MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The role of genome reorganisation in adaptation and speciation. Local adaptation and speciation are fundamental evolutionary processes that rely on changes to the genome. However, the role of genome architecture (e.g. chromosomal rearrangements, gene duplications) in driving these processes is poorly understood. This project will use advanced comparative genomics and bioinformatics to examine the role of chromosome rearrangements in driving adaptation and speciation, and evaluate rates of molecular evolution between the X-chromosome and autosomes. Utilising Australia’s endemic mammalian fauna as a tractable model system, I will link population processes with macro-evolutionary outcomes to show how genome architecture underpins biodiversity. Field of research: 0603 - Evolutionary Biology This project invests in areas of immediate importance to Australia and its place in the world, through understanding how species have adapted to harsh arid environments, and how our unique diversity has formed. Our biodiversity is not only valuable to Australia, but also to the world, as many of our species are only present here. Our marsupials and other small mammals which have the highest rate of extinction bring economic, commercial, environmental and cultural benefits through our tourism industry. This project leverages and expands on the existing multi-million dollar investments to “Increase awareness among the public and conservation managers of the diversity of Australian mammals and how genomics can aid in their protection”. This project will facilitate this by providing greater knowledge about how Australian diversity has formed and adapted.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The link between cratonic roots, redox state, and mantle geodynamics. This project aims to understand the role of Earth's redox state on the geodynamic evolution of continental cratonic roots. Cratonic roots form strong, buoyant rafts upon which Australia's oldest crust and mineral deposits survived. Cratons preserve a record of planetary-scale chemical shifts, including the rise of surface oxygen, but it is unclear how these redox shifts themselves affected lithospheric processes. This project integrates new developments in geochemistry, geophysics, and geodynamics, to map the geochemical state and structure of cratonic roots, aiding mineral exploration, and also shedding light on the processes that modify, mineralise, and sometimes destroy cratonic roots. Field of research: 0404 - Geophysics The style of mineralisation seen on continents depends on the oxidation state of the fluids responsible. Earth's surface has become more oxidised over time, transitioning from an oxygen-free atmosphere, to an oxygen-rich one, but it is very unclear how the interior and mantle - a primary factor in world-class deposits - evolved. This project will map the geochemical and redox structure in the deep continental cratonic roots, using geochemistry and seismic tomography, and model cratonic roots dynamics to understand the minerals systems they host. Cratonic roots themselves are a source region for major lithospheric-scale mineral systems, and mapping their detailed chemical structure is of marked importance to the geoscience and mineral exploration communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Integrated Nanoplatform for Multiomics Analysis of Cell-to-Cell Interaction. This project aims to develop an integrated nanoplatform for analysis of exosomes produced by host-pathogen interaction at the single cell level. This will be accomplished by engineering an innovative device involving plasmonic nanoparticles to probe exosomes molecular profiles over time. The intended outcome is a generic and robust platform for detailed molecular analysis of the consequences of cell-to-cell interactions. Single cell scale will greatly improve detection accuracy for heterogeneous cell populations. Benefits will include new knowledge of cell-to-cell communication and intellectual property in manufacturing, which will foster collaborations across institutions and Australian industry by providing new technological solutions. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology This project will address the need for new technologies that enable the analysis of key molecules involved in cell-to-cell (e.g. host-pathogen) interactions, that occur in response to changes in their microenvironment, thus providing great potential for applications in disease diagnostics. The project will produce a new generation of microscopic particles (known as nanotags), capable of delivering accurate sensing results and offering enormous potential for improved health and environmental outcomes, with applications in the life, agricultural and environmental science industries. This project will develop a generic platform for detailed molecular analysis of any cell-to-cell interactions providing significant economic and social benefits to Australia through, for example, more reliable and cost-effective infection monitoring. The completion of this program will lead to the development of a novel integrated nanoplatform, thus opening commercial opportunities in the manufacturing, nanobiotechnology and diagnostic sectors and increasing Australia’s competitiveness in the global market.