UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Examining the social, historical and political effects of school discipline. This project aims to examine the history and socio-political context of the school element of the ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ in Victoria through an examination of school discipline. This project expects to build vital knowledge of the relationship between school discipline and racialised school exclusion through historical accounts, policy analysis, interviews and focus group research. Expected outcomes include new understanding of the social, historical and political effects of school discipline and new possibilities for strengthening school-community relations. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved opportunities for school participation, and enhanced local and international networks to address education equity. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology This project is expected to benefit Australia socially, culturally and economically. Through addressing the pressing and highly publicised issue of youth crime by turning to the historical and social roots of the ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ this project will contribute to stronger social and cultural school communities in Victoria through generating strategies for greater school connectedness. It will contribute to cultural understandings of the relationship between school discipline and racialised school exclusion, both past and present. In focusing on root concerns and early intervention strategies that develop stronger supportive educational communities it is expected that the project will contribute economic benefits through a reduction in youth involvement in the criminal justice system and greater social cohesion, particularly in communities considered disadvantaged through a range of measures.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Testing socioeconomic and motivational influences on self-objectification. The rise of social media has seen a dramatic increase in self-objectification, a phenomenon where people derive their primary worth from physical attractiveness. Self-objectification has reached almost epidemic levels in Australia and has widespread negative implications for mental wellbeing and physical health, yet the reasons for its recent growth are unresolved. To better understand the conditions driving self-objectification, this project investigates the link between self-objectification, economic inequality, and status anxiety. Understanding the socioeconomic causes of self-objectification may provide needed insight into why it is rising among women and men, as well as targeted policy interventions to lessen its burden. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology There is great and urgent need in Australia for insights into the causes and consequences of appearance-oriented psychology. Australians currently have more cosmetic surgery operations per capita than any other country worldwide, and eating disorders cost our economy $69.7 billion annually (an amount that surpasses the economic burden of depression). By investigating socioeconomic and motivational influences on self-objectification, this project may provide insight into novel drivers of psychological disorders related to appearance. By potentially improving physical and mental wellbeing, this knowledge may support the objectives laid out in the Australian Government National Women's and Men's Health Strategies for 2020-2030, ultimately facilitating higher productivity and economic growth. The project also demonstrates the usefulness of using big social media data to understand how the socioeconomic environment affects fundamental psychological motivations and behaviours in Australia and cross-culturally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Human-Centred Robot Training. This project aims to address the challenge of effectively enabling novice users to train robots on complex tasks using instructional methods and gamification. With the recent advances of AI research, robots have now better cognitive and functional skills, research in robot training also now allows them to learn interactively from human. Since these robots are expected to provide assistance in different domains including education and healthcare, it is crucial to effectively engage human in robot’s instruction. Expected outcomes include new methods for trainers to assess robot learning, and to improve their engagement and feedback. This should provide significant human-robot interaction benefits for accessibility of learning robots. Field of research: 0806 - Information Systems With the shortage of caregivers and the increasing number of dependent people, nurses and home aid are lacking. To cope with this, we foresee that caregivers could use robotic assistance in their work by programming them to accomplish certain chores - the caregivers focus on cognitive stimulations rather than physical chores, let to be done by the robots. In this project, we consider two very concrete scenarios to assist dependent living in their everyday life at home: 1) Sorting out groceries; and, 2) Cleaning the table. Robots will need to learn these behaviours within a reasonable amount of time while efficiently leveraging the sparse feed-back a human trainer can provide. This project aims to address the challenge of effectively designing theories and methods that will allow novices to efficiently train robots. The project expects to generate new knowledge in interactive robot learning by developing an innovative human-centred approach inspired by teachers’ training methods. Expected outcomes of this projectshould provide significant benefits for accessibility of robotics and AI systems to end-users.