Deakin University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Improving School Engagement of African Refugee Students . Using a multimethod research design, this project aims to investigate the problem of school disengagement among African students from refugee backgrounds. By building new knowledge that can inform policy responses and school practices, this project contributes to improving educational attainment and integration outcomes of refugee students in Australia. Expected outcomes of the project include new insights on causes and manifestations of school disengagement among African refugee students and a Framework of Engagement that outlines viable strategies for addressing the challenge. The study should return tangible benefits through raising the academic outcome, economic participation, and wellbeing of students from refugee backgrounds. Field of research: 3902 - Education Policy, Sociology and Philosophy For refugee youth, schooling is a critical gateway to culture learning and successful resettlement. At school, they acquire the knowledge and skills they need to meaningfully integrate with society. The value of schooling is particularly important for African refugees who arrived at a young age with limited education. However, African refugee students are at high risk of school disengagement. This project generates new knowledge that informs policies and practices that promote the academic and social engagement of refugee youth. Improved educational attainment enables the refugee youth to participate actively in the socio-economic lives of the community, which has direct implications for the economic productivity and social cohesion of Australia. The project also has strong potential to support the successful implementation of current government policies (e.g. Multicultural Access and Equity Policy Guide, the Alice Springs [Mparntwe] Education Declaration, and the Victorian African Communities Action Plan) that call for targeted support for disadvantaged students, including those from refugee backgrounds.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Addressing the challenge of communicating uncertainty in diagnosis. This project aims to examine the critical role and impact of communication on the diagnostic process in health settings. Uncertainty in communication is pervasive in healthcare. Little is known about how health policy and practice affect linguistic expressions of uncertainty. This research expects to generate new knowledge of the influence of communication on the delivery of health services. Expected outcomes include practical communication strategies, advanced research methods in misdiagnosis, and enhanced research capacity in the health community. This should provide significant social, health and economic benefits by informing policy changes, and improving diagnostic communication and health services efficiency. Field of research: 2004 - Linguistics Every year, up to 4000 Australians die from an error in a medical diagnosis given to them by their doctor. These diagnostic errors are associated with significant patient harms and costs. This project analyses how diagnoses and uncertainty are communicated and managed in real life patient-doctor interactions. It will identify evidence-based communicative strategies that can reduce diagnostic error, and, over the course of the project, work in partnership with the Australian medical community and healthcare patients to implement the research findings in practice. By building both the evidence base for what works, and capacity among health consumer interest groups and key policy experts to implement that evidence, this project will contribute to policy change in national healthcare quality standards, including communicating for diagnostic excellence. These outcomes have the potential to deliver the longer term benefit of improved patient safety regarding medical diagnoses, fewer associated deaths, and more efficient and cost-effective health service delivery in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

High Temperature, Piezoelectric Polymer Membranes. This project aims to acquire new knowledge about the preparation of flexible polymer membranes that can convert mechanical energy into electricity (“piezoelectric” conversion) stably at high temperature (e.g. 200-500 °C). This will solve the current problem where only inorganic ceramic materials can be used for high-temperature piezoelectric conversion. The expected outcomes include a new approach to prepare polymer membranes capable of high-temperature piezoelectric conversion using an electrostatic spinning technology. The new breakthrough materials will not only enhance performance and reliability at high temperature, but also offer novel applications in diverse fields such as “smart” protective clothing for firefighters. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The new knowledge generated by this project will be very useful for designing advanced piezoelectric polymer materials (polymers that can convert mechanical energy into electricity). It will lead to new technology to produce high-performance piezoelectric polymers that have excellent mechanical flexibility, high-temperature resistance, and strong piezoelectricity. These breakthrough materials will boost the development of next-generation high-temperature piezoelectric devices for a broad range of applications, such as “smart” protective clothing to enhance personal protection for firefighters and peoples whose works involve hot temperature heat, advanced energy harvesters to convert high-speed mechanical vibrations and noise pollution into electrical power, and acoustic imaging for geological/marine exploration, non-destructive testing of industrial materials and medical diagnosis. These will promote the development of local industry and scientific research, bringing economic and social benefit.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

