Field of research: 0402 - Geochemistry This project contributes to Australia’s Science and Research Priorities towards “a fundamental understanding of the composition and processes governing the formation and distribution of resources in Australia”. Oil fields in Russia and Oman hold large reserves of petroleum that are more than 550 million years old. Rocks of the same age are found in Australia’s Red Centre and they likewise may hold vast fields of undiscovered oil. It is one of the largest and least explored basins of that age in the world. This has been recognised by Australia’s exploration industry that is rapidly expanding into this territory. However, the exploration risks are extraordinarily high as little is known about the oil and gas potential of rocks that old. In this project we aim to deliver a tool based on hydrocarbon fingerprints that will provide information vital for exploration decisions: whether petroleum source rocks in the Red Centre generate natural gas or liquid petroleum. This knowledge will significantly reduce risks and costs for the exploration industry, and may point towards the discovery of major new reserves.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Mass transfer enhancement for hydrate based carbon capture and cold storage. This project aims to generate the knowledge and techniques required to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake in hydrate based carbon capture from current levels of 15.4% to up to 90% of its rated capacity. This marked improvement stems from identification of the mechanism of CO2-water mass transfer in CO2 hydrate formation and engineering of structurally modified porous hydrogels as the substrate of CO2 hydrates. Encapsulation will be developed in a way that CO2 may be transported by CO2 hydrates in a concentrated form. Successful completion of the project will offer technical evaluation of a novel CO2 capture and transport solution with lower operational energy consumption and capital cost than incumbent carbon capture technologies. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Early animal husbandry and socio-political complexity in the Asia-Pacific. This project will investigate the origins of animal husbandry and its link to the creation of wealth, the development of socio-political prestige systems, the rise of inequality, and the coevolutionary effects of the domestication process on pigs. It focuses on 15 stratified Neolithic archaeological sites in the tropical island region of Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific dating between 4000-500 years ago. An expected outcome will be the establishment of an integrated evolutionary theoretical model that could be applied to analyzing agricultural transitions globally. Such a model predicts socio-political and rational economic strategies in pig management systems and can be tested using zooarchaeological analyses. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Why do some declining species persist while others go extinct? Global change is driving thousands of species towards extinction. Legislation requires the protection of biodiversity, but current scientific understanding of species declines limits effective action. By taking a new approach to studying species declines, this integrative research aims to identify why some species persist, while others decline. This project is expected to improve understanding of species vulnerability to extinction, and the conditions which allow species to coexist with threats. Anticipated benefits include advancing ecological theory, improving conservation planning, and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of policy and management to prevent species extinctions. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Statistical shape analysis using persistent homology. Statistical shape analysis is the quantitative study of variation in geometric shape. An innovative approach applies concepts from algebraic topology in the form of the persistent homology transform. This project aims to prove mathematical theory relating to the persistent homology transform, to develop new statistical theory and methodology, and to apply this theory to a range of applications including the analysis of bird beaks, human skulls and boundary contours of stem cells. An anticipated goal is the generation of new and significant theoretical results in topological data analysis. Expected outcomes include a topologically motivated platform for shape analysis that is statistically rigorous and has firm mathematical foundations. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Advanced Multifunctional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical Analysis Platform. This project aims to build an advanced multi-functional Electro-Opto-Magneto-Mechanical analysis platform for characterizing nanomaterials and micro-/nano-scale devices. This platform expects to provide rich and unique characterization capabilities (electrical, optical, magnetic and mechanical) for hybrid devices with low temperature and high vacuum environment. The expected outcomes include multidisciplinary research collaborations and a wide range of next-generation technologies including non-invasive medical instruments, wearable devices, communication, quantum information systems and energy storage solutions. This should enable local design and construction of hybrid devices and advance the growth of local high-technology industries. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology Advanced materials science, quantum technology, nanotechnology and biomedicine are of great research significance for Australia, where strong international impact has been demonstrated over many years. With rapid worldwide progress in these fields, the establishment of this facility is timely and will ensure Australia can continue to play a leading role in these areas. This facility will provide national support to existing and future development and industry-linked grants, enabling significant expansion of local expertise. It will support the Science and Research Priority “Advanced Manufacturing”, as the research outcomes will stimulate innovation in novel functional materials, advanced light sources, quantum devices, bio-systems and early medical diagnostics. The proposed facility will also support research aimed at identifying the means by which Australia can lift productivity and economic growth. It will enhance Australia’s competitive advantage in critical sectors, such as optoelectronics, energy conversion, smart sensing, communications, quantum information and processing, and medical technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Exploring the Dynamic Universe with DREAMS. DREAMS is a revolutionary wide-field infrared surveyor designed to allow astronomers to unlock new science and foster international collaborations focused on important but elusive, infrared transient cosmic phenomena. Continually scanning the southern sky, DREAMS will provide “real time” data that will transform the depth and quality of astronomical observation. Combining off-the-shelf parts with scientific expertise from around the world, this telescope will help answer questions that are both practical and profound. DREAMS is an important component of a longer-term international strategy that will reinforce Australia’s global leadership in the realm of Infrared Transient Astronomy. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences DREAMS is an exceptional instrument that capitalises on the strengths of Australia’s scientific efforts within the global astronomical community. The telescope uses proven technology and benefits from our unique place in the southern hemisphere. DREAMS is the product of international collaboration, and will continue to foster close work across borders. The expected number of papers published in both industry and top-tier scientific journals will reinforce Australia’s global leadership in the realm of infrared transient astronomy. The data collected by this fast-moving survey telescope will help drive new graduate research as well, ensuring ongoing Australian thought leadership in this area of science. DREAMS also has practical applications and may lead to commercial development in satellite traffic management. The cultural and economic benefits enabled by DREAMS will allow the Australian community to build the cultural and intellectual capital that will help sustain Australia’s scientific leadership in astronomy for decades to come.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Understanding molecular negative ion production for use in pathology. The project aims to increase the yield of molecular negative ion sources by improving our understanding of the formation of ion beams from plasma sources and expand our knowledge of molecular negative ion generation in plasma environments leading to brighter ion beams. For example, understanding cancer requires cellular level tools to map how cells are changing. These maps are made using ion beams which are scanned across cells to remove material that is analysed at the atomic and molecular level. Ion beams are produced from plasma sources, but much of their operation is not understood. Such improved ion beams are expected to enable inexpensive and fast cellular level pathology at even small hospitals to tackle cancer for society’s benefit. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics The primary social benefit of understanding ion production is in their use in the emerging field of cellular-level pathology. The more intense the ion beam is, the faster and cheaper a single scan can be performed. This could have a profound impact in the fight against cancer by increasing the speed and decreasing the cost of advanced pathology. The primary economic benefit from fast and cheap cellular-level pathology is in the early detection of cancers when current and proven cancer treatments can be used. Thus reducing the financial impact of cancer to our aging community. Additionally, the increase in cellular-level pathology data may will likely provide insights we currently have not conceived. The secondary economic benefit of improved ion sources is in their use in advanced manufacturing. Fabrication of advanced microstructures requires bright ion sources for focused ion beam (FIB) milling. In particular, intense negative ion beams are used in the fabrication of advanced optics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Electrical contact engineering for next generation semiconductor devices. Contact resistivity and parasitic resistance have been identified as limiting factors in the performance of next-generation semiconductor devices. This project aims to understand these limitations and to develop methods to mitigate them through the application of advanced ion implantation processing. Specifically, this will involve: investigating the effect of selective doping on electrical properties of metal-semiconductor interfaces; determining how ultra-shallow dopant profiles are affected by device structure and processing; and developing improved methods for measuring ultra-low contact resistivity. The research will be undertaken as a collaboration between researchers at the Australian National University and Applied Materials Ltd. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics This project addresses a technological challenge that has been identified as a major limitation to the performance of the next generation of semiconductor devices, namely the increasing significance of contact resistance in small scale devices. The proposed research is at the forefront of its field and is based on a collaboration between the Australian National University and Varian/Applied Materials. As such it provides important training and employment opportunity for young Australian scientists and engineers. The links with Varian/Applied Materials also provide access to state-of-the-art ion-implantation technology and insight into industry trends. This insight benefits the broader Australian research community by informing developments at the NCRIS-funded Australian Facility for Advanced ion implantation Research (AFAiiR), a user facility that supports a diverse range of Australian research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