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Innovation infrastructure planning: future-proofing Australia’s growth . This project examines the role of planning in future-proofing Australia’s economic growth. It focuses on innovation infrastructure, that is, facilities integrating hardware, software and cultural support in one place to support innovation activities. This project aims to better attune research, policy and practice to guide effective innovation infrastructure planning by comparing Melbourne, Boston and Shanghai. It responds to the urgent need for Australia to transit towards an innovation-based, economically robust, socially coherent and environmentally sustainable growth model. The project will provide evidence to support: informed public investment decisions; enhanced economic base; and sustained social and economic progress for citizens. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning Significant long-term economic, environmental and social benefits can be gained for Australian communities if innovation can complement mining to become a pillar of Australia’s economic growth now. This project intends to generate new knowledge on the best planning practice in supporting innovation through key innovation infrastructure, and ensure lessons learned through comparing cases from Melbourne, Boston and Shanghai are well adapted for the Australian context and widely applicable to other cities and states. One main expected outcome of this project includes an effective planning framework for practitioners and policymakers that integrates robust policy-making logic, evaluation arrangements and applicability to diverse contexts in future-proofing Australia’s growth. This would significantly benefit Australia by informing investment decisions, strengthening companies’ innovation competitiveness, enhancing citizen well-being, supporting the development of resilient urban infrastructure, green industries and natural disaster prevention and mitigation technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Data-Driven Code Reviews for Cost-Effective Software Quality Assurance. This DECRA project aims to create advanced techniques that will enable software engineers to effectively assure the highest quality of software systems with minimal cost through data-driven recommendations. The current standard practices in software quality assurance involve the manual and tedious process of code review, which can lead to high costs and cause severe delays in software development. The expected outcomes of this project include new theories, techniques, and an automated system that provides insightful feedback, suitable reviewer recommendations, and fine-grained effort prioritisation. Significant benefits are expected to improve the production of Australia's software and the quality of safety-critical software systems. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software Australia’s production of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods and services are competitive on a global scale with a total value of 3.78 billion dollars in 2017-2018. However, inefficient software development and quality assurance can lead to significant cost overruns which are estimated to cause a global GDP loss of 300 billion dollars annually. This project will benefit Australia by addressing one of the critical challenges facing the software industry. The first key contribution of this project is to mitigate the inefficiency that occurs during the code review process, expecting to reduce at least 10% of software development time. The second key contribution is to effectively assure the quality of safety-critical software systems that our society relies upon. Our society and well-being rely heavily on innovative technologies run by software systems, and deploying poor-quality software systems could lead to significant financial losses or even serious harm to human life. Hence, this project will benefit Australia by developing technologies to cost-effectively assure software quality.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Development and application of super-sensitive spinning quantum sensors. This project aims to use physical rotation of diamonds on timescales faster than quantum decoherence to set new detection limits for precision quantum sensing of electric and magnetic fields. This potentially allows us to see for the first time how the Coriolis force acts on current flowing in a frame rotating 700,000,000 times faster than the earth. The project's expected outcomes are electro-magnetic sensors with unprecedented sensitivity that could find application in areas ranging from detecting household wiring to locating magnetic anomalies for defence. These outcomes should fill a blind spot of quantum magnetometry, have commercial impact and expand our knowledge of quantum physics in the rotating frame. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics This project will use extremely rapid physical rotation to significantly improve the sensitivity of electric and magnetic field detectors. Realisation of the aims of this project will reinforce Australia's position as a leader in quantum science and novel applications of quantum technology, ensuring the Australian community is at the forefront of quantum research when economically-transformative technology leaves the lab and enters the commercial domain. Sensing magnetic fields is of prime importance in a number of fields, including defence, where it underpins detection of magnetic anomalies such as submarines. Other applications include exploring the role of of electric charges and currents in living systems. This project will develop rotationally-enhanced quantum detectors with real prospects for impactful commercial application. This project will deploy these new sensors to explore the fundamental properties of charge transport, furthering our understanding of electromagnetic phenomena and enhancing Australia's reputation in novel quantum science and technology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Two-Dimensional Material Tandem Detectors for Polarimetry and Spectroscopy. The aim of this project is to leverage the fundamental advantages that two-dimensional (2D) materials could provide to vertically-stacked (tandem) photodetectors. The strong absorption, tunable bandgap and polarisation dependence that many 2D materials exhibit, provides a means by which to detect properties of light. This topic is significant because it could overcome current cost/performance issues of tandem detectors, enabling widespread usage. The expected project outcome is the development of a novel tandem 2D detector, which as a single detector/pixel, can extract the intensity, polarisation and wavelength region of incoming light. This would provide benefits for many future applications, including machine vision and aerial surveying. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering A single photodetector, capable of providing intensity, polarisation and spectral information, has far-reaching benefits of relevance to Australia. For example, this detector could be integrated as a pixel within a camera leading to improved object detection in autonomous vehicles and other machine vision applications; higher resolution aerial monitoring of vegetation and soil condition for agricultural and environmental management; and greater accuracy and customisability in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared medical imaging. More generally, the development of expertise in novel vertically-stacked photodetectors could fuel an Australian-led, high-tech sector. This could introduce further economic and job creation benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Do no harm: Sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian operations. This project aims to conduct the first systematic study of the nature, scale and impacts of sexual exploitation and abuse by civilian interveners in humanitarian operations. It will generate data on the nature and effects of such abuses and evaluate current policy responses. Expected outcomes include an enhanced understanding of this misconduct and how intervener behaviours affect the outcomes of international operations, the development of data collection tools of use to industry and policy recommendations. This will contribute to more effective international engagement in humanitarian and conflict contexts, better protection for vulnerable communities and will help address the legitimacy crisis facing humanitarian action and peacekeeping. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science This project contributes to Australia’s national interests by (1) providing practical recommendations on policies on sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian operations globally; (2) informing prevention and accountability mechanisms, thereby improving effectiveness of humanitarian operations to which Australia contributes; and (3) developing data collection tools for sexual misconduct in humanitarian operations, of use to both practitioners and scholars. Australia plays an important role in global peace and humanitarian efforts, particularly in our region. Its recent tenure on the UN Security Council was in part secured on account of Australia’s leadership on issues of Women, Peace and Security. As a significant contributor to peace and humanitarian operations, it is in our interest to lead policy and scholarly discussions on how to improve the effectiveness of those operations, protect the world’s most vulnerable populations from harm by those sent to protect them, and ensure that global perceptions of the legitimacy of such operations are not undermined by instances of sexual exploitation and abuse.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Toroidal quantum groups, integrable models and applications. Modelling systems of quantum and classical mechanics usually relies on computationally expensive numerical methods. Such methods typically provide raw answers and give little insight. In contrast, a special class of modelling based on quantum integrability provides us with a variety of analytic tools thanks to connections with algebra, geometry and combinatorics. The project aims to study quantum integrability with the help of new exciting developments in toroidal quantum groups. The anticipated outcomes include constructions of new models, developing analytic methods and computer algebra packages. These results are expected to facilitate challenging computational problems in modelling of quantum and classical systems. Field of research: 0105 - Mathematical Physics Modelling can help in understanding a range of natural phenomena, from behaviour of electrons in materials to spread of disease and fires. This project contributes to Australia’s national interest through its potential to deliver improved modelling based on access to new analytic and numerical tools which will enable better, more accurate predictions. Findings from the research will lay the foundation for developing novel applications such as smart computerised solutions to problems of natural phenomena, engineering and environmental, with potential for significant social and economic benefits. The project investigates a key challenge for the international mathematical physics community, and knowledge generated by it will enhance Australia’s strong reputation and capability in pure and applied sciences. This is vital for strengthening workforce capacity, attracting highly qualified researchers and engineers and establishing new and stronger collaboration with scientific institutions in Australia and internationally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Random tensors and random matrices: interactions and applications. This project aims at improving knowledge on probabilistic objects having applications in, for instance, mathematical-physics, statistical physics, quantum gravity and data science. In doing so, we expect to produce new mathematical results by building upon both classical approaches and