High-Fidelity Motion Simulator using Sickness-Free Motion Cueing Algorithm. This project aims to address the key deficiencies of driving and flight simulators by developing novel human perception-based motion cueing algorithms (MCAs) and leveraging advanced artificial intelligence techniques. Despite widespread applications, existing motion simulators fail to deliver the most accurate human sensation to the user. This failure is mainly attributable to the inefficiency and inflexibility of MCAs used by simulators. It is expected that this project will significantly increase simulator motion fidelity and eliminate motion sickness. This will have substantial benefits to Australian research communities and industries, particularly where simulators are used for training, performance evaluation and virtual prototyping. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing The social and emotional impact of road crashes in Australia and their economic cost ($27 billion per annum) can be significantly reduced by using motion simulators for driver training, driving behaviour and performance evaluation and safety purposes. In addition, vehicle testing is currently conducted using real prototypes during various design stages, which makes the process of new vehicle design and performance evaluation highly expensive and time-consuming for vehicle manufacturers and risky for test drivers. These drawbacks can be greatly reduced through use of motion simulators for virtual prototyping in Australia. Low fidelity and motion sickness are key drawbacks of existing simulators which demotivate participants and therefore negatively affect outcomes of training, user behavior analysis and virtual prototyping. This project aims at addressing these by developing new motion cueing algorithms. The outcomes will provide the user with realistic virtual driving experience, thereby paving the way for far greater and more widespread applications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Deciphering how nutrient status impacts plant defence. This project aims to transform our understanding of the relationship between nutrient availability and plant defence. Plant defences are activated by responses to cell wall damage, caused by pathogens. My preliminary data uncovered that the response to cell wall damage depends on the nitrogen status of the plant; providing a direct link between nutrients and defence. The research will use new mutants that disengage this link to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying this process. The outcomes will provide new approaches to breed crop plants with improved nitrogen use efficiency and disease resistance. It will benefit agriculture by reducing the use of costly fertilisers and pesticides and mitigate the huge environmental damage they cause. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology Australian agriculture is an integral part of the nation’s economy worth around $66 billion in 2017-2018. A key objective for Australia’s agriculture industries is to increase productivity per hectare, as there is little immediate scope to expand the area planted with conventional crop species. Nitrogen-based fertilisers and pesticides for crop protection are the principal cost factors in modern day agriculture. The aim of this project is to increase our knowledge of how to improve plant performance through optimising nitrogen management and reducing pesticide use. This project will therefore not only improve plant productivity and increase agricultural profitability through lower costs but provide food security and reduce environmental pollution arising from excessive use of nitrogenous fertiliser and pesticides.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Shining a light on the mechanism of photochemical hydrogen production. This project aims to improve the performance and longevity of molecular photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water and visible light. Sustainable alternatives to fossils fuels, such as hydrogen, are critical to minimising the effects of climate change. This project expects to use innovative experimental techniques to reveal the causes of degradation in key intermediates of the photocatalytic reaction. Understanding these detrimental pathways can then direct the design of new catalysts with enhanced stability and activity. The fundamental chemistry explored in this project should advance breakthroughs in artificial photosynthesis and provide cleaner methods of hydrogen production under mild conditions, using earth-abundant catalysts. Field of research: 0302 - Inorganic Chemistry Exploiting Australia’s abundant sunlight to produce hydrogen from water by photocatalysis is expected to expand Australia’s capabilities in low-emission solar technologies. This project expects to address the current limitations of molecular photocatalysts and invent new strategies for clean hydrogen generation that are both efficient and stable. These outcomes will provide significant environmental benefits to Australia as current production methods generate high levels of pollution and hinder the rollout of hydrogen as a fossil fuel alternative that is more readily stored and transported than solar electricity. Low-cost sustainable hydrogen will also provide significant economic benefits to key Australian industries, including iron ore refinement and fertiliser production, and may result in the development of new export markets across Asia. This project is also expected to develop new capacity in automated chemical discovery and analysis, providing a valuable training program producing research scientists with emerging skills critical to supporting the expanding Australian chemical manufacturing industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Investigating novel neurobiological mechanisms in rabies infection. This project aims to better understand the biology and functioning of the nervous system using an innovative multi-disciplinary approach informed by the rabies virus. The study intends to identify the molecular mechanism responsible for self-destruction in neurons. The project aims to gain this new knowledge by investigating the novel