University of Wollongong

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Out of Africa: human prehistory in southwestern China. This project aims to establish the timing and processes of human settlement in East Asia during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Through studying a series of key archaeological sites in southwest China using the most recent innovative scientific approaches in luminescence dating, sedimentary DNA and lithic analysis, we expect to provide new insights into the human prehistory of East Asia over the last 300,000 years. This should provide significant contribution to addressing major debates about the timing, rate and route of dispersal of modern humans out of Africa, across south Asia and into Australia. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology This project will deliver outcomes in Australia’s national interest through environmental, commercial and cultural benefits spanning the sciences and humanities. Advancing our knowledge of how humans have coped with climatic and environmental changes in the past can help inform our understanding of the resilience and adaptability of Aboriginal people as they settled this continent, and thereby enhance our appreciation of the rich cultural heritage and knowledge of Indigenous Australians. The development of advanced methods of sediment dating and DNA analysis during this project will increase demand for these services by end-users in industry, government and the private sector, including consultancies and organisations involved in cultural heritage management and the research and protection of Australia’s soil, water and other natural resources. Through this collaboration exploring our shared human past, this project will also help enrich Australia’s international relations by highlighting our deep cultural connections across the ages.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Mangrove sustainability on the Australian coast. This project aims to model the response of mangroves and adjoining communities to sea-level rise. Australia’s coastline supports some of the most extensive and diverse mangrove forests globally, and mangrove response models are urgently needed to plan for Australia’s coastal future and global sea-level rise adaptation. Bringing together world-leading specialists in geomorphology and spatial analysis, we will project the response of Australia’s mangrove shorelines to sea-level rise, indicating the implications for blue carbon stocks, adjoining communities, infrastructure and assets. Significant benefits will be provided to sustainable coastal management and national carbon accounting efforts. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience This project brings together leading experts in the response of mangrove forests and coastal landscapes to sea-level rise (SLR). The maps and models generated will provide coastal planners and managers with confidence when planning for coastal ecosystem adaptation to SLR, and the effects of SLR on adjacent infrastructure and assets. Carbon accumulation is a critical component of mangrove adaptation to SLR, and the models generated will be used to quantify future carbon sequestration and account for the carbon currently stored within coastal landscapes. The outcomes of this research are crucial for Australia's efforts to plan for SLR and mitigate climate change through increasing carbon sequestration. This project provides significant new knowledge that will have important environmental, legal and social implications and will put Australia at the forefront of knowledge advancement within the international community interested in the fate of coastal ecosystems, shoreline changes, and the effect of SLR on coastal infrastructure and assets.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Understanding contested human-plant geographies for urban greening success. Urban greening is vital for sustainable, liveable and climate-adapted cities. However, conflicts over urban greening continue to cause delays and even failure of initiatives. Such disputes, and the diverse socio-cultural relations that drive them, remain poorly understood. In ground-breaking research employing innovative concepts and methods developed by the team, this project aims to generate new knowledge about how people experience urban greening in their everyday lives and how urban greening is contested in three Australian cities. Expected outcomes include new, crucial understandings of key human-plant relationships, facilitated international collaborations, and significant findings for improving urban greening policies and governance. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography This project aims to generate comprehensive knowledge to help achieve more sustainable, climate-adapted cities by providing new insights into the socio-cultural aspects of urban greening. Through yielding novel understanding about how urban greening is experienced and contested in three Australian cities, the project aims to increase the likely success and beneficial outcomes of urban greening initiatives. Local and national communities will benefit through the identification of risks and opportunities that come with urban greening, so that conflicts might be better addressed in future greening programs. The project will identify innovative management and engagement directions that will allow municipalities to better integrate crucial affective dimensions of urban greening and to better ground urban greening within the communities those municipalities serve. Inventive methods integrate policy briefings, community events, and stakeholder engagement throughout the project to maximise effective knowledge translation and incorporation of findings into policy and programming outcomes.