innovative ones. In particular, on one hand, the extension of classical graphical methods will be developed and, on another hand, generalized probability theories will be used to provide new insights. The expected outcomes include a better understanding of the generic properties of quantum states. This should significantly benefit to mathematicians and physicists whose models use those objects and may impact the broader community of engineers and technicians. Field of research: 0101 - Pure Mathematics Recent years have seen a growing interest in random tensors and random matrices with complicated substructures. This is due to the numerous applications of such random objects to theoretical and practical aspects of many fields. A non-exhaustive list of these fields includes for instance telecommunications engineering, theoretical aspects of artificial intelligence, statistical analysis of large data sets, quantum information theory, many-body physics, quantum black holes physics and enumerative geometry. Some of those fields can have impact on technological applications while some other relate to the most difficult problems in mathematics and physics. Hence, this project is expected to have a cultural impact on the Australian community by creating new mathematical knowledge which has potential applications in many fields important for Australia's economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Inverting the Signature Transform for Rough Paths and Random Processes. The signature transform provides an effective summary of the essential information encoded in multidimensional paths that are highly oscillatory and involve complicated randomness. The main goal of this project is to develop new algorithmic methods to reconstruct rough paths and random processes from the signature transform at various quantitative levels. This project expects to make theoretical breakthrough on the significant open problem of signature inversion, thereby advancing knowledge in the areas of rough path theory and stochastic analysis. The newly developed methods will be utilised in combination with the emerging signature-based approach to study important problems in financial data analysis and visual speech recognition. Field of research: 0104 - Statistics Many types of data streams and random processes arising from scientific modelling are multidimensional paths that are highly oscillatory and irregular, best analysed through application of mathematical transforms. Simple examples include studying the frequency and amplitude of ocean waves, stock-market fluctuations and epidemics. This project aims to develop quantitative and numerical analysis techniques and extend these to high-dimensional problems, analysing rough paths and random processes through a fundamental type of mathematical transformation. While foundational in its aims, the theoretical results produced in the project can potentially be applied to a wide range of problems in data science that involve the analysis of time-series data arising from complex dynamical systems. These advances may ultimately underpin improved forecasts of system behaviour with potential long-term benefits throughout the Australian scientific and financial industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Dynamics and dispersion of microplastics in turbulent shallow water flows. Microplastics have become ubiquitous in our rivers, lakes and reservoirs, detrimentally impacting ecosystems. Via high-fidelity numerical simulations, the project aims to advance our understanding of the complex interplay between dispersed microplastics and key fluvial processes including turbulence, sediment transport and free-surface wave dynamics. The project intends to buildup a data-base containing high-resolution data of the occurrence, trajectories and distribution of microplastics. The outcome is anticipated to be invaluable in improving microplastic transport models, standardisation of sampling and quantification techniques, and in designing innovative mitigation technologies for microplastic collection. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering Out of the 3 million tonnes of plastic that Australia produces each year, only 12% is recycled. About 130 thousand tonnes of the rest ultimately ends up in our water bodies causing detrimental impact upon our aquatic ecosystems. The outcome of the project is expected to be instrumental in advancing our understanding and prediction capabilities of the fate and transport of microplastics. The project is expected to play central role in gauging the environmental risk posed by microplastics and in designing and probing of sustainable environmental solutions as well as elevating societal awareness of the significance of plastic pollution. This will be essential for the protection and rehabilitation of polluted water sources in Australia which is home to unique wildlife.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Structured Codes: Harnessing Interference to Improve Communication Networks. Interference occurs when a device involuntarily receives signals from unintended transmitters. Interference is the biggest challenge in modern large-scale communication networks. In contrast to conventional wisdom that avoids interference, this project aims to harness interference for its advantage. It will view interference as a form of computation that can be exploited advantageously using structured codes. Developing theory and novel coding techniques, this project expects to deepen our understanding of interference, and significantly increase the network bandwidth efficiency. Expected outcomes will benefit a wide range of applications such as next-generation mobile systems, sensor networks, and cyber-physical systems. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format The outcomes of this project will provide a paradigm shift in our understanding and response to interference in large-scale communication networks. In addition to illuminating long-standing open problems in the fields of communication and information theory, these novel coding techniques and decoding algorithms will have a significant impact on a wide range of practical applications. They can be applied to next-generation cellular systems, sensor networks, secret communication systems and cyber-physical systems. As a networked society, the benefits to Australia from this research cannot be overstated. Large scale communication networks are already integral in our modern world and their importance is continually growing. More active devices are joining ever-expanding communication networks. Thus, the benefits of increasing bandwidth efficiency in these networks are huge and will improve our finances, society, health, safety and environment.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Stability and Complexity: New insights from Random Matrix Theory. Complexity is a rule of nature: large ecosystems, the human brain, and turbulent fluids are merely a few examples of complex systems. This project aims to study and classify criteria of stability in large complex systems based on universal probabilistic models. This project expects to generate new important understanding of stability using cutting-edge techniques from random matrix theory. Expected outcomes of this project include development and expansion of an innovative mathematical framework and techniques which allow a unified and universal approach to the question of stability in large complex systems. Field of research: 0105 - Mathematical Physics From analyses of the macro-economy, to climate change, ecological food-webs and fundamental problems in physics, studying the behaviour of large complex systems requires an ability to analyse the solutions of high-dimensional mathematical models. Random Matrix Theory is a foundational component of the analysis toolkit and a rich mathematical area in its own right, receiving much attention from the international research community. This project will contribute to Australia’s national interest by strengthening Australian involvement in this prominent and rapidly growing domain of mathematical physics and applied mathematics. Furthermore, the project will include a higher degree research student who will benefit from working in a cutting-edge research area and from connections to the European research community. The research of this project is fundamental in nature, but it has potential applications across a wide range of enterprises, including business, economic and financial analysis and the physical and biological sciences.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Deciphering the coral minimal microbiome. This project aims to decipher the functions of coral-associated bacteria by taking advantage of low-diversity microbiomes that are naturally found in some coral species. A further aim is to unveil the importance of bacterial genome evolution in coral adaptation to climate change. Climate warming is the biggest threat to coral reefs with half of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) corals dead due to recent summer heat waves. Expected outcomes are an increased understanding of how bacteria contribute to coral heat tolerance, and new knowledge to assist in the development of bacterial probiotics for enhancing coral thermal tolerance. This should provide significant benefits to the protection of the GBR and Australia’s economy. Field of research: 0605 - Microbiology Coral reefs are home to over a quarter of all marine species and have extraordinary economic and cultural values, with the economic value of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) estimated at $56 billion. This project will elucidate whether and how coral-associated bacteria contribute to coral health, heat tolerance, and adaptation to climate change. This information will inform the development of bacterial probiotics for corals, an approach currently being explored in Australia and overseas to enhance coral heat tolerance and to restore coral reefs. This innovative, multidisciplinary research will thus contribute to the protection of the GBR and as such Australia’s economy. It will strengthen Australia's international position in coral reef conservation and restoration and provide high-quality research training and mentoring.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Deciphering new regulators of lipid metabolism: a focus on lipid droplets . Lipid droplets store lipids in cells and the mitochondria break down this lipid to generate energy. Both organelles are critical for energy metabolism and cell survival. This project aims to determine the proteins that regulate the interaction between mitochondria and lipid droplets, and how these proteins regulate metabolism. It is anticipated that this project will identify the essential components of lipid droplet-mitochondria interactions and their impact on regulating cellular lipid metabolism. The intended outcome of this project is to provide fundamental new knowledge in understanding how organelles interact and how lipid metabolism is regulated. This knowledge has applications for the primary industries and biotechnology sector. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology The efficient metabolism of lipids (fats) is important across most living organisms and defects in lipid metabolism can lead to cell death. Unfortunately, there is a knowledge gap in our basic understanding of lipid metabolism. The project will investigate how cell compartments called lipid droplets (which store lipids) interact with the structures called mitochondria, which burn lipids to create energy. This project will build basic knowledge of how lipid metabolism is regulated. Outcomes from this research include knowledge gain, training of young Australians in cutting-edge research, enhancing Australia’s international research standing and providing potential economic benefits through translation of knowledge gains into applications for the primary industries such as the dairy meat and agricultural products, creating new biotechnology opportunities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Extracting the 4f-wavefunction of rare earth magnets from X-ray diffraction. The project aims to develop a new combined computational quantum chemistry and experimental X-ray diffraction protocol to extract the 4f electron wavefunction in lanthanide magnetic materials. Results will be significant for the design and screening of efficient molecule-based magnets. Expected outcomes include detailed understanding of the influence of the chemical and crystal environment on single-molecule magnet properties, and benchmarking and development of new computational methods. Significant benefits include focused strategies to design and identify commercially viable lanthanide-based molecular memories, and advance our understanding of the quantum mechanics of strongly correlated 4f electron systems. Field of research: 0307 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry As current silicon-based computer processors, and data-storage devices, are running out of room for efficiency improvement, the information technology industry is investing more and more into the exploration of novel atom-based strategies to develop the next generation of computers. Lanthanide atoms and molecules represent promising quantum materials for a new generation of IT devices, and this project will develop and optimize a novel combined computational and experimental technique for the detailed characterization of the most efficient lanthanide materials. Investment in this project will thus not only keep Australia at the forefront of innovative research and development in information technology, but will also train a new generation of researchers who will be able to support technological commercial applications in the development of the next generation of electronic devices based on single atoms and molecules.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Causal Discovery from Unstructured Data. This Project aims to enable machines to discover causal relations from various kinds of unstructured data, such as images, text files, and sensor data. The project expects to promote causal revolution of data-centric intelligence and science – construct machines that can communicate in the language of cause and effect and answer ‘why’ questions by inferring from unstructured data. Expected outcomes of this project include theoretical foundations for causal discovery from unstructured data and practical algorithms that drive intelligent machines to make rational decisions in real-world scenarios. This should benefit society and the economy nationally and internationally through the applications of artificial intelligence and data science. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Artificial intelligence is changing the way we live and work. This project aims to construct machines that can communicate in the language of cause and effect, that is, to answer ‘why’ questions by inferring from unstructured data, such as images, text files and sensor data. The capacity to perform this causal reasoning will advance the intelligence level of machines and extend their impact, bringing benefits to many areas such as health, scientific research, industry and communication. Project outcomes will align with Australian national research priorities for improved prediction, identification, tracking, prevention and management of emerging local and regional health threats. The study will also produce innovative technology with potential significant impacts on industry and the economy, specifically market prediction, internet site selection and advertising. Finally, new knowledge generated on theoretical and computational aspects of causal discovery in machines will strengthen Australia’s profile as an international research hub on artificial intelligence.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Modern diplomacy: understanding ceremonial exchange at Indigenous festivals. This project aims to investigate how ceremonial performance at Indigenous festivals in northern Australia enacts diplomacy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, and between different clan and language groups. The project focuses on festivals in the Top End, 1964-present, using collaborative research with ceremony leaders and a comparative analysis of performance. The project expects to generate knowledge on how the exchange of dance and song in festivals is linked to ceremonies of diplomacy, and how this diplomacy enables intercultural dialogue. Expected outcomes include a mobile song library of archival recordings. Expected benefits include strengthened community efforts to sustain Indigenous song traditions into the future. Field of research: 1904 - Performing Arts and Creative Writing Language, song, dance and story are vital to the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, yet Indigenous perspectives on how to keep culture strong are understudied. Indigenous festivals foster local expressions of culture and contribute to the livelihoods of present and future economies. However, we know little from practitioners themselves about how songs and dances in multiple languages are staged and exchanged. This time-critical project will produce new knowledge about the ways in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous diplomacy and wellbeing are enacted through public ceremony in contemporary festivals. The project combines interviews with ceremony leaders about situated Indigenous knowledge, archival research and analysis of ceremonial performance. Project outcomes will contribute to cross-cultural respect and a deeper understanding of place within the broader community. The creation of a mobile song library will provide new models for intergenerational learning for apprentice singers