UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

A cutting-edge and high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance platform. The proposal aims to establish a multi-institutional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform across two of Victoria’s leading research universities. The platform will consist of two state-of-the-art NMR spectrometers equipped with parallel acquisition and variable temperature capabilities. It will renew obsolete equipment and support cutting-edge research in fundamental and applied chemical and materials science across the Victorian region. Expected outcomes include enhanced research capacity and productivity, supporting new interdisciplinary collaborations. Benefits will accrue across the spectrum of the chemical sciences and include environmental monitoring, drug development, process chemistry, and advanced materials manufacturing. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry Advanced nuclear magnetic resonance technology helps unravel the chemical structures of molecules. New chemical processes are critical to industry as they enhance productivity, build new markets, and protect from environmental impacts. The equipment will accelerate the discovery of new chemicals by Australian industry, fostering development of new materials in the drug, agrochemical, food and other specialist materials industries. It will enable the study of natural products and environmental pollutants, deepening our understanding of the environment and supporting its conservation pertinent to the Australian continent. We expect long-term impacts on research competitiveness and intensity, enhancing research capacity and supporting the Australian chemical industry. The requested instrumentation will renew obsolete infrastructure at the host institutions, driving new discoveries and providing state-of-the-art research training for the next generation of Australian research scientists and research leaders into the next decade.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Enabling the Future of the Australian Collider Physics Program. The project aims to fund the continuation of Australia’s very successful experimental particle physics program to explore how the universe works at it's fundamental level. We interrogate subatomic matter at the energy frontier at CERN's Large Hadron Collider and the intensity frontier at Japan's SuperKEKB collider. The basic contributions required for Australian membership of these two key programs will enable scientists to continue capitalising on decades of hard work and accumulated expertise, significant project outcomes and benefits include: access for Australia to advanced instruments and international research facilities; training of the next generation of researchers in detector construction and operation; and a rich science program. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics Particle physics is a fundamental quest to understand how matter is constructed. Australia has played a significant role in this foundational science, working with international particle accelerator facilities at Europe's CERN and Japan's KEK, building important networks and partnerships. The project places Australian researchers at the forefront of instrumentation development for advanced detector technologies. This will stimulate instrumentation technology, analytics and manufacture in Australia on the back of fundamental science needs. The work aligns with the national Science and Research Priorities, Advanced Manufacturing category, and also provides exceptional training for students in cutting-edge projects. The program will develop broadly applicable skills in big data handling and data-mining, microelectronics, sensor technology and advanced, complex simulation in the next generation of Australian physics graduates. It will provide Australia with technological capabilities through development of human capital in the deepest of international scientific endeavours.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange system - a missing link in protein analysis . Proteins are highly dynamic molecules that are essential to life. This project aims to acquire a fully automated and integrated hydrogen-deuterium exchange system, a powerful tool for analysing the motion of proteins and their interactions with other molecules. Expected outcomes include a new capability for biology labs around Australia by (1) increasing success rates of difficult projects that aim to visualise 3D protein structures and (2) providing rapid information about protein interaction sites. Anticipated benefits include the generation of dynamic data that will be highly complementary to static pictures of protein structures. This will enable clever design of new proteins with beneficial uses in the biotechnology industry. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This instrument will become an openly accessible resource for the protein science community in Australia with applications in our biotechnology industry. Proteins are one of life's essential building blocks and are the molecular engines that control all functions of an organism, from bacteria and viruses to plants and animals. Proteins are made up of long strings of amino acids which fold into unique three-dimensional structures. It is these structures that determine the function of a protein. However, proteins are not entirely rigid molecules so information about their motions are also critically important for understanding their function. This instrument will provide information on protein motion and details of molecular interactions with other molecules such as genes, antibodies, small molecules, and other proteins. Protein structures can be key drivers in the biotechnology industry so project outcomes may result in new products and new jobs. For example, protein structure has contributed to the development of new insecticides and crops with enhanced nutritional benefits.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