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Playing it Safe: Psychological Safety and Mental Health for Community Sport. At a time when over half of all Australians participate in organised sports it is critical to ensure that these environments are psychologically safe. The problem is that community sports clubs have no clear guidance on how to fulfil this substantial responsibility. There have been urgent calls for the development of psychological safety and mental health guidelines which have yet to be answered. This project will deliver the knowledge to underpin effective psychological safety and mental health guidelines for community sports with national impact. When implemented, this knowledge will help sports clubs to provide a psychologically safe environment, and promote the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians involved in organised sports. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Sport is central to the Australian identity and improving wellbeing is a national Science and Research Priority. This project will lead to social benefits by helping Australia’s community sports sector to facilitate psychologically safe, wellbeing enhancing environments for all participants. Tangible benefits of the knowledge that will be delivered include: i) a robust understanding of the needs of the community sports sector in providing psychological safety and promoting the mental health and wellbeing of all participants; ii) knowledge of the usability and acceptability of psychological safety and mental health guidelines in sport, as well their potential real-world impact; iii) when implemented, the provision of safe and wellbeing-enhancing sports environments in which to participate for all Australians; and, iv) flow on economic and social benefits nationwide from high levels of psychological safety and reductions in the dropout rate from organised sport, for example. Overall, the development of psychological safety and mental health guidelines fills an urgent need in Australia and worldwide.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Hot Topic: Quantum Design of Phononic Heat Filters. Heat management is critical to many technologies for sustainable energy, electronics, protective equipment and energy-efficient buildings. The phonon is the quantum particle representing a travelling vibration and is responsible for the transmission of heat in solids. This project will study the new mechanisms for phonon transport in solids modified with embedded nanoparticles, which operate as phononic filters. Neutron spectroscopy provides a tool to measure the phonon density of states which is critical for developing a mathematical model of thermal boundary resistance. This is expected to identify mechanisms for ultra-low thermal conductivity leading to potential applications in thermoelectric generators and heat-resistant materials. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics This project is designed to discover knowledge to develop novel composite materials that can limit the flow of heat using a combination of bulk solids embedded with nanoparticles. The goal is to identify which shapes of nanoparticles, and which forms of materials, are the most efficient at modifying the motion of heat across solid–solid interfaces. To achieve this, the project will deploy landmark scientific infrastructure that has recently become available in Australia to perform neutron spectroscopy in order to study the vibrations in the materials at an unprecedented level of detail. This will assist in developing a mathematical theory to model the thermal properties of nanoscale solid–solid interfaces. As heat flow across interfaces is universally important in technology, it is anticipated that a predictive theory will have a diverse range of applications including enhanced thermoelectric generators, integrated circuitry, sustainable buildings and personal protective equipment.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Unleashing the potential of VR: reducing sickness in head-mounted displays. Virtual reality (VR) is a breakthrough technology with a host of applied uses. Unfortunately, many people become sick when using head-mounted displays (HMDs). Our project proposes, and aims to test, a new theory of this cybersickness. We intend to quantify the sensory conflicts produced by HMD VR for the first time and measure their effects on perception, eye-movements, balance and well-being. The project will 1) determine the causes of, and conditions responsible for, cybersickness; and 2) offer practical information on how to prevent it. These outcomes are expected to directly benefit, and greatly improve HMD use in, fields ranging from defence, education, entertainment, gaming, medicine, real estate, simulation training and tourism. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology Head-mounted display (HMD) based virtual reality (VR) has enormous potential. This can clearly be seen by the apps already developed for its use (e.g., for architecture, archaeology, business, defence, education, engineering/manufacturing, entertainment and the arts, health & safety, medicine/psychology, research, real estate, sport, telecommunications, tourism, and urban design). Unfortunately, cybersickness is greatly limiting the uptake and demand for this revolutionary technology. By finding ways to reduce this sickness and make HMDs more acceptable to users, this project will provide exciting opportunities for Australian gaming and simulation training industries. Without the threat of cybersickness, VR will also be able to enrich our children's classrooms (with virtual field trips), better inform our urban design (with first-person virtual walk-throughs), enrich global communications (with fully-immersive social media platforms) and make it possible for Australians to virtually visit important historic landmarks without any impact on cultural heritage preservation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Carbon-free Energy Storage and Conversion Using Ammonia as a Mediator. This project aims to develop essential technologies for ammonia-mediated energy storage, hydrogen production, and electricity generation. This project expects to generate new understandings on designing novel multi-atom-cluster catalysts for the critical ammonia synthesis, electrolysis, and oxidation processes using interdisciplinary approaches. The expected outcomes of this project include multi-functional electrocatalysts, fundamental insights of principles for electrocatalyst design, and prototype technologies. This should provide significant benefits for the harvest of clean energy, the safe utilization of hydrogen, and the development of carbon-free fuels, which are essential for optimizing the energy structure of Australia. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Strategically, the proposed research project will provide solutions to energy crises and make the realization of the carbon-free fuel. This will provide direct and clear benefit to Australia: retaining its scientific leadership, alleviating its environmental pressure by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and optimizing its energy structure towards a more efficient, renewable, and reliable energy future. This project will also boost a series of new technologies, including the high-efficiency storage of clean energy, safe, and large quantity transport of hydrogen, and emission-free electricity generation using non-carbon fuels. These cutting-edge technologies will comprehensively make significant economic and social impacts, with great benefits for millions of Australians by establishing a sustainable energy future. Moreover, through cultivating next-generation material scientists, this project would also provide potential benefits for Australia’s research community through high-quality training.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Non-invasive and safe human-machine interface (HMI) systems . This project aims to establish novel non-invasive human-machine interface systems based on multi-modal sensing and machine learning to intuitively command and control robotic and autonomous systems safely interacting and cooperating with humans. This will be achieved by harnessing the synergies across design optimisation, multi-modal sensing, additive manufacturing, machine learning, and assistive and cooperative robotic devices. Expected outcomes are a novel human-machine interface methodology, a new multi-purpose wearable data glove, and function and application-specific machine learning methods for cutting-edge applications in assistive robotic devices such as a prosthetic hand, advanced manufacturing, construction and agriculture. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering An ageing population and increasing cost of manufacturing industry pushing Australian jobs overseas put significant financial burdens on the national health and welfare systems. In line with progress in many technological areas to develop robotic and automation systems, assistive robotic devices offer an effective solution to these global challenges, provided that the devices interact and communicate with their users in a close-to natural way. This project harnesses the synergies across design optimisation, wearable sensors, additive manufacturing, machine learning and assistive devices to establish a non-invasive, affordable, easy and safe to wear human-centered interfacing system to intuitively command and control these robotic devices. The project outcomes will have both fundamental significance and practical applications in physically assistive devices such as prostheses, orthoses and rehabilitation devices, robotic mobility aids, advanced manufacturing, defense, construction, space, and agriculture to deliver significant social, economic, and scientific benefits for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Using evolutionary theory to advance reproductive technologies. This project aims to address the global biodiversity crisis by incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of reproductive technologies. With 41% of amphibian species now threatened with extinction, this project expects to revolutionise the field, enhancing the propagation and genetic management of threatened amphibians. Specifically, incorporating evolutionary theory into the study of amphibian reproductive technologies will increase our capacity to predict spermiation responses and identify parental-genetic incompatibilities that may compromise offspring viability. Ultimately, this novel approach will provide significant benefits by fast-tracking the development of reproductive technologies for threatened species recovery. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Proactive interventionist conservation actions are urgently required to assist amphibian species recovery and decelerate declines. Using evolutionary theory to fast-track the development of reproductive technologies will be crucial for maximising the integrity and long-term viability of amphibian conservation breeding programs. Advancing the efficiency with which conservation managers are able to propagate and genetically manage Australia’s critically endangered amphibians will directly contribute to a key Science and Research Priority: 'Environmental Change'. In particular, this DECRA fellowship will develop powerful predictive models and rigorously test cost-effective, practical technologies for managing captive assurance populations of Australia’s most critically endangered amphibian species. Ultimately, research outcomes will address a practical research challenge by providing the tools required for responding and adapting to the impacts of environmental change on biological systems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Computational Discovery & Design of New Catalytic Halogenophilic Reactions. Computational chemistry will be used to discover and predict new halogenophilic (halogeno = halogen; philic = like) substitution reactions (SN2X) catalysed by positively charged (cationic) catalysts. SN2X is a less known substitution reaction compared to accepted textbook nucleophilic (nucleo = electron-rich) substitution reactions. This proposal capitalises on previous theoretical-experimental understanding of a cation-catalysed SN2X to develop new chemical reactions using SN2X synthetic strategies to access difficult-to-make molecules of potential medicinal relevance with heavily substituted carbon-carbon and carbon heteroatom bonds. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) Computational modelling of catalytic process’ mechanism and the ability to control reactions are important undertakings that can pave new developments in modern chemistry. Based on our breakthrough study published in Science 2019 I will pursue the development of new synthetic methods, first through computational chemical modelling and design then experimental testing, to allow the construction of difficult-to-make but important molecules. From the point of view in fundamental science, this project will discover new reactions and impact how chemical reactions are taught at the undergraduate level. From the point of view of applied chemistry, this project will meet the ever-growing demand for novel catalysts and will contribute significantly to the development of new therapeutic agents. Thus, the outcome of this DECRA project will contribute significantly to Australia’s pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

High resolution health assessment of Antarctic plants as climate changes. Declines in terrestrial ecosystem health as a result of a drying climate have been observed in some areas of East Antarctica. This project aims to determine if such changes are widespread. Since mosses, the dominant plants of Antarctica, preserve a record of past climate down their shoots they can be used as surrogates to study how both ecosystems and climate are changing at remote polar sites. Outcomes will include improved climate data for Antarctica, enabling more robust analysis of regional climate change, and development of ultrahigh-resolution techniques capable of non-destructively monitoring Antarctic ecosystem health. This research will advance ecosystem science and inform best practice in management of Antarctic biodiversity. Field of research: 0501 - Ecological Applications Australia claims 42% of the Antarctic continent including some of the best developed, most extensive vegetation on the continent but recent expeditions and research suggest that the health of this vegetation is declining. Australia has key international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty to protect these terrestrial ecosystems within its Antarctic territories. Polar mosses will be used as sentinels to determine the extent to which climate change and ozone depletion have impacted Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. These plants are also important indicators for the future resilience of Antarctic terrestrial communities. We will develop novel remote sensing methods capable of non-destructively monitoring Antarctic ecosystem health, and identify biodiversity most at risk. This will provide Antarctic Environmental Managers, from Australia and other nations, with new tools and information to assess the health of plant communities enabling appropriate protection and management of biodiversity and satisfying Australian State of the Environment and International Antarctic Treaty obligations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Controlling and Understanding Interface Chemistry for Energy Conversions. This project aims to develop a promising electrocatalyst technology platform, based on novel 2D material architectures that have applications ranging from hydrogen generation via water splitting through to carbon dioxide reduction. The project is expected to generate advanced knowledge for the rational design of electrocatalysts and to promote the development of renewable energy technologies. Expected outcomes include a clear understanding of the relevant fundamental science and mechanisms, a framework for designing and optimising for specific applications, and a demonstration of prototype devices. This project is of great benefit for addressing Australia’s energy and environmental concerns and boosting national economic growth as well. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering This project has been designed to provide clear and strategic benefit to Australia through ensuring we retain scientific leadership and a strong capability for developing transformative electrocatalyst technologies that will play a major role in our transition to a more renewable and sustainable energy future. While the initial focus of this project is on demonstrating this platform technology for hydrogen generation via water splitting, we have also identified carbon dioxide reduction applications, where both could be of significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. Australia has the capacity to be a leader in the hydrogen market, and it is imperative Australia maintains scientific and IP leadership to capture as much of the value chain as possible. This research has great potential to impact millions of Australians – through the development of a cutting-edge electrocatalyst technology platform; the substantial benefits of the application of this platform to establish a sustainable energy future; and through the cultivation of next-generation materials scientists through high-quality training.