natural ability of rabies virus to subdue self-destruction mechanism in neurons. The principal benefit is the gain of detailed knowledge about a fundamental biological mechanism at the intersection of neurobiology and virology. This has the potential to inform future research in areas such as the maintenance of neuronal health in ageing and better control of rabies infections. Field of research: 1109 - Neurosciences This project aims to deliver benefits to the Australian community by knowledge gain in two distinct science areas. Firstly, this project aims to generate new knowledge about the biology and functioning of neurons. This fundamental knowledge is imperative for future research that could identify applications in maintaining a functional nervous system during ageing. Hence this basic research would contribute towards filling an important knowledge gap in neurobiology, which could lead to future strategies for reducing the social and economic impact of a rapidly increasing ageing population in Australia. Secondly, this project aims to uncover novel knowledge about the lethal rabies virus. This study intends to discover how rabies adapts to animal host species to produce an optimal infection and efficient transmission to a new host. This new knowledge about the virus could contribute to future research programs directed towards managing the on-going threat of rabies. This will contribute to strengthening Australia’s leadership in managing emerging regional health threats in the Asia-pacific region.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Venture philanthropy in public education: governance, policy and practice. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of philanthropic public-private partnerships to improve equity in public education, focusing on school resourcing and achievement gaps. By engaging directly with public school communities and policy actors, the study examines how newly-emerging venture philanthropic partnerships may be reorientating traditional governance, driving incentivist policy and influencing practice at school, state and Commonwealth level. Whilst venture philanthropy has grown at unprecedented levels globally, a benefit of this study is to improve understanding of national benefits and risks of philanthropic public-private partnerships in public schools and innovative solutions for enduring equity problems. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration In recent years, Australia has experienced a significant growth of infrastructure designed to bolster venture philanthropy and public-private partnerships in public education. However, as a relatively new initiative in Australia, we currently have little understanding of the efficacy of public-private partnerships in public education and the capacity of the partnerships to boost educational equity, improving school effect and school resourcing. Furthermore, without any long-term national studies of venture philanthropy, we have little understanding of efficacy of practice, or how equity is effectively measured. This study will engage directly with public school communities and key stakeholders to understand the impact of philanthropy for school governance, policy and practice; and its capacity to develop innovative responses to enduring global challenges such as educational equity. With a gap of three years of schooling between the most advantaged and disadvantaged schools, in addition to a growing school effect, it is urgent and timely.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A Generic Framework for Verifying Machine Learning Algorithms. This project aims to discover new ways to verify whether decisions made by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms are as per the specifications set by their designers and/or regulatory bodies. The project also provides new methods to align algorithm decisions when they are found to be non-abiding. The outcomes will include new machine learning theories and frameworks for algorithmic assurance. The significance of the project is that it will offer a crucial platform for certifying algorithms and thus benefit society and businesses in deciding the right Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms is widespread in Australia e.g. risk prediction in healthcare, portfolio management, and product recommendations in e-commerce. AI algorithms are black-box in nature and we do not know if they behave as intended. Our project takes an important step towards verifying AI algorithms. The specific benefits are: Economic: Australian organisations already use AI algorithms to manage/grow their businesses. Our project will benefit the Australian economy by assuring businesses are indeed getting the intended benefits from AI Algorithms. Commercial: Our methods have potential to become a foundation for a start-up that certifies algorithms and creates a trusted marketplace for buying and selling algorithms. Australia can be a world leader in this still nascent but an important sector. Social/Cultural: The algorithms trained from data acquired internationally may be biased by non-Australian policies, values and cultures. Our methods can align them better in an Australian context and thus improve the confidence in using AI algorithms for social matters.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Food and beverage price promotions: An untapped policy target . We aim to generate evidence on the influence of price promotions on foods and beverages considered to be of concern for human and planetary health. We further aim to identify if, and how, policies can be designed to reduce these types of price promotions and understand the feasibility and acceptability of doing so, from a range of perspectives.The significance of this project is substantial - unhealthy diets are the leading cause of disease and death and unhealthy foods account for >30% of the food-related environmental footprint. By understanding if, and how, this novel policy target can be designed to improve population food choices, this project will ultimately deliver benefits for human and planetary through improved dietary choices. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration Dietary factors are the leading contributor to the healthcare burden in Australia and globally, and are key drivers of environmental degradation. The social and economic implications for individuals, families, communities and societies are substantial, with obesity alone (a key consequence of sub-optimal dietary intake) estimated at costing >$8 billion/year. Food and beverage price promotions are a powerful but neglected potential driver of dietary choices across the population. In this project, we will generate evidence on the influence of, and behavioural response to, price promotions on foods and beverages considered to be of concern for human and planetary health. We will identify if, and how, policies can be used to reduce these types of price promotions and understand the feasibility and acceptability of doing so from a range of perspectives. In doing so, this project will support effective and equitable policy action that leads to improved population food choices. Through a reduced diet-related healthcare burden the project will ultimately lead to cost-savings for individuals, families and societies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A Conceptual History of Australian National Security since 1901. This project aims to determine what the concept of national security has meant to Australians since 1901, and how its meanings have changed over time. Rather than relying exclusively on the role of speeches, policy statements and crisis moments, it enhances our understanding of national security in the Australian setting by considering how broader popular understandings were formed and interacted with political and policy prescriptions. This history takes into account the roles of changing federal bureaucracies and agencies, and the practices of security. Outcomes of the project will benefit national security policy by better connecting the Canberra policy-making community with the security concerns of the broader Australian public. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies This project will result in social and economic benefits from strengthened national security policy. It will improve social cohesion by providing greater context to important debates over the balance between government regulation in the name of national security and individual freedoms. Democratic processes will be strengthened by greater understanding of how shifting conceptions of national security have determined the allocation of state resources and elevated certain concerns and priorities over others. There are dangers in an approach to national security that is too shaped by the aftermath of 9/11 or beholden to specific interests, at the expense of understanding the broader conceptions and concerns about security in Australia. By revealing the deeper roots of national security, this history will provide a basis for more informed and holistic policy making. It will offer insights into the rising challenge of cyber security and the ongoing social, cultural and economic ways in which policy makers and the wider population can work constructively in order for Australians to feel collectively secure.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The impact of gambling advertising, promotions, and sponsorship on children. This project aims to provide new and informative qualitative data aimed at preventing and reducing children’s exposure to gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship (GAPS) in sport. It uses a Commercial Determinants of Health Framework which investigates the impact of industry mechanisms on health outcomes. It explores this issue from three perspectives - children; sporting organisations; and policy makers. The project will have significant policy benefits by providing important evidence about the impact of gambling industry marketing strategies within sport, the decision making processes associated with gambling policy, and identifying leverage points for improving strategies to prevent GAPS from having a negative impact on children. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services Harmful gambling is linked to Australia's most pressing social problems, including financial difficulties, homelessness, relationship breakdown, criminality, and family violence. While there have been efforts to strengthen consumer protection frameworks for adults who engage in gambling, there has been very limited focus on prevention strategies that may significantly reduce children's intentions to gamble. Research from Tobacco Control demonstrated that comprehensive policies addressing advertising, promotion, and sponsorship were instrumental in preventing young people from taking up smoking and denomalising tobacco use. Given recent research suggesting that three quarters of young sport fans perceive that gambling is a normal or common part of sport because of the marketing they see, this project contributes to Australia's national interest by identifying strategies aimed at preventing and monitoring this emerging threat for children.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Designing disorder into ionic materials for clean energy applications. . This project aims to develop new materials designed to possess optimum properties for targeted clean energy technologies. By the design of specific ion chemistries, we aim to produce materials that absorb large amounts of thermal energy, as needed in energy storage and refrigeration applications. Their large internal free volume will offer unique properties for energy-consuming gas separation applications. Expected outcomes from the project include (i) fundamental understanding of ion design, (ii) a suite of new materials with advantageous properties for energy application. The expected benefits include advancement of technologies that support renewable energy storage and a reduction in energy costs and harmful emissions from refrigeration. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Australia is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change and therefore it is crucial to find cleaner and more efficient methods for storing energy from renewable sources. It would also be of great benefit to develop more environmentally friendly ways to meet the demand for power-hungry processes such as refrigeration and air conditioning. The project aims to benefit Australia by producing new materials with optimum performance in clean energy technologies, specifically: for thermal energy storage, for environmentally friendly refrigeration and for the reduction of CO2 emissions. Environmental benefits include developing an inexpensive way to store renewable energy from the sun and wind, thereby reducing Australia's carbon emissions. Commercial benefits include the development of new technologies for energy storage and refrigeration (which has a massive environmental footprint) that would allow new Australian businesses to be at the forefront of these substantial emerging markets. The project will also provide training in the important area of materials development and sustainable energy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Avian embryonic perception: what role for good vibrations? It has long been recognised that animals perceive environmental information before they are born. This project will test for the first time whether such avian communication systems rely on vibrations. We will test the hypothesis that cryptic communication using rhythmic vibration, is essential for embryonic birds to sense parental cues regarding rising temperatures, by measuring neural control in adults, as well as embryonic perception and response. By experimentally manipulating family communication we will demonstrate the potential for prenatal vibrations to alter developmental outcomes, enriching our understanding of avian sensory development.These data are important for the commercial poultry industry and for captive breeding programs. Field of research: 0608 - Zoology On our warming planet, it is essential to develop an understanding of how Australian fauna may adapt rapidly to the thermal extremes which are predicted to become more intense. Our project seeks to determine the mechanisms Australian birds may use to develop embryonic resilience to thermal stress. Understanding how embryonic birds perceive signals relating the thermal stress and in particular their ability to perceive rhythmic vibrations, will enrich our understanding of the processes underlying the development of the brain and sensory systems. But, such demonstration would also have important practical implications for assessing the impacts of environmental noise on developing wild birds. This is particularly relevant for future environmental impact assessments which address whether wild animals are detrimentally affected by vibration pollution, through anthropogenic noise (e.g. construction, mining). Demonstrating that vibrational communication is important for avian embryos also has important ramifications for the commercial poultry industry, as well as for captive threatened species breeding programs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Sustainable high energy sodium batteries with enhanced safety & cycle life. This project aims to deliver a high specific energy, ambient temperature sodium metal battery that is more sustainable, safer and better performing than existing technologies. Innovative chemistry will be used to replace the current flammable and toxic organic solvent-based systems, while novel tools and capabilities will be forged to retain Australian leadership in this sector. These advances will provide a technology and materials platform to generate and support emerging energy storage industries in Australia. It will strengthen international collaborations with leading research teams and provide opportunities and training for the next generation of energy storage research leaders in both academia and industry. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering This project directly addresses the "Energy" research priority and the research challenge "New clean energy sources and storage technologies that are efficient, cost-effective and reliable." In the context of global concerns about the depletion of fossil energy resources and climate change, the Australian Government introduced a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MERT) program with the goal of increasing uptake of renewable energy. The proposed project addresses the nationally and internationally pressing need for clean and sustainable energy by developing battery technologies based on sodium, a safer, more sustainable and greener alternative technology. This project will provide the fundamental knowledge, training and intellectual property that will foster an emerging sodium battery sector in Australia and will ensure that Australian researchers remain in the driving seat of this growing market. Such technologies will also bolster our battery materials resource sector through adding value to nickel, manganese and vanadium-based minerals.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Humanitarian migrants' settlement in Australia: A longitudinal study. Current evidence suggests that humanitarian migrants settle less successfully than other immigrants both economically and socially. This project aims to examine the causal mechanisms and pathways to economic, sociocultural and political settlement outcomes of humanitarian migrants to Australia. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of humanitarian migrants’ settlement by using nationally representative data and cutting-edge longitudinal techniques.Expected outcomes include enhanced research capacity in causal methods, interdisciplinary and institutional collaborations, and evidence-based social policy for humanitarian migrants, significantly benefitting humanitarian migrants directly and society more broadly. Field of research: 1603 - Demography Australia spends $ 207 million/ year on humanitarian migrants’ settlement services. However, humanitarian migrants settle less successfully than other immigrants. The project will improve understanding of the factors that aid or hinder the successful settlement of humanitarian migrants in Australia by analysing longitudinal and nationally representative data set. In doing so, it will provide empirically robust evidence to critical policy question “what is the best intervention?” to improve settlement outcome of humanitarian migrants. Understanding factors shaping positive settlement outcomes is an essential first step to improve humanitarian migrants’ settlement services and policies. Such knowledge is critical for the economic and social contribution of humanitarian migrants and their civic participation to society. Given the enormous costs to settlement services, these outcomes will save millions of dollars from the national budget. This project will offer an empirically grounded, evidence-based policy response to reduce settlement disadvantage faced by humanitarian migrants.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Nano-fibrous structure for high-performance organic photovoltaic thin films. This project aims to create nano-fibrous active thin films with high charge mobility for organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, using a method inspired by molecular gelation. The significance of this project is that it addresses a major bottleneck, i.e. poor charge generation and transport, that limits the efficiency of OPV devices. The outcomes will provide insights into the crucial factors that affect the self-assembly of organic semiconducting materials, and the influences of nano-fibrous structure on the charge mobility and efficiency of an OPV device. The outcomes will greatly facilitate the development of highly efficient, lightweight and low-cost solar energy harvesting devices to reduce our carbon footprint. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Increasing the use of green energy is urgently needed to address the global energy crisis and global warming.The latter has led to more frequent occurrence of extreme weather that brought disasters such as the recent severe bushfires to Australia. Organic solar cells (OSCs) have the advantage of being lightweight, low cost and having greater physical flexibility, compared to its inorganic counterparts. However, their low efficiency limits their applications. This project brings together scientists in materials science, organic synthesis and device physics to address this problem.The outcomes of this project will provide significant knowledge base to facilitate the manufacturing of high efficiency organic solar cells to meet the huge market demand for flexible solar energy harvesting devices, which will bring about significant economic benefits to Australia. It will also have significant environmental benefits, as the increase in use of green energy reduces our carbon footprint.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Beyond black-box models: interaction in eXplainable Artificial Intelligence. This project addresses a key issue in automated decision making: explaining how a decision was reached by a computer system to its users. Its aim is to progress towards a new generation of explainable decision models, which would match the performance of current black-box systems while at the same time allow for transparency and detailed interpretation of the underlying logic. This project expects to generate new knowledge in modelling interdependencies of decision criteria using recent advances in the theory of capacities. The expected outcomes are sophisticated but tractable models in which mutual dependencies of decision rules and criteria are treated explicitly and can be thoroughly evaluated. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing The protection of citizens' data privacy and strengthening their rights for detailed explanations of automated decisions affecting their daily lives has been already legislated in the European Union and will soon be part of the Australian legislative framework. Explainable artificial intelligence aims at providing decision models that can be examined, understood and trusted by people. This project will facilitate progress towards explainable artificial intelligence by producing understandable and sophisticated decision models that can match the performance of black-box systems. It will provide the mathematical fundamentals to handle interactions between decision criteria and decision rules, and explicitly quantify them to enhance systems' interpretability. It will benefit society by enhancing the transparency and trustworthiness of many computerised decision tools employed in manufacturing, banking, insurance, welfare, education and defense.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Entangled Knowledges in the Robert Neill Collection. This project aims to reverse the trajectories of Menang Nyungar knowledge imbedded in a historical fish collection, returning language, stories, and fishing practices to the Menang community. By working in a cross-sector, collaborative and Indigenous-governed team our research will enrich and re-frame the understanding of this collection in the Museum, unearth Indigenous taxonomic practices, produce new histories of biocultural collections, and develop the 'kaardtijin model' for participatory cross-cultural and cross-sector collaborations. Workshops on country will produce content for a digital reassembling of the collection to be used by museum partners, ensuring wide cross-sector and community engagement with project outcomes. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies The project will make a profound contribution to Australia's national interest by producing outcomes to foster better understandings of shared histories and the characteristics of Western scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems. Its collaborative methodology will produce a model for future projects, leading the way for museums, universities and communities to form strategic and ethical alliances. This is particularly timely given the need to understand historical Aboriginal environmental knowledge and practices. The project has the potential to enrich the practices of collecting institutions in the return of Indigenous knowledge to biocultural collections, addressing growing national and international concerns around the need for museums to decolonise their practices. The project impacts will be realised with a widely accessible digital platform, a civic heritage interpretation in Albany timed to feed into the Bicentenary of Albany’s colonial settlement in 2026, and the unearthing of new histories to enable and encourage pathways for meaningful reconciliation and healing for Aboriginal communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

