Australian National University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Art and cultural diplomacy. This project aims to investigate questions about cross-cultural communication through the circulation of art objects across the globe. Focusing on early modern diplomatic gifts that are now housed in museums around the world, this project examines the preservation and display of material culture in contemporary museology. Expected outcomes of this project include a better understanding of the role of art in cultural diplomacy, new digital methods for the analysis of cultural networks, and advanced theories for understanding cultural identity in an increasingly connected world. Field of research: 1901 - Art Theory and Criticism

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Unwanted heroes: the Nationalist Sino-Japanese War veterans in China. This project aims to conceptualise the history of one of East Asia’s most significant modern conflicts, the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), focusing on neglected stories of the Nationalist soldiers. Combining historical research, ethnography and discourse analysis, the project intends to investigate the local, national and international context behind the veterans' journey of being forgotten and re-remembered in Chinese history. This work will assist governments and others to understand the legacies of the Second World War in China, and the complexity of Chinese nationalism. Potential benefits include reconciliation in this region through the facilitation of a more open discussion on war experiences and commemoration in Asia, intersecting with Australian commemoration practices. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

United Nations peace and security reform for human protection. This project aims to investigate how reform of the United Nations (UN) peace and security architecture is shaping the organisation’s human protection practices in local conflicts. The project will develop a new interdisciplinary framework for studying the international-local interactions that influence global norm making and implementation, using methods drawn from international relations and international law. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of the factors driving major institutional reform in the UN and the impact of reform on UN prevention and protection. It will benefit those in Australia and internationally seeking to support the UN reform agenda to enhance international stability and human protection. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Enhanced beam injection for Australia's Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility. This project aims to upgrade the beam injection for Australia’s Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility, by installing an electrostatic analyser and an ion source to produce negative helium beams. Fundamental questions on the origin of the elements and the quantum mechanics of nuclei will be studied, along with applications of accelerator science, which extend from measuring human impact on the environment to developing nuclear knowledge for medicine. Expected outcomes include improved isotope tracing in environmental applications, assessment of detectors for dark matter searches and exploring interstellar particle influx to the Earth. New research will be conducted into the quantum mechanics of nuclei and new astrophysics and medical applications. The project aims to enhance international scientific exchanges by attracting top scientists to a world-class Australian facility. It will provide unique training of skilled personnel in nuclear techniques for medicine, environmental monitoring and industry, and support Australia’s leading role in nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Multi-angle in-operando mapping of nanoscale electro/photo-redox reactions. This project aims to establish Australia's first Multiparameter Mapping Nanoelectrode Microscope (MMNM) platform. The improvement of electro/photo-catalytic nanodevice performance requires an understanding of the nanocatalysts’ fundamental electronic processes in practical reaction environments, and this is not achievable by standard (photo) electrochemical techniques. As Australia’s first MMNM facility, the project will establish an integrated domestic platform to provide powerful new electro/photo-catalysis nano tools for addressing globally-significant research challenges in fields such as climate-change, energy, environment and materials science. The proposed diverse research cooperation will expand new knowledge in materials science and engineering, help Australia to continue to deliver world-class research, and bring with it the potential for multiple economic benefits for Australia. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Sustaining and strengthening merit-based access to National Computational Infrastructure. This project enables Australian Researchers open, merit based access to the National Computational Infrastructure’s (NCI) high-performance computing facility. The NCI provides researchers in universities, science agencies and industry with world-class, integrated high-performance computing/data services that enable high-impact research in every field of science and technology. The core capital infrastructure is supported through the NCRIS program, and the Administering Organisation and the Partner Organisations fund the operational costs. This project provides 30 per cent of the operational time of the NCI facility to Australian researchers who are not based at a Partner organisation. Benefits include ensuring merit based access to this national facility for all researchers, the acceleration in the design of new materials for the energy, health, and IT sectors, understanding how our oceans and atmosphere drive climate variability and extremes that impacts agricultural production, and the development of novel therapeutics for fighting multidrug-resistant infections. Field of research: 0401 - Atmospheric Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