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Continuity and change in the Australian industrial landscape. This project aims to investigate the past, present and future significance of Australian industrial landscapes. It focuses on a crucial trading zone and one of the nation's most significant industrial precincts, Port Kembla, New South Wales. Amidst growing debate over the future of port infrastructures and urban industrial land, a novel interdisciplinary, place-based approach aims to understand how industrial ports and surrounding communities endure and evolve over time. Expected outcomes include timely archiving of recent industrial, worker and migrant histories, new knowledge that will contribute to resilient industrial port regions and economies, and an evidence base for future strategic thinking around industrial port infrastructure. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography Urban and regional industrial ports are key sites connecting Australia with international trade and infrastructure networks. Yet the future of urban industrial space is increasingly under threat, amidst competing land use pressures and macroeconomic transformations. Meanwhile, following privatisations and regulatory complications, the future of port infrastructure is also unclear. Amplifying the policy problem is that substantial changes are unfurling within an evidence vacuum. This historical-geographical project seeks to respond by comprehensively documenting temporal change, existing capacities and future aspirations for port industrial space, at a point in time marked by technological and economic upheaval. The research will enable industrial enterprises, strategic planners and researchers to make better-informed decisions that leverage existing strengths of legacy industrial localities. Australia will benefit from a rigorous analysis of existing industrial precincts, infrastructures and workforces, supporting better understanding of the nation’s future industrial capacities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Creating Accountability: Improving Responses to Forced Displacement Crimes. This project aims to investigate how the United Nations and individual states can respond to forced displacement crimes through seven emerging accountability mechanisms at the domestic, regional, and international levels. The growth of conflict-induced forced migration is at unprecedented levels, driven in part by states that deliberately displace their own populations in contravention of international law. This project will use a comparative and focused approach to examine the effectiveness of the range of current efforts to hold state and individual perpetrators accountable. In so doing, it will directly inform the Australian and international policy-making response to such crimes with the goal of averting future forced migrant movements. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science A systematic examination of emerging accountability mechanisms to respond to forced displacement crimes is crucial for informing Australian responses to this important challenge. The Australian government has made a number of core commitments at the domestic and international levels in order to improve the response to refugees and internally displaced persons and to protect people affected by conflict, including in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. The research proposed in this project will systematically examine the effectiveness of seven different mechanisms at the international, regional, and domestic levels which can hold state and individual perpetrators of forced displacement crimes to account through law, sanctions, and other measures. This project's findings will be directly communicated to practitioners and tailored to the needs of Australia’s foreign policy establishment, as well as to international policy makers. It will address one of the core drivers of forced migrants globally, and help Australia respond effectively to the current global crisis.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

New laser and mass spectrometry methods for detecting protonation isomers. Mass spectrometry is a major tool for the detection of molecules for understanding disease, pollution control and chemical synthesis. However, intricate differences in molecular structure - vital to chemical function - can confuse detection methods leading to false negatives. This is especially problematic for complex biological samples. Recent breakthroughs in laser-based mass spectrometry methods, combined with ion mobility, now allow detection of subtle yet important structural features. This project aims to exploit these advances by developing new instrumentation and protocols with these enhanced capabilities thus accelerating advances in automated mass spectrometry, improved antibiotic detection and complex biomolecule screening. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) New fundamental science and technical methods will be developed for more accurate and sensitive molecular detection for disease diagnosis, pollution control and chemical synthesis. Highly-skilled students will be trained in instrumentation development, mass spectrometry, high-powered lasers and chemical detection. These developments will accelerate discoveries that exploit laser activation in chemistry, biology and advanced materials and furthermore create new technology for a deeper understanding of the underlying structure of molecular ions.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Settling well in regional Australia: Experiences of people from refugee backgrounds. Regional humanitarian settlement is a key priority across all levels of government in Australia. This study aims to provide the first longitudinal assessment of the impacts of regional settlement for humanitarian migrants and destination communities. Its innovative, mixed-method and multi-sited approach will generate new knowledge of the opportunities and challenges for sustainable regional settlement. Expected outcomes include enhanced community, organisational and government decision-making capacity. By guiding end-users’ current and future actions, the study has strong potential to support the wellbeing of humanitarian migrants and to contribute to healthy and resilient regional communities. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography In late 2019, the Australian Government committed to increasing refugee and humanitarian settlement in regional areas, including via direct (primary) settlement and voluntary (secondary) settlement. It explicitly recognised a need for improved evidence to support effective regional settlement planning and outcomes, both for humanitarian migrants and destination communities. This project responds to this identified need. It will conduct a rigorous and timely investigation of regional settlement trends and experiences and evaluate the effectiveness of different regional settlement approaches. Its mixed-method and longitudinal design will generate novel insights into the long-term implications of regional settlement for humanitarian migrants and destination communities. The study will provide a robust evidence base from which to plan for settlement policies and programs that support humanitarian migrants’ wellbeing while also meeting the population and economic needs of regional Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Intoxication Evidence in Rape Trials: A Double-Edged Sword? There is strong evidence that intoxication by alcohol and other drugs is frequently associated with sexual violence. Criminal law reforms in Australia have attempted to break the ‘rape myth’ nexus between intoxication and assumed consent. This project will subject the operation of relevant rules to systematic analysis. Focusing on intoxication evidence in rape trials, this project will undertake qualitative analysis of appellate judgments, court transcripts and interviews with prosecutors and defence lawyers, in three Australian jurisdictions. It should produce significant new knowledge about whether existing laws and court room practices are optimally adapted to achieving the important objective of justice for sexual violence victims. Field of research: 1801 - Law Despite 40 years of rape law reform, justice for victims remains elusive. This project will generate new knowledge about how intoxication evidence affects rape trials, and how existing laws, practices and attitudes may continue to impede justice for rape complainants. Findings will be shared with advocates for sexual violence victims, legal professional bodies, judges, and relevant government departments. Where weaknesses are identified, the project will make targeted recommendations for statutory amendments and changes to court room trial practices to improve the delivery of justice in rape trials. These outcomes will produce social benefits for victims of sexual violence, improve the quality of public policy and law reform, and enhance the integrity of the criminal justice system. The Australian legal system rightly aspires to be a world leader in confronting gender-based violence, including by ensuring justice is provided to victims of sexual violence. By adding to the evidence-base and facilitating continuous improvement, this project can be expected to contribute to Australia’s national interest.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Transforming invasive plant management in northern Australia. This project aims to investigate how rapid socio-ecological transformation in northern Australia is reconfiguring invasive plant management, and evaluate the social and cultural factors and development context that contributes to its effectiveness. Through innovative qualitative research, the project will generate new knowledge of plant introductions, the emerging assemblages of people and practices that are facilitating or disrupting change, and the consequences for Indigenous people dealing with land-use change. Expected outcomes include enhancing Australia's environmental management capacity by identifying opportunities for more effective invasive plant management, and more equitable and sustainable sharing of the benefits it brings. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography The project aims to provide comprehensive new social and cultural knowledge of the legacies, threats and opportunities of invasive plant management in northern Australia. It will benefit the Australian community across northern Australia through the synthesis of historical and contemporary information of plant introductions, and by generating new empirical data of plant management. It will contribute to improved weed policy in the mobile pasture production (hay), agro-forestry and peri-urban horticultural industries, and in the context of Indigenous environmental management. Stakeholder and community participation throughout the project will enhance translation of the new research knowledge into decision making at all levels. The anticipated outcomes will benefit environmental management by identifying opportunities for more effective invasive plant management. Local and national communities will benefit through the identification of risks and benefits arising from invasive plant management, so that more socially just outcomes can be realised.