ARC Research Hub for Functional and Sustainable Fibres. This Research Hub aims to expand Australia’s position in fibres, textiles and composites by developing next generation functional fibre materials and creating synergy between functionality and sustainability, two key attributes that have hitherto been mutually exclusive. The Hub will transform regional and national economies from traditional manufacturing to a vibrant future fibre oriented advanced manufacturing sector with functionality and sustainability as central tenets. Expected outcomes include industry adoption of novel fibre-based materials, processing and recycling technologies; creating jobs, significant environmental benefits, and positioning Australia at the front of a global shift towards functional and sustainable materials. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering The Hub will harness Australia’s strong research capacity in fibre, textiles, and composite materials science to develop novel materials with enhanced functionality; meeting consumer and industrial demand for advanced fibre capabilities. Under increasing market and environmental pressure, innovation and sustainability are becoming inseparable concepts across the fibre industry. There is an urgent need to reduce reliance on petroleum-derived feedstock, and to reduce the environmental impact of supply chains, including end of life management, while attaining an ever-greater range of functionalities. The outcomes – new materials, processes and end-of-life options – balancing advanced functionality with sustainable approaches, will give partners, innovative Australian SMEs and key global players, a significant market edge in a large global industry. Successful transitioning of the research outcomes will increase productivity and competitiveness in the advanced manufacturing sector of the Australian economy, centred around issues identified as critical to the future of the Australian and global fibre industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Novel Fuel Materials for Radiation-Free Proton-Boron Fusion Power Source. Laser proton-boron fusion reactions are a radiation-free nuclear energy source but are limited by a low reaction rate due to a lack of efficient fuel materials. This project aims to develop new fuel materials by synthesising isotope boron 11 enriched hydrogen borides and hydrogen adsorbed boron nitride nanosheets using our research experience in hydrogen storage and nanomateials synthesis. The expected outcomes include two new hydrogen storage nanomaterials, the associated new synthesis technologies, and a clean and safe nuclear power source, which helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology By 2030, Australia is predicted to generate at least 48% of its electricity via renewable sources. However, renewables face challenges of scale, decentralised production, distribution and storage. An alternative has emerged in the Australian-discovered fusion reaction between hydrogen and boron. This reaction has been demonstrated to open a new possibility of unlimited clean and safe electricity production. Unlike nuclear fission, the non-thermal fusion reaction uses non-radioactive hydrogen-boron fuel, produces no dangerous penetrating radiation and leaves no radioactive waste. The project is a collaboration with Australian company HB11 Energy Holdings Pty Ltd, a world-leader in this technology. It aims to develop world-first hydrogen storage technologies to identify the optimal fusion fuel and its manufacturing processes. This would retain Australia’s global leadership in non-thermal fusion, and ultimately assist in Australia’s transition to clean, safe and sustainable sovereign energy security.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Elastic and biodegradable sponges/aerogels from exfoliated silk nanofibres . The aim of this project is to investigate methods to produce highly porous elastic sponges from silk protein nanofibres. These sponges will have optimal mechanical, insulation and degradation properties making them suitable for a wide range of applications including the biomedical and personal care sectors, where current products have significant drawbacks due to the use of non-biodegradable synthetic materials. Outcomes include new knowledge on controlling porous structures and tailoring properties to targeted applications. This project, by laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials, will benefit the Australian advanced manufacturing sector, and enhance Australia's standing in materials science and engineering. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering This project will develop novel bio-based materials which will contribute to addressing the increasing pressure to replace non-renewable synthetic products with sustainable material solutions across numerous sectors, with improved environmental implications. Silk-based materials offer the advantages of controllable degradation and enhanced functionality, leading to a new generation of degradable drug eluting sponges for the biomedical industry, super absorbent sponges for personal care industry and biodegradable super-insulating aerogels for applications across the insulation and energy storage industries. Research outcomes will benefit Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector and will improve competitiveness with new sustainable and smart materials. This technology could encourage development of future products to benefit in improved hearing outcomes for patients suffering complex health issues within the middle ear, including the Indigenous community, and more efficient wound healing solutions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Alloy alchemy: New paradigms in alloy science to promote a circular economy. Although metals are readily remelted and reused, Australia exports most of its alloy scrap. These exports represent an opportunity for Australia to create value on-shore via a supply source that is secure against disruption. The Laureate will promote new ways to tap into this resource. It will provide the science needed to disrupt the current advanced alloy recycling paradigm and open up new avenues to create high value alloys from intermingled metal stocks that are currently ‘down-cycled’ because they are too costly to separate. The Laureate will also pioneer a new additive manufacturing technology to convert metal scrap into high value components, saving up to 95% of the production energy used to create the virgin metal. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering At current rates, Australia exports $130M worth of scrap stainless steel, nickel and titanium each year and more than 500,000 tonnes of metal are sent to landfill. These exports represent an opportunity for Australia to create up to $500M AUD in extra value on-shore with the overall metal recycling potential estimated to be as much as $2B AUD per year. Metal recycling also saves up to 95% of production energy, reducing CO2 emissions. Our end-of-life metals are not just a precious resource; they represent a local supply source of metal that is secure against international disruption. The Laureate will create new capacity to tap this resource by promoting a circular economy in high value advanced alloys. The outcomes will benefit Australia’s metal fabrication and scrap metal sectors.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Understanding the determinants of age-related muscle wasting in females . This project aims to investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying age-related muscle wasting in females. Females live longer than males and are more susceptible to the consequences of muscle ageing. Yet, our current knowledge is overwhelmingly inferred from findings from male cohorts. By comprehensively mapping the functional, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of ageing in female muscle, this project will generate new, fundamental knowledge that will allow a unique interpretation of previous research through a sex-specific lens. This knowledge will contribute to better inform sex-specific models of research and practice in the future, ultimately delivering economic and social benefits for Australia and international communities. Field of research: 0606 - Physiology Older Australians account for an increasing proportion of the population. The ABS predicts that, by 2053, 8.3 million Australians will be aged 65-85 and 1.6 million Australians will be aged 85 and over. A majority of them will be females. Investigating the molecular and cellular origins of age-related muscle wasting in females is the next critical step to improve our understanding of the ageing process. This novel, fundamental knowledge will be necessary to better inform sex-specific models of research and practice in the future. By doing so, this project will also provide a chance to reduce disparities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, ultimately delivering “economic and social benefits for Australia and international communities”. It therefore aligns with the Australian National Women Health Strategy 2020-2030, specifically its “Healthy ageing” priority area that aims to “adopt a life course approach to healthy ageing; and better manage the varied needs of women as they age”.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Improving social, economic and health outcomes through drug policy reforms. Globally, recognition is growing that common prohibitionist drug policies contribute to drug-related harms and have not succeeded. Identified harms include the current drug overdose crisis in North America and a surge in overdose deaths in Australia, adding new force to calls for urgent reform. This project aims to respond to these calls by exploring how human rights considerations can inform improvements to drug policy. The project seeks to generate new knowledge on how human rights can guide reform so as to improve social, economic and health outcomes. The project should provide significant benefits to the nation, informing Australian legal, policy and practice reforms as well as international efforts to reduce drug-related harms. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology Legal, social and health issues relating to alcohol and other drug use cost at least $25 billion per year (e.g. overdose, drug-related illnesses, accidents). There is an urgent need to avert further social, economic and health costs. Discussion in the alcohol and other drug field is increasingly focused on the potential benefits of human-rights based drug law reform. Canada has reformed its approach based on human rights considerations, such as the rights to health and life. Using human rights mechanisms, new policies and services have been made available, including life-saving facilities and drug treatments. However, human rights approaches also have limitations for people who consume drugs. There is a need to explore whether and how human rights considerations might inform new and improved drug policy, law and practice. In addressing this issue, this project will position Australia as a world leader in the relatively new field of drug policy/law and human rights, and directly inform recommendations for reforming Australian drug law, policy and practice so as to improve social, economic and health outcomes.