New Biomolecular Capabilities for the Melbourne Magnetic Resonance Facility. The project aims to integrate new instrumentation, which does not currently exist in Australia, into the Melbourne Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. This will introduce new capabilities to the Australian NMR community to characterise important biological molecular interactions at low concentrations. This project expects to support existing areas of research strength with new approaches across interdisciplinary research programs in biochemistry, structural biology, medicinal and natural product chemistry. Expected outcomes from a range of research with a variety of partners will underpin new, potentially commercially valuable, applications across the chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural or manufacturing industries. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy underpins basic science across the chemical and biological fields by advancing our fundamental knowledge of the behaviour of molecules. This facility will provide new cutting-edge NMR capabilities accessible to all Australian researchers. It will enable research across a diverse range of topics that have the potential to impact multiple sectors. Whether understanding biomolecular structures for the development of new drugs in the pharmaceutical sector; chemical characterisation to investigate new bioactive molecules and natural products for the chemical industries; or the development of novel biological materials for new devices in the manufacturing sector, this infrastructure has the potential to drive diverse economic, commercial, environmental, and social benefits for all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Near infrared imaging and spectroscopy facility. This project will establish a cutting-edge optical microscopy platform using light just beyond our vision, in the near-infrared. Recent developments in near-infrared camera technology have opened up new opportunities for applications in this under-explored spectral region. Expected outcomes include the development of new methods for harvesting near-infrared sunlight and for photocatalysis of solar fuels, new biomimetic coatings for thermal management, new security signatures invisible to the naked eye, new materials for phototherapy, and improved techniques for imaging biological samples. It will benefit Australian renewable energy, security, building, and biomedical industries, and train our next generation of optical science researchers. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Australia has made significant investments in large, visible light microscopy platforms that make exceptional contributions in materials and biomedical science. This proposal will expand our national optical microscopy capability by constructing an imaging facility using light just beyond our vision, in the near-infrared. Half the sunlight falling on Earth is in the near-infrared and is not collected by silicon solar cells. This facility will develop new methods for harvesting this untapped energy source. It will also enable study of the structures evolved by insects and birds to absorb or reflect near-infrared sunlight in adaptation to climate, leading to biomimetic applications such as energy efficient coatings and invisible anti-counterfeit devices. Near-infrared light penetrates the human body much more efficiently than visible light and new materials for bioimaging and for generating reactive oxygen species essential to phototherapy are anticipated. These outcomes will stimulate collaboration with the solar energy and building industries, with hospitals, and with defense organisations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Dissecting a major sulfur cycling pathway: sulfoglycolysis. This project will elucidate the molecular details of sulfoglycolysis, a group of metabolic pathways through which the sulfur-containing sugar sulfoquinovose is catabolized. The project will employ an integrated metabolomic, chemical, biochemical and structural approach to dissect how various sulfoglycolytic organisms degrade sulfoquinovose. This project will deliver a deeper understanding of this major biochemical pathway and develop new chemical and metabolic approaches to manipulate sulfur cycling in the environment. Benefits will include biotechnology applications of newly discovered proteins, and sustainable approaches to reduce our dependence on agricultural fertilisers. Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry Sulfur is an essential macronutrient in the biological world. It is estimated that approximately half of all sulfur in the biosphere resides within the sulfur-containing sugar sulfoquinovose. This project will study catabolic pathways for breakdown of sulfoquinovose used for sulfur cycling in nature. Many Australian cropping and pasture areas are sulfur deficient, which is combatted through the application of sulfur-containing fertilizers (eg superphosphate). Yet paradoxically, even sulfur-deficient soils contain substantial quantities of organosulfur, which plants cannot utilise because of a lack of soil microbes to achieve its breakdown. We will study microbial pathways for sulfur cycling in soil and plant microbes to build fundamental knowledge about the natural pathways for sulfur cycling. Our results will support sustainability through bioengineering of soil microbes to enhance crop yields and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Additionally, the study of pathways of sulfur-cycling will uncover new proteins and biological catalysts with commercial value for the Australian biotechnology industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Control of immune recognition and response by microbial metabolites. This project aims to study immune recognition of microbial metabolites and develop reagents to control immune responses. Chemical synthesis will be used to develop new antigens for unconventional T cells and the first soluble agonists and antagonists of a glycolipid-sensing immune receptor. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new immune effectors, broadening our knowledge of the repertoire of small molecules that can be sensed by the immune system, and developing chemical approaches to promote or dampen immune responses. Major benefits include research training in chemical biology, strengthened international linkages and fundamental insights into the chemical basis of immune recognition and response. Field of research: 0305 - Organic Chemistry Our immune system senses an extraordinary variety of diverse molecules through recognition systems that lead to immune responses tailored to control the interaction of microbes and our body. Microbial metabolites are recognized by specific immune receptors involved in human health and disease, yet these receptors and their ligands remain poorly studied and their roles in biology are ill-defined. Using a chemical approach, this project will discover new small molecules that can enhance or dampen immune responses to expand knowledge of the repertoire of chemicals that influence immune responses. The major outcomes will be new ways to use small molecules to control our immune system – turning it on or off on-demand. This project will support advanced training for students and postdoctoral researchers in the vibrant and maturing multidisciplinary area of Chemical Biology, will foster strong international linkages, and will lead to new discoveries and intellectual property of interest to the Australian and International biotechnology industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Unraveling the spread of antibiotic resistance genes across soil food webs. The emerging spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment is a major threat to public health and food security. This project aims to develop new knowledge about the key transmission routes of ARGs across multiple trophic levels in soil food webs, and how the interactions of plant, soil and fauna contribute to the profiles of environmental ARGs. Expected outcomes include an improved understanding of the role of fauna in regulating ARGs in the soil environment and the spreading mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in soil food webs. This project will contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions to tackle environmental antibiotic resistance, which has benefits for the environment and public health. Field of research: 0503 - Soil Sciences The emerging prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in Australia represents a major threat to public health, agriculture and food production. We lack studies experimentally testing the importance of soil food web interactions for the evolution and development of antibiotic resistance, and the relationship between the biodiversity of different groups of soil organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi, protists, and fauna) and antibiotic resistance has never been assessed. In this project, we will address this knowledge gap by quantifying the importance of soil food web interactions in shaping environmental antibiotic resistance by conducting microcosm, glasshouse and field experiments. The project outcomes will have implications for refined management strategies to reduce environmental dissemination of ARGs by manipulating their transmission pathways, and allow a critically-needed framework incorporating the environmental ARGs into risk assessment models. This project will bring environmental and health benefits the wider Australian community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Characterising O-linked glycosylation across Burkholderia. Protein glycosylation, the chemical addition of sugars to proteins, enables the augmentation of protein properties. Across the Burkholderia genus we have shown O-linked glycosylation is both conserved as well as essential for bacterial fitness. Yet, we have little understanding of how glycosylation modulates the proteome of this genus. This project aims to characterise the glycoproteomes of Burkholderia species and track the impact of glycosylation on both the proteome and protein stability. By understanding how glycosylation shapes the proteome we will gain a greater understanding of the role of bacterial glycosylation in Burkholderia physiology as well as how we may better utilise microbial glycosylation for glycoprotein production. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Species from the bacterial Burkholderia genus are an important part of the Australian ecosystem, yet we have little understanding of their unique physiology. A key aspect of bacterial physiology is how they add sugars to various structures, a process called glycosylation. Characterising the extent and impact of Burkholderia glycosylation will reveal new insights into the role of glycosylation in bacterial physiology. Knowledge gained from this work will be relevant to related microbial glycosylation systems. This research will strengthen Australia's research capacity in the growing field of glycosylation, informing how this process effects biological processes. This is of significant commercial interest as an improved understanding of microbial glycosylation may enhance our ability to produce new biopharmaceuticals. Researchers will be trained in novel ways to characterise future biopharmaceutical products, enhancing the profile and capability of Australian science and further strengthening our standing as world leaders in glycobiology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Heat transfer and fluid flow in geomaterials: Physics-inspired AI framework. Processes involving fluid flow or heat transfer are of critical importance in engineering applications (e.g., in dams, geothermal systems, oil & gas production). Though largely overlooked, microstructural features control these processes in geomaterials. This project aims to exploit advances in high-resolution 4D imaging to extract essential microstructural information to: 1) identify new parameters that better capture pore and particle properties, connectivities and pathways, and 2) develop advanced predictive analytics tools. This will improve fundamental understanding of the link between microstructure and fluid and heat flows at the engineering scale, and provide predictive tools to reduce risk and costs to industry. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering Energy demand continues to increase at an accelerated rate. To satisfy this demand, the world continues to exploit fossil fuels while developing alternative sources of energy, such as geothermal, where both fluid flow and heat transfer are the dominant physics. Australia will invest about $30 billion over the next decade in ground site investigations and reservoir exploration, and in the geotechnical design of infrastructure associated with energy supply and population growth. The hydraulic, thermal (and mechanical) properties of the ground are at the core of all these projects. Advanced data analytics tools will be developed to predict hydraulic and thermal conductivities from microstructural data extracted from very small samples (e.g., inexpensive spoil from normal drilling). These tools will have a significant impact on any design involving heat and fluid flow, such as extracting heat from geothermal systems, oil & gas from reservoirs and minimising fluid flow in dams; and thereby provide significant benefits in reducing uncertainty and costs by up to 50% for such projects in Australia and worldwide.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Young people shaping livelihoods across three generations. This proposal for a third cohort to the Life Patterns longitudinal study aims to investigate how in a context of technological and structural change a new generation of young Australians builds livelihood-resilience, keeping the focus on those elements that have proven to be enabling for previous generations. The project aims to generate new knowledge about the influences of education, work, housing, relationships, wellbeing on positive trajectories. Expected outcomes of this project include systematic evidence and a new holistic livelihood-resilience framework for analysing youth trajectories. This project should provide significant benefits to the national response supporting positive youth transitions through education and work. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology This project contributes to Australia’s science and research priority of health by providing the most comprehensive source of evidence yet about the strategies, by individuals and institutions, that support Young Australians' well-being in the form of livelihood-resilience. It responds to calls for holistic policy frameworks that can assist young people during a period of structural transformation and deepening social and economic inequality. The study is uniquely placed to contribute to education, labour market and youth policies that bring long-term economic, social and cultural benefits to Australia. It aims to develop an internationally-relevant social model of livelihood-resilience that recognises that good health in the broadest sense requires preventive strategies that build community-level resources that promote positive outcomes for young Australians, strong engagement with the labour market and the bridging of the education/work nexus.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Defining the Molecular Targets of Evolution. With significant advances in next-generation sequencing technologies we now have the genomes of hundreds vertebrate species, but understanding how the differences and similarities within these genomes control species diversity is largely unknown. The similarity in skull shape between the thylacine and dogs coupled with their deep ancestry, having last shared a common ancestor over 160 million years ago, provides an unprecedented opportunity to examine how evolution works at the DNA level. This proposal will determine if animals that develop identical skull shapes, also show identical changes in their DNA. The findings will define new developmental genes and explain how selection, adaptation and evolution works at the DNA level. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics Understanding the biology of marsupials, and in particular that of one of our iconic extinct marsupial species, is of significant National Interest environmentally, socially and culturally. The thylacine is an important part of our history. Our previous work on the thylacine has had enormous impact in both the scientific community and general public at an international level creating many opportunities for outreach and community engagement in science. Our research will define the regions of the genome that are the targets of natural selection and evolution and that drive species diversity in mammals. These findings have broad implications for our understanding of evolutionary processes and in measuring the adaptability of mammalian genomes to environmental change. Furthermore, these studies will underpin management strategies to ensure the preservation of our iconic marsupial fauna for generations to come.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Sugar transporters in coral symbiosis and origin of parasitism. We aim to identify how symbiotic algae feed sugar to their coral hosts. Corals need this algal sugar to exist, but no one knows how it is transferred, so understanding this crucial mechanism is hugely significant. The first benefit of this research will be a fundamental understanding about how two organisms (algae and coral) cooperate to build habitats like the Great Barrier Reef. We also aim to explore whether coral/algal cooperation paved the way for the origin of parasitism. The second key outcome will be to identify the precise molecular mechanism that allowed parasitism to arise. This will benefit us through understanding the origins of important diseases such as human malaria and related infections of livestock and wildlife. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project aims to unlock the molecular basis of a partnership between a microscopic plant and an animal that powers coral growth. Reefs are valuable resources for tourism, fishing and biodiversity. Australia's Great Barrier Reef underpins 66,000 jobs and its economic value is ~$7 billion. Understanding the intimate algal/ animal partnership that drives reef growth and survival will better equip us to protect this threatened resource. It will also help us understand the biological and evolutionary basis of parasitism in a very large group of parasites and hosts. This promises significant national benefits as universal scientific insights on the biological basis of parasitism have the potential to impact on the study of major human parasitic diseases such as malaria and toxoplasmosis, plus commercially important parasitic diseases of livestock such as coccidiosis in poultry, babesiosis and theileriosis of cattle, and sarcocystosis of sheep and cattle.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Emerging transport technologies: finding new practices in urban governance. This project will explore the rapidly changing political economy of Australia’s urban transport systems as private companies deploy new technologies. Many new and existing policy instruments are available to governments to manage this difficult technological transition. In-depth case studies of emerging policy responses in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney will be set in the context of fast-moving international developments. This work will deliver new insights into the design and use of better instruments for policy, planning and governance to meet the needs of businesses and the public and to ensure that the potential benefits of the new technologies are fully realised in Australian cities. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration New transport technologies are reshaping urban transport systems in complex and important ways. Businesses and the public are looking to governments for a smooth transition that will allow the very significant social and commercial benefits of the new technologies to be realised at an affordable cost. There are many policy instruments available to governments to manage this transition, including: new mechanisms for pricing of road space in real-time; regulation of ride-share operators to avoid unhealthy monopolies; conditions on the use of road space for vehicles operating with new technologies; and regulation of technical specifications for safety or performance. This research will assess the potential effectiveness of these and other policy instruments - some familiar and some new to Australia. This will assist governments and planning agencies to choose the right mix to meet transport policy objectives in the short and long-term.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Towards an Australian Ecological Theatre . This 3-year collaborative project aims to review the parameters of Australian Theatre and Performance Studies by reconceptualising past and present works in terms of their environmental content. The project expects to generate new knowledge of texts, scenography, attitudes to the natural world and site-specific locations of this under-recognised but vital stream of the performing arts in Australia from 1960 to 2020. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capacity to theorise and evaluate Australian Ecological Theatre and Performance. This should provide significant benefits to the discipline at the national and international level by modelling a new approach that highlights the human and environmental consciousness of the performing arts. Field of research: 1904 - Performing Arts and Creative Writing This research will provide lasting cultural benefits to academics, teachers, communities and students about the field of Australian Theatre and Performance Studies. They will be better equipped to apply new understandings of how the performing arts represent Australia’s unique environment. This will include an increased understanding of the nation’s artistic achievements in this field from 1960 to 2020, and a better capacity to take a historic view of the relationship between the arts and the environment. For the broader performing arts industry, including its writers, artists, critics and audiences, the research will provide new information about an under-recognised but vital stream of the performing arts that can be used as the basis for making or viewing new works. There are further social and cultural benefits for Australian community arts workers especially in regional areas. These benefits relate to a better understanding of the potential of the performing arts as a medium for building community, resilience and emotional well-being in an accessible way.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Auger, Quantum Electro-Dynamics, Axions and New Technology. New technology developed by Australia, Sweden and the United States will be applied to major questions about the application of relativistic quantum mechanics to atomic structure and dynamics and spectroscopy, especially including critical issues in quantum electro-dynamics for atomic physics and applications. Discrepancies in quantum electro-dynamics have dominated international debate for decades, with claimed explanations annually failing to reveal the cause. Also a pattern of discrepancies has been seen at X-ray energies in first row metal atoms, with a similar sign and magnitude. A combined experimental an theoretical investigation will aim to reveal new light on these anomalies and serve to develop our understanding of the universe. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics Microcalorimetry is a new technology for stable and well-defined calibration of radiation sources. The technology applies to high-resolution, strong and weak radiation, over large energy ranges from UV through to X-rays. Bringing the best of this technology to Australia paves the way for development of Australia’s leading role in advanced fields including materials and surface science, sensitive detectors for guidance systems, materials characterisation for aerospace and solid state computing devices. Microcalorimetry technology can also be applied to fundamental questions of characteristic radiation and quantum electrodynamics. This application will help resolve major anomalies between scientific theory and experimental data identified in recent years. We will develop software, user communities and licensing for Australian IP for microcalorimetry. The project will train Australian scientists in radiation science using state-of-the art technology, not only adding to fundamental knowledge, but also supporting a broad range of practical applications.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

The Spectral Evolution of Ocean Swell. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the processes responsible for the evolution of ocean swell. It will generate new knowledge in the field by using a combination of newly available satellite data and buoys strategically located along two propagation paths across the Pacific. The expected outcomes will be a unique data set and significant advances in our ability to accurately predict ocean swell. Swell prediction remains one of the major short-comings of ocean wave prediction models. As swell conditions dominate ocean wave climate for 75% of the time, accurate prediction is critical for coastal protection, understanding air-sea interaction and maintaining ship and port operations. Field of research: 0911 - Maritime Engineering Maritime operations, such as ship to ship loading in the offshore oil and gas industry and the operations of ports and harbours are critically dependent on our ability to accurately predict swell conditions. This project will greatly improve swell prediction capabilities with resulting economic benefits for these industries. Ocean swell is also an important parameter in determining coastal flooding and the stability of beaches. Changes in the prevailing direction of ocean swell can result in significant realignment of beaches. Such changes can have devastating erosion impact on coastal communities. The enhanced prediction capabilities provided by this project will enable better planning of coastal communities, with resulting economic benefits. As there is evidence that ocean wave conditions in the Southern Ocean have been changing in recent decades, an understanding of the likely changes in swell impacting Australia's coastline will be critical for future planning. Better planning will result in environmental, economic and social benefits for Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Augustus and the Roman Triumph: A Study in Creeping Authoritarianism. This proposal aims to produce novel comparative insights into the genesis of despotism in sophisticated republics and democracies. To this end, it focuses on the transformation of the public victory ritual of the triumph from a shared aristocratic privilege into a lasting imperial monopoly by Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. Enhancing our knowledge of the rise and inner workings of Augustus’ New Order will provide modern political science with a new archetype of creeping authoritarianism, readily applicable to some of the most notorious tyrannies of the modern era and contemporary variants. The proposal will, therefore, substantially inform the field, theorists and practitioners of government, and Australia’s secondary school curriculum. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies This study develops a new understanding of Rome's historic transition from Republic to Empire which has the potential to inform and stimulate contemporary debates about political leadership. It also provides a framework to help discern transformative political manipulation and creeping authoritarianism that has continued relevance in the present. Ancient history is an increasingly popular school subject nationally. The project will provide foundational research that can be subsequently adapted to inform the development of curriculum resources, thereby enhancing the project’s future national and social benefits. A public-facing website will showcase research findings and promote wider engagement. The analysis of Augustan triumphal policy and autocratic statecraft will yield a series of major works of reference in top-tier international venues. Outcomes from a cross-disciplinary conference on Augustan authoritarianism and modern political science will build capability and strengthen Australia’s reputation for innovative scholarship in ancient history and comparative political science.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

How positive interactions improve predictions of plant community diversity. Though common in nature, the importance of plant-plant facilitation to coexistence and the maintenance of plant diversity at community scales is poorly understood. This project aims to advance understanding of how positive interactions (facilitation) impact on coexistence among plant species as well as local patterns of diversity. To achieve these aims the project will use a combination of field experiments and a comparative analysis of competition and facilitation in Australian, Californian and Spanish annual plant communities with a novel modelling approach for predicting coexistence across variable environments. Outcomes are expected to include an innovative predictive framework of use for plant conservation in Australia and beyond. Field of research: 0602 - Ecology This project aims to improve ecological models of local diversity in order to better predict the environmental conditions under which native plant communities can persist and when they are more and less susceptible to invasion by weeds. The study will focus on endangered wildflower communities in Western Australia with comparisons with similar systems in California and