The social dynamics of digital design: building an ethics-based industry. This project aims to cultivate socially responsible design practices within the Australian digital start-up industry through an industry-user design ethnography, and the development and delivery of a critical design toolkit for industry participants. Social ills associated with technological design have plagued Silicon Valley in the United States of America. Australia is positioned to avoid these issues while emerging as a global leader in ethical design practices. This project will provide Australian start-ups with crucial knowledge to serve diverse populations through thoughtful design decisions, positioning the industry as an exemplar model of social responsibility. This project will advance theories of science and technology studies while positioning Australia as a leading force in social responsibility. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Yarning with our mob about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake. This project aims to identify a range of modifiable factors that affect the participation of Indigenous adolescents in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination school programs. The project expects to generate new knowledge by combining Indigenous methodologies and a socioecological model to explore policy, community, interpersonal and intrapersonal factors impacting HPV vaccination uptake for this population. Expected outcomes include a more comprehensive understanding of the factors behind the low rates of HPV vaccination among Indigenous adolescents. This information should provide significant benefits including the identification of modifiable factors to increase HPV vaccination rates for Indigenous adolescents. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Unifying chemical concepts for advanced molecular electronics applications. This project aims to build a physical-organic chemistry framework of transferable molecular descriptors for a relatively new but a rapidly developing area of unimolecular electronics (UE) using advanced computational chemistry tools. Established structure-property relationships will drive the cutting-edge applications of UE in sensing and catalysis and significantly expand our understanding of charge transport involving free radicals and non-covalent assemblies. Expected outcomes of this project include new design guidelines and candidate molecular architectures for such practical applications as organocatalysis inside molecular junctions, molecular spintronics and molecular sensors for reactive oxygen species and nitroaromatic pollutants. Field of research: 0307 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Australian mountain environmental research infrastructure facility. This project aims to establish the Australian Mountain Research Infrastructure Facility (AMRIF). The facility will catalyse and support world-leading ecosystem, evolutionary and biophysical science to engage and build capacity of decision makers responsible for managing Australia's mountains. Australia's High Mountains provide critical water supply, clean energy, unique biodiversity, recreation and education opportunities but face an ecological crisis from climate and land use change. The AMIRF will bring together leading institutions and researchers to produce world-leading ecosystem, evolutionary and biophysical science to guide adaptive management of High Mountains across Australia. It will support research to assess the extent and effects of changing climate, water and fire regimes on ecosystem processes and their feedback, and provide a structure for integrated research, management and governance of Australia's mountains. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Adaptation and diversification of the first peoples of Sahul. This project aims to further advance work on the genetic history of Indigenous Australians and Papuans that has revealed that Aboriginal Australians have inhabited a variety of diverse and challenging environments for approximately 50,000 years. Using novel techniques for extraction of human DNA from soil and the use of cutting-edge graph-based methods, hundreds of Indigenous Australian and Papuan genomes will be analysed. This project expects to generate new knowledge by filling in the gaps in the Australian genetic record via ancient human DNA from sediments. Expected outcomes from this project are producing a detailed picture of genomic adaptation in Indigenous Australians and Papuans and creating a comprehensive genetic history of the First Peoples of Sahul. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Optimising digital mental health care: how technology is used in practice. This project aims to develop the first national consensus statement on the use of technology in mental health care in Australia. The project will examine how Australian health practitioners currently use digital therapy programs, and synthesise this data with international evidence and input from Australian government, health service, and digital health experts. This project expects to improve the implementation of digital therapy tools using an innovative, theory-driven approach. Expected outcomes of this project include increased and optimal implementation of digital therapy tools among mental health care providers and enhanced capacity within the Australian health system to meet the high demand for services in the community. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Genomes on islands: Improving management of Australia's threatened mammals. This project aims to improve the management of endangered mammals by combining data on genomic and morphological variation with results from conservation translocations. Using new genomics methods, the project will measure the effects of small population size on genetic diversity and mutation load, in extinct as well as remnant and translocated populations. The project will monitor seven intensively managed marsupial species to better understand how to mix populations for fauna restoration projects. This project should improve methods to promote species recovery in Australia and globally. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

The ideal judge. This project aims to interrogate how one significant and under-utilised resource, the speeches made at judicial swearing-in ceremonies, demonstrates changing perceptions of the essential attributes of judges and of judging in Australian Supreme Courts. The project’s expected outcomes include revealing the different ways governments, lawyers and judges perceive these attributes; the gendered ramifications of these perceptions; and variations over time and geography. It will inform public debate regarding the ideal attributes of judges and judging, qualities that are essential to maintaining and building public confidence. Field of research: 1801 - Law

