University of Wollongong

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Lost oceans? Threats to Pacific Island maritime claims and response options. This project aims to examine the potential impacts of a recent and major evolution in the law of the sea on the capacity of islands to generate broad maritime claims, with particular reference to the Pacific Island countries. It is the first systematic geospatial/legal analysis of maritime claims from Pacific islands in light of the recent South China Sea landmark international judicial decision. Expected outcomes include a detailed risk assessment to inform local policy-makers and an enhanced capacity to protect rights over valuable marine resources, contributing to food and regional security. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Engineering magnetism at the atomic scale in topological insulators. This project aims to explore strategies to optimise the magnetisation and Curie temperature by incorporating dopants via ion implantation, and exploiting proximity effects in heterostructures with magnetic thin films. The recently discovered magnetism in topological insulators opens up a new class of materials with potential applications in energy-efficient electronics, data storage and information processing. The central challenges are to control the underlying magnetic structure and stabilise magnetic order at desirable temperatures. The project expects to discover new composite materials and advance our knowledge for designing magnetic components in the next generation of electronics with ultra-low power dissipation. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Climate extremes and landscape responses across continental Australia. This project aims to determine the magnitude, frequency and duration of dry and wet extremes across the Australian continent over the last thousand years and examine landscape responses to such climate extremes. Using terrestrial records from key lake locations, the project expects to construct a record of mega-lakes and mega-droughts and determine whether such climatic phenomena are becoming more frequent or severe through time. The project will develop palaeoclimatic data at sub-centennial resolution, examining the spatial coherence of the climate extremes. The project will integrate this with both the historical record and global climate modelling, allowing us to assess the dominant oceanographic and atmospheric conditions that lead to such extremes. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Novel techniques for interpreting atmospheric variability and its drivers. This project aims to improve the understanding of the causes of variability in atmospheric greenhouse gases, leading to better knowledge of how such processes will evolve in a changing climate. The project expects to use new measurement techniques to gain information about the spatial and temporal variability of atmospheric greenhouse gases. With the use of regional and global scale models, the measurements will be used to understand greenhouse gas fluxes and provide independent verification of current estimates. Expected outcomes include improved methods for verifying greenhouse gas emissions, which will contribute to improved emissions inventories and accounting promised under international agreements. Field of research: 0401 - Atmospheric Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Nutritional requirements of the critically endangered corroboree frog. This project aims to test the effect of dietary carotenoids on an extensive range of fitness-determining traits in the endangered southern corroboree frog. Unprecedented rates of species extinction have been reported for all vertebrates, with amphibians most severely affected. Captive breeding programs play a key role in amphibian conservation, yet there is a lack of knowledge regarding the nutritional requirements of threatened species. Manipulating captive nutrition is a cost-effective action that will permit recovery teams to more efficiently implement conservation actions. The findings will be of major benefit to amphibian conservation globally. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Development of ambient air operation rechargeable sodium-air batteries. This project aims to develop Sodium (Na)-air batteries for large-scale renewable energy storage. The expected outcomes include development of new air cathode materials, gel polymer electrolytes and oxygen selective membranes, establishing novel Na-air battery systems for ambient air operation using advanced electrode materials, gel polymer electrolytes, and oxygen selective membranes, and exploring the electrochemical reaction mechanisms and degradation Na-air battery systems by the operando study method and other advanced techniques. The success of this project will contribute to the Australia Science and Research Priority area of energy. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

A new molecular platform for catalytic synthesis of heterocycles. This project aims to address the lack of efficient methods to prepare cyclic molecules of biological relevance by utilising novel molecular platforms developed in our laboratories. This project expects to generate new cyclic molecules using these innovative molecular platforms by employing catalysts to reduce raw material and energy cost. The expected outcomes of this project include enhanced chemical technology to prepare cyclic molecules of pharmaceutical importance and the training of highly skilled PhD students. This should provide significant benefits, such as increased capacity for the development of new pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Chinese indentured labour in the colonial Asia Pacific region, 1919–1966. This project aims to investigate the abolition of Chinese indenture in the Asia Pacific region after 1919. It intends to investigate whether labour standards set by the International Labor Organization (ILO) were able to influence and overcome the European colonial preference for coerced migrant labour. The project expects to generate new knowledge about Australian, Chinese and global attitudes towards labour migration, by combining a comparative regional approach with detailed case studies of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Taming infinite dimensions: quasidiagonality and nuclear dimension. This project aims to develop new methods for understanding regularity properties of operator algebras. These play a crucial role in the development of quantum physics, quantum computing and in topological insulators. Operator algebras constitute the mathematical underpinnings of quantum mechanics. This project aims to analyse nuclear dimension and quasidiagonality of operator algebras: two recently developed and exceptionally important regularity properties. This should deliver significant benefits, including an enhanced understanding of operator algebras and strengthened research capacity and standing for Australia. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