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Creating Sustainability-Oriented Fintech Lending Platforms in Australia. This project aims to investigate how FinTech lending companies can use customers' environmental information to access their creditworthiness, and whether lending decisions based on environmental information can promote pro-environmental behaviour and expedite the societal transformation towards a low-carbon economy. These aims will be achieved through a quantitative analysis that evaluates the use of a customer's "carbon footprint" for predicting default risk, and a field experiment that analyses the economic and environmental benefits of the proposal. The project intends to develop a new approach that contributes to developing a sustainable lending platform for Fintech firms and establishing sustainable FinTech standards for policymakers. Field of research: 1502 - Banking, Finance and Investment Individuals’ carbon footprints are of increasing interest to central bankers, FinTech professionals, and climate change policymakers. The expected national benefit of this project will be to create knowledge about whether and how Australia’s FinTech lending firms should use individual carbon footprints in their lending decisions, and the associated economic and environmental impacts. The intended outcomes of this project will not only be relevant to the partner organisations listed on this project, but also to the Australian and international FinTech industry more broadly, in developing sustainability-oriented lending platforms. Using carbon footprints in FinTech lending decisions will also benefit customers with little or no banking history by expanding their credit access to digital financial services. Finally, this project will benefit the Australian and international policymakers in establishing sustainable FinTech standards. Additional outcomes and benefits of the project include the training of graduate researchers, and the generation of new research in an emerging area.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Warrakan'puy Djäma: A new biocultural approach to fauna conservation. This project aims to record endangered Indigenous knowledge of fauna and integrate this with innovative Western science to develop Australia’s first cross-cultural fauna conservation strategy. In partnership with the Laynhapuy Indigenous Protected Area and one of Australia’s strongest Aboriginal cultural groups, the Yolngu, this project expects to generate new biocultural solutions to two of the most urgent challenges of our time: species and cultural loss. The expected outcomes include targeted on-ground fauna surveys with Elders, Rangers and youth, cross-cultural knowledge mapping, new species and landscape genetics. Innovative multimedia knowledge sharing platforms will demonstrate the multiple benefits of cross-cultural fauna science. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Australia is experiencing species and cultural extinction crises. There are increasing calls to include Indigenous people and knowledge in environmental and cultural conservation strategies. In partnership with one of Australia’s strongest Indigenous cultural groups, the Yolngu, this project will document Yolngu knowledge of culturally significant species through on-country camps with Elders, Rangers and youth. Yolngu knowledge will be combined with innovative Western science to develop an innovative and uniquely Australian cross-cultural species management strategy. Multimedia and interactive learning resources will be collaboratively developed with Indigenous project partners and the Atlas of Living Australia to have broad impact and empower communities to activate better fauna management strategies. This project will have environmental, social, economic and cultural benefits from local to national scales through enhanced land management, species conservation and maintenance of cultural knowledge.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Removing the blur: Guidestar lasers for the space industry . The speed and quality of transferring information between earth and space can be greatly enhanced by adaptive optical systems that provide correction for atmospheric aberrations. The laser-generated guidestars that lie at the heart of these systems must be bright, preferably multi-coloured and with low background. By taking advantage of the unique optical properties of diamond, this project aims to develop lasers that produce these advanced features to fulfil the needs of the space industry sector. These outcomes are expected to create new services and products in the areas of space situational awareness, space debris management and satellite communications, and have major spin-off benefits to astronomy and defence. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics Australia has large investments in a range of space applications that rely on the transmission of data and images through the atmosphere and which stand to benefit from guidestar-assisted adaptive optics. The laser technology to be developed in this project is to provide industry end-users with bright guide stars with low background noise, and a practical method of greatly increasing data quality with full sky coverage. By collaborating with EOS Space Systems Ltd, a world-leader in space environment management, the outcomes will enable new and extended capabilities in space situational awareness and satellite communications. Anticipated benefits to Australia include the development of new services and products in a growth industry of strategic importance to defence and space infrastructure protection, and with parallel benefits to Australia’s astronomy community through increased roles in large global astronomy programs. The knowledge and concepts to be created are of a fundamental nature and are well placed to impact other fields that require high-power high-coherence lasers, such as in quantum science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence-informed decision-making, and regulatory framework development. FAAB graduates will lead and deliver future national self-reliance to the Australian bioactives sector, increasing diversification and international competitiveness and development of regulation in a growing market. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry The Australian market for complex bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste and cell-based biotechnologies is growing, with 70% of Australians consuming such products. The ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will support Australian BioTech industry to create products of high molecular complexity to relieve chronic and acute health problems enabling informed consumer choice by providing scientifically validated bases for health-benefit claims. If we can regulate manufacture of such products by characterising the molecular identity of bioactives, and providing scientific evidence for their positive impact on health, Australia will gain an increased share of the world growth in bioactives – predicted to be more than 8% pa. This will facilitate a transformational change to Australian industry’s international competitiveness, complexity, and sustainability and simultaneously provide jobs for a highly skilled work force, including the scientists trained by FAAB to translate molecular analytical science into the required knowhow for economic prosperity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Scaling Up Satellite Communications for the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a revolution in sensing and automation that is becoming vital for industries including farming and mining. However, in remote areas, it is especially challenging to connect the large numbers of devices needed. This project will develop novel signal processing and communications approaches to deliver high quality data services to vast numbers of remote IoT devices, distributed over continental scales connected via low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. It will provide the tools for LEO satellite service providers to dimension their networks and assist IoT providers to scale their remote sensor networks and IoT deployments, with ever increasing demand on the limited satellite bandwidth. Field of research: 1005 - Communications Technologies The Internet-of-Things (IoT) is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming life, business and the global economy. Connecting physical objects and machines to the internet can streamline business processes and has been predicted to provide up to a 20% reduction in costs through remote monitoring, control and predictive maintenance of critical business assets. This project will develop new algorithms and a software package that will have commercial value, enabling the connection of vast numbers of remote IoT devices over large areas to low earth orbit satellites. This project therefore presents a significant benefit for Australia as about 70% of our land mass is a mobile black spot. Adoption of IoT is forecast to contribute tens of billions of dollars per annum to the Australian economy, with benefits to the agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and land and ocean transport industries. This project will partner with Myriota to characterise the scalability of its satellite IoT system and optimize the quality of data delivered to end users, with economic, commercial and environmental benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Indoor Photovoltaics Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Quantum Dots. This project aims to develop a high-efficiency indoor photovoltaic (PV) technology to provide reliable low-cost power in the multi-billion dollar “Internet of Things” (IoT) market. There are currently no devices that meet the requirements for maximum operating efficiency under indoor illumination. We propose to solve this problem by fabricating PV cells using colloidal perovskite quantum dots that offer class-leading stability and band gap tunability across the required range, enabled by quantum confinement. The outcome is the development of integrated self-powered IoT devices potentially impacting Advanced Manufacturing growth in Energy, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness, as all of these will ultimately rely on networked smart devices. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering Billions of wireless networked sensors are to be installed inside buildings in the near future, leading to an Internet of Things (IoT) designed to monitor and control our manufacturing, agricultural and energy systems. A supply of reliable and low-cost autonomous power is urgently needed to enable this smart network, the current use of batteries places significant constrains on IoT operation. To capture the large economic, environmental and security benefits of developing smart networks in Australia, we will build high performing photovoltaic (PV) cells that can harvest indoor illumination to power IoT devices. We will adopt an inter-disciplinary approach to develop nanoscale materials integrated into devices that meet the operation requirements under the indoor spectrum. Here, conventional silicon PV cells perform poorly. The devices are low-cost and made using low-embodied energy processes, suitable for massive deployment of next generation IoT systems. This innovation will directly contribute to Australia’s rapid growth in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Faith in Development: Religion, Gender and Resource Extraction in PNG. Australia’s neighbour, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in PNG, is about to become the world's newest nation. The proposed reopening of a highly divisive copper mine to finance its independence raises pressing economic and political issues for Australia. Both in Bougainville and its diaspora in Australia, people are passionate about Bougainville's future. But what kind of development do they aspire to and why? This collaborative, interdisciplinary and multi-sited project aims to examine the neglected roles of religion and gender in shaping people's 'faith' in development. The expected outcomes will improve understanding of Bougainvillean notions of development, facilitating better frameworks for development practices and outcomes. Field of research: 2204 - Religion and Religious Studies This cutting edge interdisciplinary project will provide important information about the security and economic well-being of the Australian community, PNG and the Asia-Pacific region. The decade-long war resulting from the closure of the Rio Tinto copper mine in Bougainville in 1989, caused dramatic economic and political instability in the region. The recent plan to reopen the mine, informed by Bougainville’s economic underdevelopment in spite of Australian aid, is again creating unrest. This project’s transformative indigenised framework will explore how the economic situation could escalate into instability in Bougainville, and the region. Australia has been vocal about improving economic development and political stability, responding to the growing influence of China in the region. The project will benefit Australia by facilitating informed decision-making for generating peaceful and sustainable outcomes. It is vital that these insights are brought to bear as Australian foreign policy evolves to address ever more complex dynamics in the pursuit of our economic stability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The regulation of desire by bodily state. Many experiences, like food, wine and sex, are pleasurable. These experiences are also desired, but less so when sated. The aim of this proposal is to understand how satiation regulates desire. We propose two memory-based models, and test them using several new experimental approaches. This is significant, not only because poorly regulated desire is linked to many social and economic ills (e.g., over-eating), but also because it is a key part of human motivation that is poorly understood. The expected outcome is a new theoretical model of how memory processes interact with bodily signals to generate both sated states and desire. The benefits include a new understanding of how desire is regulated and how and why this might break down. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology After people have eaten a meal they often encounter opportunities to eat more. For example, an advert might remind them of biscuits in the kitchen. Such situations are probably common and if one succumbs and eats, this incrementally tips one towards weight-gain. We recently discovered something new about this type of situation. When people look at food after a meal, the pleasure they expect to get from eating it - their desire - is much less, than the actual pleasure reported if it is eaten. It seems being full can produce useful reductions in desire that lead us to underestimate how much we will enjoy something. This presumably serves to stop us eating more. The aim of this project is to explore this effect, examine if it does serve to stop us eating more, determine how it works and see if it applies to other situations - thirst, sex and drugs. This research will help us understand how desire is regulated, giving us new and better ideas of how to fix it when it fails. And fail it does, with many social ills (e.g., obesity, drug abuse, crime, gambling) being a consequence of poorly regulated desire.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Dusty models of stellar outbursts triggered by stellar interactions. Our aim is to explain increasingly observed numbers of astronomical outbursts and explosions emitting electromagnetic radiation and gravitational waves. The underlying cause of these phenomena is the interaction and merging of stellar pairs, but a viable model does not yet exist. Our current calculations ignore the effects of dust that forms in the expanding and cooling gaseous layers. Without dust we cannot accurately model the outburst dynamics nor the light emitted by these events. We will capitalise on a decade of simulation code development paired with a team of world experts of dusty winds. The inclusion of dust in our modelling code will also benefit studies of dusty plasmas, from stellar winds to planet formation. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences Astronomy attracts Australians, young and old, by providing context for our lives and inspiring us to ask questions that transcend our existence. Our research to understand colliding and interacting stars, carries significant national benefit. The novel methods from this project apply fluid motion modelling to a new field, serving as a pioneer for researchers and industry to replicate in other fields, with commercial and non-commercial applications in science and industry. The innovative strategy and fluid modelling outcomes of this project will advance fluid dynamic applications in climate and geological sciences, as well as modelling fluid flows in the human body. We will train researchers in modelling fluid motion and inspire students to appreciate how science can be applied to understand the natural world. Through the innovative inclusion of dust in the code used to model three-dimensional stellar mergers and interactions, this project will lead to benefits well beyond astronomy. Thus, this project will have broad educational, social, and potentially commercial benefits to the Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Precarious