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

How does climate change affect arid zone birds? This project aims to address how climate affects avian behaviour and the consequences for survival and reproduction. The project will apply a suite of methods to explore fundamental questions within behavioural ecology that also have applied relevance. The data will be used for building individual-based models that predict population dynamics in response to climate change, and biophysical models that can provide insights into species sensitivities. The intended outcome is to improve understanding of the mechanistic links between climate and population processes. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Privately owned public space: noise cancellation over multiple regions. This project aims to advance fundamental research in active noise control over spatial regions. It has a broad range of industry applications, such as eliminating road and engine noise for multiple passengers inside car/airplane cabins, and creating individual quiet zones in a public environment. It will focus on developing new theories and techniques to generate multiple quiet zones in indoor/outdoor noisy environments with performance prediction, robust control, and effective implementation. In many practical applications, especially in consumer electronics and medical instruments, the creation of quiet zones is desirable so that in a shared environment people can have their own audio space without physical isolation or using headphones, creating a healthy living and working environment. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Drugs, books and seeds: The politics of access to intellectual property. The project aims to compare three transnational campaigns to increase access to drugs (patents and data protection), books (copyright) and seeds (plant variety protection and patents). It expects to generate new knowledge in intellectual property regulation and global governance through an interdisciplinary approach combining concepts from political science, law, and sociology. Expected outcomes include the identification of strategies and policies that assist with striking an equitable balance between intellectual property and rights of access, with potential benefits benefits for health, education and nutrition. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Probing and harnessing the light-matter interactions in two-dimensional phosphorene. This project aims to investigate phosphorene, a new two-dimensional material, for the development of new optical and electronic devices. Such materials have unique optical and electronic properties due to their flat physical structure, which gives rise to strong interactions between light and matter. The expected outcome of this project will be new kinds of near infrared light emitting diodes, single photon emitters and ground-breaking lasers. These developments will enable the fabrication of new low-power light sources that can integrate with communication technologies now, and quantum communication technologies in the future. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Three-dimensional printing of functional polymers. This project aims to develop methods to three-dimensional (3D) print functional polymer inks to create advanced objects with engineered properties. Additive manufacturing has the ability to transform industries bringing manufacturing into local business and homes. However, for the true potential to be met, innovative polymer inks need to be developed. This project will develop innovative polymer inks as raw materials for affordable 3D printers. It will prepare a range of polymer inks that respond and change their properties in response to their environment, for example a temperature switch. This will enable printed objects to perform complex tasks such as shape shifting and self-healing. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Ultra-reliable and low-latency mission critical communications. This project aims to develop enabling technologies for ultra-reliable and low-latency communications. While the evolution of wireless communication technologies to date has focused on data rate improvement, very little is known on how to achieve ultra-reliability and almost-zero latency which is urgently required for mission critical applications such as smart manufacturing and intelligent vehicles. The outcomes of the project will be new analytical tools and practical guidelines for designing trusted communication platforms to realise these applications, with benefits ranging from improved safety in intelligent transportation systems to digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Fauna, fuel and fire: effects of animals on bushfire risk. This project aims to determine the extent that animals influence fire regimes through effects on fuel load and characteristics. Minimising the risk of large, severe bushfires, while conserving native species is one of the greatest challenges facing managers of fire-prone ecosystems globally. Using a powerful combination of landscape-scale field observations, experimental manipulations of animal densities, and modelling, the project expects to quantify interactions between animals, bushfire fuel and fire regimes in south eastern Australian forests, woodlands and scrublands. This evidence should benefit the design of integrated, efficient, and complementary strategies for fire and fauna management in Australia’s extensive fire-prone ecosystems. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Mathematical models of diseases with complex transmission routes. This project aims to model diseases that spread via a mixture of routes including food, water, the environment, and direct spread between individuals. Key diseases include: avian influenza, which causes massive disruption to the poultry industry; gastroenteritis, which costs Australia $1,250 million each year; and leptospirosis, which causes one million severe illnesses each year globally. This project will develop mathematical and statistical tools to better estimate risk, analyse outbreak data, and provide guidance for disease control. This research will improve policy and enhance our ability to respond to disease outbreaks. Field of research: 0102 - Applied Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Stealth for atoms: tune-out wavelengths to test quantum electrodynamics. This project aims to measure the tune-out and magic wavelengths for the helium atom to challenge quantum electrodynamics. The project will use a technique to measure the potential confining ultracold atoms which, combined with high accuracy wavelength determination, will enable measurements of unprecedented precision. This project aims to advance fundamental understanding of atomic structure, and yield new insights with potential benefits including more accurate atomic clocks. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Local politics, governance and public goods in Southeast Asia. This project aims to investigate how variations in local government across four Southeast Asian states affect the delivery of critical public goods such as infrastructure and healthcare to citizens. The project will compare governance regimes across 16 municipalities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. Expected outcomes include an improved understanding of how varying political dynamics can shape state-citizen interactions and access to services at a local level. The findings will enhance understanding of local politics, a topic of growing scholarly interest, and also benefit Australian and other policy makers seeking to enhance the design of development interventions. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Internal wave breaking and mixing in the ocean. This project aims to quantify turbulent mixing in the ocean using ultra-high-resolution numerical modelling. Turbulent mixing is caused by internal waves which transport energy from the ocean boundaries into the interior, where they drive mixing of cold, deep water with warmer water above. This mixing is crucial to the ocean circulation which controls the storage of heat and carbon in the ocean, but is inadequately represented in current climate models. The anticipated outcome of the project is an enhanced, global-ocean model incorporating an accurate description of turbulent mixing. This should provide significant benefits to the Australian community by improving the accuracy of future climate predictions. Field of research: 0405 - Oceanography