Spain. The models developed will be applicable to a wide range of systems across Australia and globally. The project involves using field and glasshouse studies of annual wildflower species to develop a predictive model of which plant species can live together and which cannot, using detailed information about positive, negative and indirect interactions among plant species. Project outcomes are expected to allow detection of environmental conditions and community types that are more and less vulnerable to environmental changes due to climate change and invasions by different types of exotic species. Results will allow for more accurate targeting of at-risk plant communities in Western Australia and around the world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Sharing the Wealth: Tax and Justice in The Slow Growth Era. This project aims to address fundamental problems of injustice in taxation emerging in the transition to a slow growth economy in Australia and globally. The project applies interdisciplinary approaches to generate new knowledge that aims to update frameworks for justice in taxation, refreshing out-dated 20th century ethical and legal approaches. Collaborative legal and philosophy analysis by leading scholars in Australia and the United States will respond to contemporary conditions of slow growth, wage stagnation, wealth inequality, population aging and longevity. Project outcomes will include tax reform proposals to benefit policy makers and enrich public debate on tax justice for 21st century economic and fiscal conditions. Field of research: 1801 - Law This project will generate significant economic and social benefits for the Australian community by developing a new theoretical framework and reform proposals for the tax system that respond to growing wealth inequality for Australia's longer-lived and aging population, as wages stagnate and economic growth slows. This project applies philosophical and legal analysis to refresh 20th century theories of tax justice for 21st century economic and political challenges. It aims to fill a gap in research about the consequence of changing economic conditions for justice and efficiency of the tax system and to develop specific recommendations to reform Australia’s income, consumption and wealth taxation at federal and State levels. Comparative legal and philosophical analysis developed through collaboration with leading international researchers will identify and develop reform proposals that are just, socially desirable and politically feasible, supplying solutions tailored to problems of slow growth and tax injustice as they emerge in the Australian context.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Understanding Statelessness in Australian Law and Practice. This project aims to undertake the first comprehensive study of stateless persons in Australia. It will generate groundbreaking insights into Australia’s role historically in protecting stateless persons, and identify the protection needs of stateless persons in Australia today. Expected outcomes include improving the quality of Australian administrative decision-making, and making an important scholarly contribution to an emerging area of international law. The project will improve public administration, develop Australia’s reputation as a leader in statelessness law and policy, and position Australia as a core node of expertise on an important issue that has implications for the rule of law, security and social cohesion in our region. Field of research: 1801 - Law This project will have multiple benefits to Australia. First, there is little knowledge about stateless persons in Australia, yet decision-makers grapple with the complexity of their cases in a wide range of contexts. By developing a Legal Practice Resource and Blueprint for Protecting Stateless Persons, this project will facilitate better decision-making and offer policy reforms based on best practice. Second, the Project will position Australia as a regional node for evidence-based policy in response to statelessness. Australia’s region hosts the largest number of stateless people, and developing research tools, research capacity and expertise will enable Australian researchers to contribute to research and reform regionally, furthering efforts to address root causes of refugee flows, and contribute to the rule of law, good governance, security, development and stability in the region. Third, this project will generate knowledge and expertise that will enhance Australia’s international contribution to the UNHCR #iBelong campaign, the Global Compact on Refugees and the Sustainable Development Goals.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Uncovering mechanisms of protein multifunctionality. This project aims to use viral proteins to uncover fundamental mechanisms underlying protein multifunctionality, a central but poorly understood aspect of biology. This project expects to use multidisciplinary approaches to define novel and unexpected mechanisms by which single protein sequences can generate proteins with profoundly different structures and functions. Expected outcomes include a major shift in the understanding of protein function in life, with most immediate impact in virology. This should provide significant benefits in identifying new strategies for treating viral infections, but also enhance developing multidisciplinary approaches to solve complex biological problems. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This research encompasses discovery-driven science that aims to increase knowledge on fundamental mechanisms in protein biology, significant to viruses and cellular life. Immediate impacts will be in understanding of a class of viruses important to the Australian livestock industry and export markets, revealing basic mechanisms of replication and host subversion, including immune evasion. This will guide future research on antivirals and vaccine development. By revealing fundamental mechanisms in protein function, the work will also greatly advance research in the physiology and pathology of other microbes and multicellular organisms. The project will develop critical mass in Australia and major collaborations by training students, a postdoctoral scientist and research assistant in a range of state-of-the-art structural and cell biology techniques.