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation. The Hub’s overarching goal is to support the transition of Australia’s steel manufacturing industry to a more sustainable, competitive and resilient position based on the creation of new, higher value-added products and more advanced manufacturing processes. It anticipates delivering original, innovative research designed to enable a necessary technological shift in the supply chain through integrating advanced enabling technologies in large and small businesses, developing step-change performance in anti-corrosion treatments and coating lines, generating more functional and durable products, and increasing resource intensities. It expects to train a more skillful and diverse workforce that will be critical in achieving this transformation. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering A globally competitive domestic steel manufacturing industry is a strategic asset for Australia’s nation-building, economic growth and employment. The domestic industry must continue to provide a secure, flexible and high-quality local source of steel and products for infrastructure and construction, manufacturing, mining and agriculture. The Hub’s research programs focus on transforming the level of innovation and resilience across the entire Australian steel supply chain. The programs are designed to realize a strategic technological shift in Australian steel manufacturing, based on research leading to the creation of new, higher value-added products and more technologically advanced processes. The delivered research outcomes will directly impact on the competitiveness and future growth of large and small steel-related businesses. In turn, these will positively affect key societal challenges such as sovereignty risk mitigation, providing affordable housing and quality infrastructure, developing longer-lasting materials, recycling of resources, and training a more skillful, capable and diverse workforce.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Innovative Magnetorheological Powertrains for Electric Heavy Duty Vehicles. An electric vehicle powertrain mainly consists of an electric motor-driven system, a mechanical transmission and other components. This project aims to explore innovative powertrains with a regenerative braking function to maximise driving range, reduce power consumption, and enhance the dynamic performance of electrified vehicles. The proposed powertrains are expected to achieve seamless gear changing for driving and better braking performance by applying magnetorheological technology for a high-quality control of power-shifting, and therefore significantly improve vehicle dynamic and economic performance. A new era of high-efficiency electric powertrains could potentially be launched through the development of these novel technologies. Field of research: 0902 - Automotive Engineering This project aims to provide new technologies to develop powertrains with a focus on dynamic and economic performance for electrified commercial vehicles. This project is expected to have direct impacts on electrified transport in automotive industries by delivering national economic and social benefits via environmentally sustainable transport, which reduces energy consumption and pollution. Furthermore, the automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Australia will benefit from increased productivity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Enabling Anonymity and Privacy for Blockchain Technology in a Quantum World. Blockchain is a promising technology in the digital world today. However, existing approaches for enabling blockchain applications, particularly with privacy protection and anonymity, are vulnerable to quantum computer attacks. This project aims to enable novel cryptographic mechanisms together with their cryptographic libraries for protecting blockchain in the quantum world, hence, post-quantum secure blockchain. The expected outcomes of this project include innovative technologies, as well as secure and practical post-quantum protocols for protecting future blockchain applications. This will provide economic and social benefits to Australian industry through the enablement of advanced technologies which are developed in Australia. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format There has been an increase in Australian blockchain activities since 2010. Australia is also home to many leading blockchain initiatives, including industry-specific trials for solutions in energy, agriculture, and the public sector. According to the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, Australia’s blockchain sector is expanding rapidly, and the development of a national blockchain roadmap announced recently will help Australia seize these opportunities. However, in both Australia and worldwide, all deployed blockchain applications are vulnerable to quantum computer attacks. This project will advance Australia's National Interest by placing Australia at the forefront of efforts to prepare next-generation blockchain for applications in the upcoming quantum computer era. The technologies developed in this project will benefit Australian cybersecurity research since they will enable anonymity and privacy protection of users in many online activities, which is an important Australian National Cybersecurity priority.