and dancers and improve access to and links between datasets, archives and Indigenous communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Has it always burned so hot? Fuel and fire in southeast Australian forests. Indigenous cultural burning has been raised as a way of mitigating against climate-driven catastrophic bushfires in southeast Australian forests. It is argued that returning an Indigenous style fire regime will keep landscape fuel loads low, thus reducing the frequency and intensity of bushfires and mitigating against large catastrophic bushfires. While based on enormous reservoirs of traditional fire knowledge in Indigenous communities, this assertion needs empirical testing within these highly flammable forests. This project aims to empirically test how fuel loads, fuel type, fire frequency and fire intensity have changed over the past 500 years in southeast Australian forests, spanning the period of indigenous to British management. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience Australia needs better strategies for managing the fire hazard presented by the highly flammable forests of southeast Australia. This research will provide direct data on the potential for Indigenous cultural burning to maintain low fuel loads, less frequent and less intense fires within these forests. Recent fires have proven that fuel-reduction burning is ineffective at mitigating against catastrophic bushfires. The removal of Indigenous management from these forests occurred more than a century before the application of fuel-reduction burning to protect life, property and other assets, allowing the accumulation of fuel loads across the landscape that cause catastrophic bushfires. Indigenous cultural burning represents a real solution to this problem, but requires testing. This project will provide data on the ability of cultural burning to lower fuel loads, alter fuel type and change the frequency and intensity of bushfires. This will allow the development of robust, sustainable and effective fuel management strategy in the face of the clear increase in catastrophic bushfires in southeast Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Cancer culture: understanding anti-cancer campaigns in Australia. How do we change culture to improve public health? This project investigates the history of Australian anti-cancer campaigns to understand the nexus between science, advocacy, policy and behavioural change. The campaigns of Cancer Council Victoria modified government policy, pushed Australia into international prominence in public health research and translation, and influenced behaviour. The project seeks to analyse the deployment of such campaigns, the socio-cultural and political context that allowed them to leverage policy change, and their connection to life-saving behaviours. Distilling elements of success and failure will better inform advocates and governments in preventing cancer and other diseases through future health promotion. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies Australia is an international leader in adopting policies to prevent cancer, most recently leading the world on early detection of cancers, skin cancer prevention, and tobacco control. Since the 1930s, cancer control has been a critical part of Australia’s disease control strategy and has spanned the search for prevention, early intervention and cure. By conservative estimates, campaigns to prevent cancer or detect it early have contributed to hundreds of thousands of lives saved in Australia alone, particularly from preventing skin cancer and tobacco-related disease. Understanding the history of these campaigns from their conception to deployment therefore has clear benefits to the national interest by illuminating how scientific advances translate into successful advocacy of State and Federal governments to adopt life-saving policy measures and ultimately change individual behaviours. Revealing how significant changes in policies were achieved and leveraged into material shifts in Australian culture will consequently provide valuable information for the development of future campaigns for healthier living.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Rare Earth Metal Separation by Polymer Inclusion Membranes. The project aims to develop a novel hydrometallurgical method for the separation of the rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium from mixed rare earth metal solutions using polymer inclusion membranes with a crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymer backbone. These metals are crucial for the manufacturing of advanced technology products. The membrane-based method is expected to offer significant advantages over the currently used solvent extraction methods by eliminating the use of solvents and conducting the separation as a continuous process where the extraction and back-extraction steps take place simultaneously. These advantages are expected to make the separation process more cost-effective and drastically reduce its environmental impact. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering The proposed research will lead to the development of a new hydrometallurgical method for the separation of selected rare earth metals from mixtures of rare earth metal carbonates using novel and advanced polymeric materials called polymer inclusion membranes. Rare earth metals are critical components of rechargeable batteries, the strongest permanent magnets, electric motors, wind turbines, plasma and light emitting diode screens, computer hard-discs, catalytic converters, and fighter jets. The proposed method will provide considerable benefits to the Australian rare earth mining industry by minimising energy consumption and the production of hazardous waste and therefore will be an outstanding example of the application of “Green Chemistry” to large scale industrial separation of strategic mineral resources. This research addresses multiple aspects of the ‘Resources’ national science and research priority with expected flow-on effects to the ‘Advanced Manufacturing’ and ‘Environmental Change’ priorities. The proposed research will also foster international collaboration and research training.