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Improving young people's online safety when talking about suicide. This project aims to improve the safety and quality of online communication about suicide by young people. Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians and rates continue to rise. One commonly cited explanation for this is the way in which young people use social media to communicate about suicide. This project will directly address this by testing the impact of a set of evidence-informed guidelines and campaign materials that target young people’s capacity to communicate about suicide safely on social media. Expected outcomes of this project include increased online safety for young people. This study also has national and international significance for the social media industry and the safe governance of their platforms. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services Suicide is a significant societal problem. Youth suicides cost the Australian government over $551m each year. Over the past ten years, suicide rates have almost doubled in those aged 15 to 19 years. One commonly cited explanation for this is the way in which young people use social media to communicate about suicide. Online safety is a cornerstone of the Morrison government agenda, and there is a call for reform of Australia’s Online Safety Act. Through collaboration with industry partners and researchers in the USA, this research seeks to improve the safety and quality of online communication about suicide by young people, thus reducing rates of youth suicide, harmful online experiences, and subsequently improving online safety for all young Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Grandparent childcare: negotiating work and care across generations. This project aims to investigate how and why parents and grandparents share childcare responsibilities in contemporary Australia. Using mixed methods and an innovative conceptual approach with a central focus on parent-grandparent care dyads, it expects to generate critical new knowledge of intra-family negotiations about employment and childcare provision across generations, and their relationship with social and economic policy. The project expects to identify sustainable employment-childcare practices that meet the needs of children, parents and grandparents. Significant benefits include informing new policies aimed to enhance both gender and generational equity, promote women’s workforce participation, and boost national productivity. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration This project will serve Australia’s national interest by addressing a major barrier to achieving two primary objectives of contemporary Australian policy-making: improving national productivity and promoting gender equality by lifting women's workforce participation. In many families, parents look to grandparents to provide childcare whilst they are at work, limiting the grandparents’ own workforce opportunities. This project will generate recommendations on how to improve employment participation through a more gender-equal distribution of work and childcare across all ages. The information it will provide will advance the national productivity agenda. It will inform policy aimed to improve Australia’s international competitiveness, raise participation and offer better returns on the large national investment across significant policy areas including employment, early childhood education and care, education, and retirement incomes. For example, McKinsey Global Institute (2019) estimates Australia’s GDP would rise 12 percent ($60 billion), if female workforce participation matched that of the US or Canada.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2021 · 2021-01

Generating Knowledge from High-dimensional and Incrementally Acquired Data. Complex data from emergencies, e.g., data acquired from an ongoing viral outbreak or actively moving bush fire are often received progressively. The analysis of such situations cannot wait until the complete data set is available at the end of the emergency. The aim of this project is to overcome this serious deficiency of current AI tools by developing innovative Neural Network based methods that can learn from continuous data streams and extract and interpret the hidden knowledge either semantically or mathematically. The expected outcomes of this project include the development of novel methods, highly trained AI researchers and a number of critical real applications that will bring significant benefits to Australia and the world. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing This project will develop new data analysis methods that can generate knowledge from a broad range of applications. It will provide the opportunity to create and continually update models for complex systems using continuous data streams from various sources, such as microbial/viral communities, bushfire scenarios or market systems. Improved modelling of viral communities, for example, can be used to understand how they grow to improve our response to viral outbreaks, providing substantial epidemiological and health impacts. Furthermore, the models we produce are expected to be robust in extrapolation analysis, enabling the modelling and prediction of systems with unknown parameters, such as oceanic or atmospheric events. Extremely versatile, these novel methods will be broadly applicable to a wide range of fields from public health to naval transportation. Thus, this research has the potential to provide significant national benefits for the economy, environment, health, society and culture of Australia and beyond.