A Quantum Matterwave Vortex Gyroscope for Ultrastable Rotation Sensing. This project aims to investigate the basic science underpinning a new rotation sensing technology based on matterwave vortices. Current gyroscopes are susceptible to long-term calibration drifts, which limit their applicability on long timescales where re-calibration is not practical or possible. This project expects to build a matterwave vortex gyroscope and demonstrate that it offers unparalleled long-term stability over `classical’ gyroscopes based on mechanical and/or optical technology. This could deliver new navigation capabilities, benefitting Australia’s defence forces and nascent space technology industry, as well as enabling slow timescale precision gravimetry for mineral exploration, hydrology, and geology. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics This project offers a unique opportunity to combine world-class university researchers and facilities with a major international partner and an Australian start-up company to advance Australia's nascent quantum technology industry. The technology that this project aims to develop exploits the innate stability of quantum systems to make a major advance in rotation sensing, enabling important new capabilities that benefit end-users of inertial navigation and Australia’s mining industry. This project is at the forefront of research and development in quantum sensors and will contribute to Australia's ability to remain a world leader in quantum technologies. Many of this project’s outcomes will enhance quantum inertial sensors more broadly, directly impacting the mapping of underground mineral resources and groundwater resources. This project will take place in a university department that has a strong record of translating fundamental science to industry applications. The new knowledge generated will therefore help establish Australia as a world leader in the commercialisation of quantum technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Theoretical Foundations of Ethical Machine Learning. The project will develop a systematic theory of ethical machine learning. Machine learning is a powerful and pervasive technology that is already having a huge impact on Australia. When applied to data about people there are a range of ethical harms that can arise (fairness, and privacy are two of them). The project will develop a rigorously grounded foundation for managing such ethical harms. For example it will allow the quantification of the inevitable trade-offs between fairness and utility. The benefits of the project will include the best possible ways of managing these trade-offs, competitive advantage for Australian firms developing the technology, and will ensure that the country retains a social license to use the technology. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Machine learning is a general purpose technology that is already having an enormous impact on Australia. It stands to have greater impact still in the future. The Commonwealth government has already commissioned an AI ethics framework, but there remain fundamental unanswered questions regarding how best to incorporate ethical concerns into machine learning. Doing so is essential to maintain the social license to operate the technology of machine learning which offers enormous economic and social benefits. The specific national benefits will include: lifting Australia's international reputation in the hottest and most contentious aspect of the hottest technology of the present time; providing government and business with the best possible tools to manage the ethical concerns arising from the use of machine learning; providing a competitve advantage to Australian commercial developers of machine learning algorithms and aid

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Australian wild animals: environmental change and quantitative genomics. This project aims to determine the effects of changing environments on wild animal populations across Australia. By combining recent advances in genomic technology with a consortium of fourteen long-term studies of mammals, birds and reptiles, it aims to quantify the genetic basis of life-history variation and the potential for evolutionary adaptation in the wild. The project will generate a comprehensive understanding of the genetic consequences of environmental change, population decline, inbreeding and disease in natural environments. The expected benefits include a coordinated network for long-term wild animal studies in Australia, advanced quantitative skills training, and knowledge transfer for wildlife management and conservation. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics Australia is famous for its unique wildlife. This project will analyse the effects of environmental change on wild animal populations across Australia, and determine their potential for evolutionary adaptation. The national benefits of the project will be to: (i) inform management and conservation of iconic native wildlife, including effects of population decline and disease. This will have environmental, cultural and ecotourism benefits, enhancing the national and international profile of Australia’s fauna. (ii) provide quantitative training for biologists in basic and applied research, significantly increasing national capacity in analytical skills and leveraging maximum information from big data; (iii) contribute to our international profile for cutting-edge science. Education is Australia’s third largest source of foreign income, and its ongoing success depends on high international rankings maintained through world-class academic research. Australia is already a world-leader in human and agricultural quantitative genetics. This project would add the quantitative genetics of wildlife to that achievement.