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Advances in data integration modelling for infectious disease response. This project aims to develop powerful mathematical frameworks that integrate data from multiple sources to facilitate informed decisions in response to the threat of present, and future, infectious diseases. The project expects to generate new knowledge in mathematics by advancing the tools for incorporating multiple data sources into models of infectious diseases. The expected outcomes include enhanced capacity to predict spatiotemporal changes in transmission of infectious diseases. This project should provide significant benefits in the advancement of modelling techniques broadly applicable to infectious disease settings, which will be demonstrated for antimalarial drug resistance – a major threat to malaria elimination. Field of research: 0102 - Applied Mathematics Australia needs to expand its capacity to respond to the threat of present and future infectious diseases. The Fellowship will advance informed infectious disease response by developing powerful mathematical frameworks that integrate data from multiple sources. The new mathematical methods developed will apply broadly to infectious disease settings, and my team will demonstrate their benefit for antimalarial drug resistance, which is a major threat to malaria elimination. The outcomes will directly contribute to national interest by improving our capacity to respond to significant global health challenges, addressing the Science and Research Priority for "Improved prediction, identification, tracking, prevention and management of emerging local and regional health threats". The advances will have significant bearing on Australia’s relations with the region, enabling us to contribute to the malaria elimination targets, reinforcing our involvement in the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance and Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Perception: From Genes to Behaviour. Understanding how genes affect behaviour is inherently difficult because the human brain is extraordinarily complex. This project aims to map fundamental relationships between genes, brain, and behaviour by studying visual perception, where brain mechanisms can be characterised with high fidelity. The project expects to generate new knowledge in behavioural genetics using innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to integrate precise genetic, neural and psychophysical measurements. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of our perceptual experience, and rich new experimental paradigms. This should provide significant benefits for future research attempting to disentangle complex gene–behaviour relationships. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology It is clear that genetics play an important role in behaviour, but we know surprisingly little about how these relationships actually play out. This project aims to address a critical gap in knowledge by providing an integrated account of some fundamental relationships between genes, brain, and behaviour. It will demonstrate several new models for the discovery of such relationships, including a rapid, high-throughput screening tool for genetically modified animals, with a range of significant future applications in understanding more complex behaviours and traits. To achieve its aims, the project deliberately focuses only on normal variation in genetics and behaviour. However, while outside the scope of this project, the models it provides supply the basic-science groundwork for future applied studies in psychology, psychiatry, and other fields, where understanding the brain mechanisms relating genes to behaviour is a major bottleneck to progress in genetic medicine.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Electronic-vibrational spectroscopy: A new probe for structure and function. This project aims to solve a major challenge in ultrafast spectroscopy: to identify and quantify competing reaction pathways in complex photochemical systems. Ultrafast Spectroscopy provides information on excited-state processes of photochemical reactions, however, unravelling heterogeneous systems with competing parallel processes remains difficult. Multidimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopy, sensitive to electronic dynamics and molecular structure, is expected to overcome this barrier. This new level of detail will profoundly enhance our understanding of energy and chemical conversion in complex systems and will reveal design targets for optimising next-generation light-energy harvesting, conducting, and emitting materials. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) Australia has invested heavily in materials research to generate technological advancements in solar energy harvesting, energy transport, chemical synthesis, medicine, biotechnology, security and chemical sensing. Discoveries in these areas support the development of new industries, domestic technical knowhow, and advanced manufacturing, while also providing Australians jobs, access to new medical treatments and technological solutions to reduce our impact on our environment. Central to many of these technologies is the conversion of light and electrical energy into useful chemical states. The energy and chemical conversion processes at the core of these technologies are challenging to study with the current investigative techniques. This project will develop a new tool, unique internationally, that can resolve the chemical species involved in light-driven chemical reactions. The insight gained will identify opportunities for advancement in the material sciences.