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Screening and responding to domestic violence experienced by refugee women. We will adapt and test an evidence-based intervention to identify and address domestic violence with newly arrived refugee women, partnering with Settlement Services International, one of Australia’s largest providers of settlement programs. Domestic violence is the lead contributor to premature death among Australian women, and costs $22 b each year, with refugee women at heightened risk. This study will compare outcomes for women who receive the intervention to controls and culturally sensitive, scaleable tested tools. This intervention should reduce the human and financial cost of domestic violence among refugee and other vulnerable migrant women, providing tools to settlement services to address this complex, hidden problem. Field of research: 1607 - Social Work Domestic violence is a serious social and public health issue. Violence against women and their children costs Australia $22 billion a year, with Australian Governments expending 19% of this. Refugee women are at greater risk of domestic violence, but do not use mainstream services for support. Australia's resettlement program supports refugees on arrival, and these services have untapped potential to intervene early with refugee women experiencing abuse through tools which this study will deliver. Both the National Settlement Services Outcome Standards and National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010-2020, stress the importance of the wellbeing, social and health outcomes of refugee women and their children. This project will address three of six priorities in the Plan including: i) improve identification and of and early response to domestic violence; ii) address access to support for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and iii) implement evidence-based programs for domestic violence and measure their outcomes for women.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

An upgraded nanoindenter facility with in-situ Raman at high temperature. This LIEF grant aims to upgrade an existing TI950 Nanoindenter with a new system that physically couples Raman Spectroscopy system with on a shared stage that uniquely enables combined assessment of materials with sub-micrometers or spanning millimetre-sized regions from room temperature up to 800oC. The equipment with much enhanced features will be unique in Australia with the added Raman and a hot stage. The combination of Raman and nanoindentation allows the mechanical property to be correlated to physical characteristics such as chemical bonds and physical state, volume fractionation of crystallinity, amorphous and unpolymerised phases, molecular orientation, residual strain, polymer cross-linking, surface treatment effects. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Conventional ex-situ techniques after cooling to a temperature available for handling may not be truly reflective of what occurred at high temperature, since the surface/interface composition is likely to change after cooling to room temperature, thereby obscuring the chemical phases that were active during the test. Characterisation by chemistry, structure and mechanical properties using different instruments where it is often difficult or impossible to locate the exact same region of interest (ROI) on a single sample. The proposed in-situ Raman indenter will address the problems described above and enables a true correlation of the surface chemical and phase compositions to mechanical phenomena for metallurgical research on tribology, rolling technology and oxidation. There are extensive research in metal forming and associated metallurgical at high temperature processes in Australia, and this equipment will enhance the research capability in these area and help boost the competitiveness of Australian manufacturing industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Catalysing collective action for effective weed management . Weeds are a major threat to the sustainability of rural ecosystems and industries. Current policies call for communities to act collectively to manage weeds, but there is little empirical evidence about such processes and their benefits. This project aims to produce pioneering knowledge about how communities collectively manage weeds and the benefits for rural sustainability. It will conduct the first extensive comparative case study of self-organising weed management initiatives, pilot a new analytic method and advance theory that can explain effective collective management of weeds. Expected outcomes include evidence-based strategies and guidelines that support communities and governments to expand and enhance rural collective action. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The hobbit's tools and the evolution of human behaviour in Southeast Asia . This project aims to investigate the behavioural evolution of the extinct Homo floresiensis (the 'hobbit') and modern humans on Flores, Indonesia. Using innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to integrate stone tools with simulation modelling, this project expects to generate new understanding about the behavioural strategies of the two human species and their interactions with the Flores environment over the past 190,000 years. Anticipated outcomes include refined knowledge of human evolution and interaction in island Southeast Asia, and innovative experimental methods for the study of stone tools. This will emphasise Australia's role in international human evolution research, and inform the study of comparable stone tools in Australia. Field of research: 2101 - Archaeology