Borders: The Nation-State and the Arab Diaspora Novel. This project aims to shed new light on diaspora voices in debates about the formation and narration of nations to argue for a more inclusive view of the nation and to challenge the dominance of canonical literature in these debates. Arab writing is closely tied to its diaspora, making it particularly significant for probing how fiction registers the transformative effects of migration on our grasp of the nation. Spanning four diaspora sites and a century of writing, potential outcomes include a diaspora-focused approach to reassess the nation from a transnational perspective, a new awareness of the value of diaspora writers’ engagement with the nation, and the vital repositioning of Arab-Australian writing in this field of world literature. Field of research: 2005 - Literary Studies This project takes a renewed look at the nation and its borders from a transnational perspective. The work of Arab diaspora writers, which includes those residing in Australia, provides an ideal case study for examining the ways our national identity is being questioned, expanded and repositioned. The importance of Arab diaspora literature cannot be overestimated because it raises issues that are fundamental to our most pressing national debates. One of the more urgent debates concerns our substantial refugee and migrant communities, many of whom come from the Arab and Muslim world. Border security, boat people, refugees and other displaced persons dominate our national agenda, prompting a need to develop a new conception of Australian identity. This project argues that such a reappraisal is being undertaken by diaspora literature. Literary works open spaces of critical reflection to challenge how we perceive the world, and model new modes of national belonging. As such, fiction has the potential to provide nuanced awareness and critical re-imaginings of our national self-understanding.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Do black holes exist? This project aims to verify if black holes can actually exist in our Universe. It is still unknown if any of the candidate objects possess the key black hole feature -- a trapped region from which no signal can escape. By focusing on conditions for existence of trapped regions, this project expects to describe their neighborhoods and observable properties. This information is critical for interpretation of the data from the next generation of gravitational wave detectors and radio telescopes, and for determining the true nature of astrophysical black hole candidates. Further benefits include simplification of calculations of the observable properties of compact objects and resolution of a long-standing black hole information loss paradox. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences Understanding of black hole physics is a global research priority. The development of large-scale international facilities is now accelerating. Our project will complement the current Australian involvement (which is predominantly technical and observational) and provide a high-quality low-cost theoretical contribution that will establish an Australian presence in ultra-compact objects. The project will train the next generation of research leaders in the development of new computational tools. This will contribute to the Australian workforce in an emerging key area of information science and computer modelling, where a critical skill shortage has been identified. The outcomes of this project can be applied to a wide range of research and engineering problems in many industries, including aerodynamics and aerospace analysis, fluid flows and heat transfer, engine and combustion analysis, weather simulation, and natural science and environmental engineering. This project will therefore have broad economic and educational benefits to the Australian community as well as social benefits through public engagement.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Global patterns of mammalian biodiversity loss over the last 50,000 years. Wild mammals have experienced major population losses and extinctions in recent centuries, but their communities had already suffered from widespread losses during the Pleistocene. Existing literature has focused on documenting individual extinctions or continental-scale patterns. This project aims to show how biodiversity loss played out at the local scale around the world. It will use palaeontological and zooarchaeological data to show how losses varied in space, how population sizes changed, and how species attributes such as rarity and body size related to loss. The world of mammals has become more homogeneous as biodiversity has declined. The challenge is to show how that happened across space and time. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology Australia's native mammals have suffered greatly from biodiversity loss. Current stressors include introduction of invasive species, habitat destruction, and climate change. These have played out over the last two centuries. However, a mass extinction of most of Australia's large mammal species occurred shortly after the arrival of humans more than 40,000 years ago. Similar losses occurred later in Eurasia, the Americas, and many islands. To understand these losses, it is imperative to put Australia's history in a global context. This new project will show how losses in local communities reflect extinctions across Australia and in other parts of the world. It will investigate whether continental-scale losses were greater than local losses, whether local communities became homogenised, whether rare species suffered more, and how the balance of populations changed. These factors may have been more or less intense in Australia than other areas. The research project will raise national and international consciousness about a unique Australian biological catastrophe.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Robust Preference Inference from Spatial-Temporal Interaction Networks. This project aims to develop innovative techniques for effectively and efficiently managing user preference profiles from less labelled, sparse and noisy interaction data. A unified novel learning framework along with a set of data analysis techniques are expected to be developed from this project, which will provide a non-intrusive way of conducting predictive analysis on user preference profiling via discovering human explicit and implicit interest domains. The expected results of this application will not only maintain Australia's leadership in this frontier research area, but also support many important applications that safeguard Australian people and economy such as cyber security, healthcare, and e-Commerce. Field of research: 0806 - Information Systems Preference learning is a fundamental technique that supports a wide spectrum of key applications falling on the National Research Priorities in terms of Cybersecurity and Transport. Cybersecurity. Preference inference is able to develop automatic personalised privacy preference strategies to predict users’ future privacy decisions. In addition, the outcome from this project will enable an effective approach to detect any abnormal activities deviating from their preferred routines. It can be a potential means to detect and forecast terrorist activities to safeguard national security and defence, such as money transfers and communications, and to identify and track individual terrorists, such as through travel and immigration records. Transport. Preference learning reflecting the signature patterns of people can identify patterns and detect irregularities regarding individual mobility in the public transport system. This is crucial for transport planning and operation, and for other law enforcement applications (e.g., fraudulent behavior).

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Single-session Introduction of Mutations in Parallel Lines (SIMPL). This project aims to develop a novel method for markedly accelerating production of genetically modified mice, which are a key 'tool' for studying biological processes and diseases. The work plans to take CRISPR, the latest gene-editing technique, to the next level by developing a novel CRISPR-based method to generate different mouse strains with distinct variations of the same gene sequences, at a fraction of the present cost and time. This project should overcome a major barrier to studying gene function with unprecedented detail, thereby opening new avenues for future research into biological processes. Thus, the outcomes from this project should impact on the entire field of biomedical research, and advance Australia's biotech industry. Field of research: 1004 - Medical Biotechnology Generating animal models for biological and biomedical research remains a costly and time-intensive endeavour, limiting access to well-funded laboratories. Yet it is a critical tool in developing and testing new drugs and therapies. This project will break this barrier by developing a novel technology to generate multiple genetically modified mouse models rapidly and for a fraction of the present cost. The technology will open new opportunities to the wider research community and assist with more-efficient spending of research funding. Importantly, this new technology will be applicable to all areas of biomedical sciences. Consequently, it should significantly accelerate Australian biomedical research and industrial biotech and pharma R&D, as well as being of considerable interest internationally. Accelerating future research across biomedical fields by cutting time and costs for generating critical animal models will ultimately benefit end users economically and by improving health outcomes through access to new drugs. The new technology also has commercial potential as novel transgenic service platform.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Laser emission at the limit of glass transparency using nanocrystal doping . We will create a new composite glass providing strong fluorescence which fully exploits the high transmission of glass in the mid-infrared. When combined with emerging rare earth ion transitions and precise excitation processes, this project will help solve an important problem in optics; that the overall efficiency and power produced from deep mid-infrared light sources is not sufficient for all industries. The primary outcome will be a series of robust fibre-based gain modules suitable for high power and very short optical pulses in the mid-infrared. These light sources will beneficially impact medicine, defence, sensing and manufacturing providing excellent opportunities for increasing Australian productivity and global competitiveness. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering The mid-infrared is a region of the spectrum that is progressively being heavily exploited for widespread application. Thermal imaging cameras, dental and skin resurfacing lasers and narcotic detectors at airports are all mainstream examples involving the mid-infrared, but the potential of the mid-infrared is much larger. The creation and modification of materials using highly refined mid-infrared sources will greatly expand advanced manufacturing, opening up significant opportunities in pharmaceutics, medicine, and defence. The Project will train students and staff creating a highly skilled workforce that will enhance Australia’s capacity in many high technology industries. The outcomes of the project will augment Australia’s knowledge base and contribute to nearly all of the Science and Research Priorities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Illuminating the dark neutrophil glycoproteome. This project aims to shed light on the highly complex and dynamic sugar-coated surfaces of neutrophil white blood cells critical for the cell communication and function of our innate immune system. The project expects to generate molecular-level insights into neutrophil biology by detailing the structure, formation, regulation, interactions and functions of these cell-surface sugars across the varied neutrophil life stages using systems glycobiology approaches. The project will map the extensive sugar remodelling on and in the neutrophil and reveal new sugar-mediated mechanisms governing key immune processes. This project will benefit the community by expanding our knowledge of fundamental processes underpinning our innate immune system. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project will enhance our understanding of the immune system by decoding the molecular mechanisms of key processes. The knowledge gained will inform decision makers in healthcare, government and community sectors in understanding and controlling our immune system, and this will enable improvements in our population’s health. The project will train students and scientists in analytical glycobiology, providing future workers with key sought-after skills tailored to the Australian biotech industry that cannot be obtained elsewhere in Australia. This project will also stimulate technological advancements and innovations in analytical glycoscience using innovative mass spectrometry methods, which will have commercial applications in the biotech industry and beyond, and lead to economic benefits in the future as Australian industries exploit this cutting-edge science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Beyond Segments: Towards a lexical model for tonal bilinguals. Most people in the world today speak more than one language. Thus, they need to decide, unconsciously, which language to use at any given time. This project aims to understand how healthy adult bilinguals resolve competition from their unintended language to communicate successfully in the intended language. In both bilingual language comprehension and production, the project will characterise the role of an under-explored linguistic dimension, lexical tone, in cross-language processing. Expected outcomes include enhanced understanding of bilingual communication and theories of bilingual language use, and practical implications for optimal language learning for bilinguals and intervention for clinical populations who speaks two languages. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences This project will benefit Australia as it becomes an increasingly multilingual and multicultural society. Over 50% of Australians will speak a language other than English by 2025, and 300 separately identified languages are spoken in Australian homes. Among them, the most common ones are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese. Thus, 3 out of the top 4 languages use tone pitches to disambiguate word meanings. Despite this increasing multilingualism, linguistically and culturally diverse populations remain under-studied in Australia, in particular, from the linguistic and cognitive perspective. This project will respond to this acute need to advance understanding of tonal bilingualism/multilingualism and its linguistic and cognitive implications in order to improve educational, clinical, economic and social outcomes for Australia’s multilingual society. This project will serve the foundation to develop pedagogical innovation in second language learning and build applied interventions for clinical purposes to serve an increasingly multilingual society.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Human and Artificial Agents: A Unified Account of Agency. This project aims to develop philosophical and scientifically informed criteria for deciding whether artificial agents can be responsible for their behaviour. The project’s significance lies in the fact that artificial agents are becoming increasingly prevalent in contemporary society but raise moral problems, which the project aims to address. Expected outcomes include influencing how artificially intelligent agents (especially moral ones) are built, and addressing questions about who is legally liable or responsible for the harms that may be caused by such systems. The anticipated benefit is a comprehensive account of agency that can guide development of artificial agents and inform our dealings with such agents in society and in the law. Field of research: 2203 - Philosophy

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB) will provide the technical innovation critical for Australia to develop a vibrant bioeconomy building on the nation’s strengths in agriculture. For thousands of years we have used microbes to create bread, wine, cheese. Now, our Centre will pioneer new approaches to the design of synthetic microbes, enabling the development of custom-designed microbial communities, synthetic organelles and new to nature biological pathways and enzymes. CoESB will combine engineering with molecular biology to design and construct novel biological systems that can convert biomass from agriculture or waste streams to biofuel, bioplastics and other high-value chemicals. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Can coastal floodplains of north Australia survive ferals and rising seas? Tropical Coastal Floodplains are an iconic feature of northern Australia; however, they are experiencing widespread degradation due to complex interactions between feral ungulates and relative sea level rise. Using cross-cultural multidisciplinary methods, this project will discover if feral ungulate control by the Aboriginal Yirralka Rangers will reduce vegetation decline and erosion and enhance floodplain resilience to sea level rise. This project will provide significant new data to inform feral ungulate management strategies as well as coastal carbon models as these processes are likely to create a carbon source rather than sink. Our collaborative science will have local to national benefits for natural and cultural resource management. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Disentangling the drivers of floodplain vegetation, soil change and carbon storage will deliver insight for management of northern Australia’s vast coastal floodplains. These floodplains are important for tourism, recreation, Indigenous cultures and ecology and hence, play a significant role in the Australian Government’s plan to “Develop the North”, thus making this project nationally relevant. Furthermore, 45% of the Northern Territory coastline is owned by Indigenous groups who are grappling with management of the complex interactions between feral ungulates and relative sea level rise. The project has been developed in close collaboration with local Yolngu Traditional Owners and a suite of renowned environmental scientists and aims to advance Australia’s capacity for high level cross-cultural science to tackle challenging multi-disciplinary land management problems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Designing a Holistic Model of Advice to Improve Retirement Planning. We aim to improve retirement planning through the design and application of a new model integrating financial advice with career and health planning to optimise financial and psychological outcomes. We will test a multidisciplinary, holistic model of advice combining specialist knowledge in careers, health, and finances. Expected outcomes of the project include evaluating the use of a broader range of experts during retirement planning and developing a model for the future training and development of financial advisers.By optimising the timing of workplace exit, we aim to decrease reliance on pensions and encourage earlier and on-going engagement in the retirement planning process. This will provide significant social and economic benefits. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology This project will have significant social and economic benefits to the Australian community.The Royal Commission into Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services outlines the devastating financial, emotional and psychological consequences of poor advice.This is especially true in the lead up to retirement, as exiting work offers little or no replacement income to cover losses. Despite evidence linking retirement planning to positive psychological and financial outcomes, there are still 1 million people without a plan.Of those that do plan many people leave the workforce too early, have insufficient funds or exit unexpectedly due to ill-health.The evidence points to the need for better models of retirement planning that help people to engage earlier, promote planning across a broader range of areas and teach a process of planning that lasts a life-time.Our project will re-engineer current advice processes by integrating financial advice with career and health planning. This multidisciplinary advice model will help to optimise psychological, financial and health outcomes leading up to and during retirement.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Working with recovery: Future proofing our rivers against floods & droughts. It's happening! Rivers in coastal NSW are showing signs of recovery. 25 years of improved management has increased the structural and vegetative roughness of river channels. Getting the ‘fibre’ back into rivers has impacted most positively on flood hydrology, but less so on riparian vegetation quality. This project aims to understand how river recovery occurs, its impact on flood flows and test new techniques to improve vegetation quality. It will investigate where corridors of recovery are, where to prioritise rehabilitation and the cost:benefit of working with recovery. This will benefit public policy, improve flood and drought risk analysis, and change decision-making and rehabilitation practice - essentially future proofing our rivers. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Of 81,000 km of stream length in coastal valleys of NSW, 55% is showing signs of recovery. This is a good news story for the river management industry, including public agencies, businesses, landowners and scientists who have worked tirelessly, and invested heavily over 25+ years to tip the balance. Our industry partners now need proof of concept that river recovery is happening at the regional scale and to fully understand the geomorphic and vegetative processes by which recovery has come about so they can work with it in on-ground practice. They also need a scientific evidence base to feed decision-support systems used to identify where corridors of river recovery are and prioritise future management activities. It is in Australia’s national interest to ensure river recovery continues, our rivers have a sustainable and resilient future and can provide the ecosystems services upon which society depends – essentially future proofing them against floods, droughts and anthropogenic disturbance. Enhancing river recovery will minimise the impact of poor river health on communities, the economy and environment.