How isolated is Antarctica? Assessing past and present plant colonisations. The project aims to assess how biologically isolated Antarctica is by discovering how, when and where natural colonisations of the continent have occurred. The research will focus on mosses, the dominant plant group in the Antarctic. genomic tools will be combined with environmental, spatial, and ecological data to assess mechanisms and directions of dispersal to and around Antarctica, and to predict areas most likely to be colonised in the future. This will help understand the processes underpinning the evolution and diversity of Antarctic species, and the vulnerability and adaptability of Antarctic ecosystems. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Shared picosecond-laser facility. This project aims to extend the Shared Picosecond Laser Facility to include picosecond-pulse technology and to incorporate new consortium members. The Facility, shared among members at four universities and building on over 23 years of collaboration, continues to provide access to state-of-the-art lasers. The Facility will take advantage of its bulk purchasing power to negotiate significant discounts, extended warranties and maintenance contracts. The new lasers will enable access to picosecond timescales and facilitate complex multi-laser experiments in a wide variety of projects including reaction dynamics, materials chemistry and photovoltaics. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Secure and dynamic access control over encrypted data in the cloud. This project aims to enable dynamic access control due to organisational change, which is critical to enable the adoption of cloud computing in practice. Access control over encrypted outsourced data is an essential requirement for enabling practical, secure storage. This project will be underpinned by a study of constructing new cryptographic primitives for enabling cipher-text changes without the need for refreshing the users’ secret keys. The expected outcomes will bridge theory and practice, providing economic benefits to industry by enabling practical mechanisms to store confidential user’s information in the cloud, hence lowering the infrastructure cost for industry. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Molecular Interactions with an antibiotic target in DNA replication. This project aims to develop and use new technologies to address mechanistic aspects of anti-bacterial compounds in development, and of the development of resistance to them. The project will focus on the sliding clamp subunit of the bacterial replicative polymerase by studying its association with many other proteins in vitro and in vivo, using novel techniques in solid-state NMR, single-molecule fluorescence and molecular microbiology. The outcomes are expected to be an increased understanding of bacterial DNA replication and mechanisms of antibiotic action and resistance. This project expects to generate new knowledge to assist in combatting antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Functional two-dimensional materials for photocatalysis. This project aims to explore and tailor two-dimensional materials and heterostructures by new synthetic strategies, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effects of crystalline and electronic structures on photocatalysis at the atomic level. The project expects to provide deep insight into catalytic mechanisms by bridging the current gap between realistic systems and theoretical calculations. By simply using solar energy, the project aims to provide an efficient and durable method for clean energy generation/conversion, and carbon sequestration. This project will build national research capacity in an emerging field and put Australia at the forefront of research on photocatalysis to address energy and environmental issues. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Dynamic earth models for frontier diamond exploration. This project aims to investigate the link between continent motion and mantle upwelling over the last billion years by combining tectonic reconstructions and recently developed dynamic earth models with the global and Australian rock record. Mantle upwelling is thought to cause eruptions of large volcanic provinces and kimberlites, the primary source rock for diamonds. The project expects to develop a technique to map kimberlite potential in under-explored regions such as Australia. Significant benefits from the project will be the reduction of economic risks in diamond exploration, the training of a researcher in exploration geodynamics, and understanding the link between supercontinents and mantle upwelling. Field of research: 0403 - Geology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Greater inclusion of people with disability in Australian workplaces. This project aims to develop a model of successful employment for people with a disability, identify sources of employer diversity that explain willingness to hire, and develop social marketing messages that improve employer attitudes and achieve greater inclusion in Australian workplaces. Workforce participation of people with a disability remains low. The outcome of this study will be more people with a disability and their carers gaining meaningful employment, with benefits including improved physical and mental health, social connections and economic security. It will benefit employers by creating more diverse workplaces and a broader talent pool, resulting in greater innovation and productivity. Field of research: 1505 - Marketing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Ready, steady, go: Infant motor development and cognition. This project aims to examine the changes in and relationships between cognition and motoric abilities during infancy. The project will utilise well-established and innovative measures of memory flexibility and motor development to generate new knowledge about the complex relationship between action, perception, and cognition. The expected outcomes will provide significant benefits such as increased scientific and public knowledge on early development and an evidence base on the normal stages of infant development, relevant for health policy. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Exploration of lead free ferroelectric crystals for transducer applications. This project aims to investigate lead free crystals, which are expected to possess high piezoelectric properties for medical imaging and underwater acoustics, as an alternative to toxic lead-based ferroelectrics which have been dominantly used in ultrasound transducers. The project will have significant impact on development of new lead-free ferroelectric crystals with desirable properties. This will benefit Australian industry by providing knowledge and technology of crystal growth, enabling advanced ultrasound transducers for medical imaging and underwater acoustic applications. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Three-dimensional additive bio-fabrication facility: printing bioprinters. This project aims to develop bioprinting systems that will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes. The 3D Additive Bio-Fabrication Facility - Printing Bioprinters capability will use 3D polymer and metal additive manufacturing technologies to create the next generation of bioprinting methodologies and 3D fabrication tools. It is the aim that these customised additive manufacturing systems will be used to produce structures wherein living cells are spatially organised in combination with appropriate biomaterials and bioactive components, such as drugs or growth factors, in order to influence subsequent biological behaviour. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Creating The Australian environmental quality index for children. This project aims to provide new evidence on trajectories of child development and wellbeing. The project’s analysis will link national cohort data with area-level attributes describing physical, built and social environments and explore effects on children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, and overall wellbeing. The project findings will be used to create a new spatial index, area typology and interactive map for understanding spatial aspects of child development and wellbeing. It is anticipated that these outputs will be useful for supporting targeted resource allocations and interventions. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Smart micro learning with open education resources. This project aims to enhance personalised learning systems for mobile device users . Open online education is gaining in popularity with its ease of use. The project tackles the problems in relation to more and more popular mobile and ‘micro learning’, where people learn on the move and within small units of time. Ontology and machine learning technologies used in this project will help to optimise the offering of open education resources, by providing solutions meeting each individual learner’s needs. The main outcome will consolidate a cloud based micro learning framework through integrating a group of novel algorithms. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Thermo-gravimetric infra-red imaging system for functional materials study. This proposal seeks to establish a multi-functional system for investigating surface, interface, and thermal properties of functional materials. The instrumentation features thermo-gravimetric, infra-red imaging hyphenated with gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expected benefits are an enhanced research capability in solid-electrolyte-interphase and electrolyte decomposition on electrodes being used in alkaline-ion batteries, which could potentially pose risks during manufacturing and application. The system will not only facilitate high-quality research and impact the training of young researchers, but also provide a platform from which to enhance Australian materials research capabilities. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Priced attribute-based encryption and its applications. This project aims to develop Priced Attribute-Based Encryption (PABE), a security mechanism. Access control is important for secure online information access. Access to encrypted data requires both private key and payment from earmarked funds specified by the access policy of encrypted data. This research will enable both authorisation and restriction of users while they access protected data anonymously. Expected outcomes include new models, theories, techniques and PABE constructions. This research project is expected to contribute to cyber security in anonymous access control with advanced management for all Australians. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Unhealthy food marketing to children. This project aims to quantify children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing online and identify how online and TV food marketing influences food consumption and may affect death and disease. Reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is a global health priority. Online marketing is relatively unregulated and unstudied, but provides unprecedented opportunities for marketers to target children. Food marketing exposure leads to a hypothesised cascade of effects, including brand awareness, affect, and behaviour. This project will provide quantifiable data on online food marketing and will lead to a standard protocol for global monitoring. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Atomically thin superconductors. This project aims to explore two-dimensional superconducting materials and elucidate the origins of their superconductivity. High temperature superconductivity in single layer iron-based superconductors offers a platform for exploring superconductors with even higher critical temperature (Tc) and has aroused great hope of understanding the underlying mechanisms for high Tc superconductivity. This project is expected to introduce physics and materials, leading to a better understanding of the two-dimensional superconducting phenomenon and the discovery of physical phenomena for new electronic devices. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering