UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Indigenous Storytelling and the Living Archive of Aboriginal Knowledge . No archiving system adequately responds to the interconnected and relational knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples'. This project aims to explore the potential of Indigenous Storytelling, which supports the interconnection of everything, as a way of intervening in the linear structure of institutional archives. A non-linear, interactive archiving system will be developed in collaboration with Aboriginal people. Such a system aims to better reflect Aboriginal perspectives about culture and histories in relation to collections held in galleries, libraries, archives and museums. An evaluation of museums globally will advance understandings of the opportunities for greater Indigenous co-management of their dispersed collections. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies This research addresses issues of Indigenous inequality by improving Indigenous connections to cultural heritage in institutional archives. It advances the uptake of digital technologies to facilitate new systems for supporting dialogue between Indigenous communities and collecting institutions, and will generate new knowledge and models for Indigenous co-management of their cultural heritage located in these collections. In doing so, it provides scope for Indigenous people to be engaged more broadly in the care of their collections, shifting the focus away from the museum as experts on Indigenous culture, to Indigenous communities. Improving Indigenous connections to culture has also been recognised for its potential to advance strategies for social inclusion and to support social, cultural and emotional wellbeing. Further, the research offers potential for Indigenous peoples’ to actively engage with museums on a global scale, initiating opportunities to link-up people with their collections elsewhere, and in turn create a better understanding of Indigenous histories from Indigenous perspectives.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Towards understanding the molecular details of canola-infection by Fusarium. This project aims at improving our understanding of how canola plants are infected by the pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Canola is the primary oilseed crop, and the overall third most important crop in Australia, accounting for a 3 billion AUS$ industry. Fusarium is a relatively new fungal disease to Australian canola, but projected to become a serious threat in the future. The project will provide insights into the earliest stages of plant-infection by the fungus on a cellular level, using molecular biology, genetics and microscopic tools. Expected outcomes of this research include the identification of key components to improve plant defense against Fusarium, and the development of strategies to improve the plant's resilience. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Incomplete Information Models for Industrial Organisation. Mergers, acquisitions, and collusive conduct take place in imperfectly competitive environments where firms have incomplete information about others. Despite this, standard workhorse models for analyzing the associated competitive effects assume that firms have complete information and typically only accommodate imperfect competition on one side of the market. This project aims to remedy this deficiency by developing the economic theory and associated practical tools for the analysis of competitive effects in settings with incomplete information and market power on both sides. The project work will be presented at seminars and workshops around the globe to both academic audiences and to practitioners at competition authorities. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics This project will increase the range of tools that are available to economists and competition authorities for the evaluation of the competitive effects of mergers and collusive conduct. The project aims to develop those tools and engage competition authorities around the world to put those tools into practice. For example, competition authorities currently consider the roles of countervailing buyer power and maverick firms when considering the likely competitive effects of a merger; however, they do not have available to them rigorous quantitative tools to evaluate those effects. A key benefit of the project will be more informed and more sophisticated, and hence improved, decision making by competition authorities when evaluating the competitive effects of economic conduct. Besides producing significant new knowledge, the dissemination of the insights from the project to a wider audience promises to deliver innovative economic, social, and cultural benefit to the Australian and international community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Millimeter Wave Frequencies for Vehicle-to-Everything Communications. High data rate communication links between vehicles and surrounding objects are needed to enhance advanced driver assistance systems, enable a wider range of infotainment options and pave the way towards fully automated driving. This project aims to develop a novel framework to use millimeter wave frequencies (the newest candidate for 5G cellular) to enable future high data rate vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems. Based on an innovative approach, the project combines communication and sensor technologies in an integrated system that simultaneously reaps the benefits of autonomously sensing the driving environment and cooperatively exchanging information, thus providing significant savings in hardware costs and spectrum usage. Field of research: 1005 - Communications Technologies Communication is key to the development of a fully automated vehicle. It is estimated that the overall economic benefit to Australia that comes with an automotive industry is over $95 billion per annum. Contributing directly towards enabling future vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, this project aims to combine the newest trends in wireless communications and sensor technology to build efficient, reliable and secure communication links that can provide the terabytes per second data rates required to enable fully automated vehicles. The project identifies the great potential of using millimeter wave frequency bands for vehicular communications and provide the means to re-purpose already available automotive radars for communication purposes, thus significantly reducing hardware costs and increasing market penetration. The innovations from project will be of interest and relevance all over the world and position Australia as a leader in providing autonomous driving solutions and technology to make our roads safer and less congested.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Understanding how the heart becomes more efficient. The body demands that the heart function at utmost efficiency. Trabeculae – folds within the heart lumen – maximise blood flow, contribute to chamber development and form the electrical conduction network of the heart. Problems with trabeculae formation cause cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia and yet we do not understand its basic development. The project will investigate the earliest stages of when this tissue develops its identity and examine the signalling, genetic, cellular and extracellular cues required to instruct trabeculae to form in the heart. Findings from this research will revise our understanding of when and how trabeculae form and provide key information about how to grow and repair this important tissue. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics The heart is essential for survival and defects in its form or function are the leading cause of death in Australia. Unfortunately, there is a knowledge gap in our basic understanding of how the heart forms. Understanding which genes pattern the heart are crucial for the development of any technology, drug design or bioengineering efforts. The project will investigate how trabeculae form. Trabeculae are folds on the inner surface of the heart that allow it to pump blood more efficiently. They also carry a network of electrical tissue, ensuring heart contraction. Defective trabeculation can cause cardiomyopathy (leading to heart failure) and arrhythmias. This project will build basic knowledge of how this tissue forms. It may also help the development of diagnostics and be used to guide tissue engineering efforts. Outcomes from this research include knowledge gain, training of Australians in cutting-edge research, enhancing Australia’s international research standing and provide potential economic benefits through knowledge & health gains and biotechnology opportunities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

War-Widow, Mother, Slave, Refugee: Andromache in Romantic Europe. This project aims to uncover how Andromache, a prominent classical figure in the Trojan wars, was represented and deployed to shape the literature, politics and culture of Romantic-era Europe. Its expected outcome is a significant reassessment of an understudied figure, focusing on her portrayals as a grieving widow, slave and refugee in times of national crisis and change, especially the Napoleonic wars. Its innovative method combines literary studies, musicology, cultural and material history, and emotions history. The project intends to strengthen Australia’s leading role in Romantic studies, enrich cultural life, and foster community reflection on the significant challenges of migration, refugees, gender and violence, war and emotions. Field of research: 2005 - Literary Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

New directions for using brain stimulation to understand brain function. Neuroplasticity is of fundamental importance to brain function as it mediates learning, memory and development. Deficits in neuroplasticity are observed in a number of neurological conditions and thought to contribute to cognitive dysfunction. This study is designed to develop a better understanding of the neurochemical and genetic factors impacting on neuroplasticity. In addition, it aims to (i) upregulate brain connectivity in a precise and targeted manner, (ii) elicit functional increases in cognitive performance and (iii) demonstrate the relationship between functional connectivity and cognition. Outcomes include a better understanding of plasticity in the brain & a enhanced capacity to examine and modulate brain plasticity. Field of research: 1701 - Psychology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Real-time neuronal network imaging using diamond optrode arrays. The project aims to develop new imaging technology for real time recording of electrical activity from cell and neuronal networks with unprecedented resolution and scale. The technology innovation stems from an optical defect in diamond which can be engineered to sensitively detect local changes in electric field. The all-optical diamond optrode array devices will be applied to biological model systems including cardiomyocytes, mammalian cells, and neurons; and will be benchmarked against current state-of-the-art technologies. The knowledge gained from the high density recordings will aid predictive models of disease and will lead to an improved understanding of the brain’s micro circuity and functional connectome. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics Here we propose the development of an all-optical, non-invasive electrophysiology platform for real time recording of neuronal networks. This technology has the potential to transform the way we interface with neurological systems, and provides new opportunities to analyse neural networks and excitable cells/tissues with unprecedented scale and resolution. The nanotechnology breakthrough addresses a critical unmet in functional connectomics of neuronal circuits, and will improve our understanding of how the brain functions. The knowledge gained may enable future development of more efficient drugs to target cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. Australia is among the top five countries globally in biotechnology, and possesses a rich history in technology innovation and pharmaceutical drug discovery. The technology developed under this proposal would continue to drive innovation in these key areas to strengthen Australia’s global reputation in biotechnology.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Viewing Chemistry through Diamond: Quantum Sensors for Realtime in situ NMR. This project aims to develop a new analytical method and integrated platform technology for time dependent, in situ monitoring of chemical reactions. The proposed research will capitalise on recent developments made in the field of diamond-based quantum sensing to enable the resolution of chemical species and their concentrations within the timescales associated with many important reaction systems. This project thus expects to generate knowledge in both quantum metrology and physical chemistry. Moreover, the realisation of this technology has significant potential to improve the design and manufacture of important advanced materials, ranging from clean energy production and storage, to pharmaceutical development and drug discovery. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Balancing National Security and Economic Interests in Foreign Investment. The project aims to investigate growing divergence between countries’ inward foreign investment policies and their increasing links to national security. Novel interdisciplinary collaboration integrating political science, economics and law promises insights into these policy shifts, which appear driven by digitalisation of the economy and the rise of emerging markets (eg China) and State-linked investment. Expected outcomes include clarification of the causes and implications of these shifts and innovative understanding of the connection between national security and economic interests in investment. This new knowledge should enhance balance in investment policy and decision-making, with economic and foreign policy benefits for Australia. Field of research: 1801 - Law The project promises major economic and foreign policy benefits to Australia by refining policy treatment of inward foreign investment to safeguard against emerging risks and capitalise on new opportunities. Significant potential exists for growth in foreign investment in Australia, including from China and in technology and services, with corresponding benefits for the Australian economy. Australia risks an overly restrictive approach to investment in Australia by State-linked entities in ‘sensitive’ sectors. An integrated approach combining economic, political and legal perspectives on investment policy will promote the benefits of economic integration and cooperation while balancing national security requirements. This research will also help mitigate negative foreign policy responses towards Australia arising from perceptions of a hostile Australian approach to inward investment. Finally, the project should assist Australian businesses and investors by providing a timely and comprehensive assessment of global patterns in investment policy, and policy motivations and directions in key partner countries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

English: the History of a Discipline 1920-70. This project aims fundamentally to change and enrich our understanding of a dynamic intellectual movement—academic literary criticism between 1920 and 1970. During this period, English (as it was often called) shaped the humanities at both the secondary and tertiary level. It also changed how and why we read literature. This project will produce what the scholarship still lacks: a detailed, analytic account of the history of English in the period, including in Australia, sensitive to the discipline’s impact and to the forces which caused it to take new paths in the 1970s. Benefits include expanding academic and public awareness of this rich disciplinary history and informing strategic directions for English in Australia and abroad. Field of research: 2005 - Literary Studies This project fundamentally changes our understanding of the history of English, placing Australia at the cutting edge of research on the history of a key humanities discipline. All Australians encounter English at school and it remains central to the humanities in universities. Many Australians cherish their memory of an inspiring English teacher. Yet the pedagogical methods and cultural values from which the subject grew, many of which still dominate the discipline, are neither widely known nor properly understood. The innovations, practices and ethos that were developed in English departments between 1920-70 had a huge impact in how literature was studied and understood both in Australia and internationally. This project will therefore benefit Australian social, cultural and educational life in affording a deep understanding of a key part of our intellectual life both in the education system and in the wider culture. In particular, it will enhance Australia's international reputation as a leader in humanities research because its findings will inform future directions for English.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Interreligious Relations between Muslims and People of other Faiths. Traditional Islamic law and theology developed a wide range of negative positions about people of other faiths. Based on extensive fieldwork, this project aims to understand how and to what extent prominent Muslim religious leaders are transforming these negative positions to positive ones today in Australia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Singapore. The project will lead to an evidence-based understanding of the potential for future interreligious harmony in these countries. Since positive interreligious relations are of domestic, regional and global concern for social cohesion and peace and security, the outcomes of this project will be of significant interest to both scholars and policymakers in Australia. Field of research: 2204 - Religion and Religious Studies Interreligious harmony is important to the Australian government. Current multicultural policy focuses on promoting acceptance and understanding among different groups so that Australia remains safe, cohesive and harmonious. Yet as Australia’s religious diversity continues to grow, the country will need to take active steps to ensure it remains one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. This study will reveal how Muslim religious leaders are framing relations between Muslims and those of other (or no) religions. Traditional Islamic norms were not always positive towards the religious ‘other’ and this thinking has a strong legacy among Muslims today. However, new movements in Islamic thought are challenging such negative views. Do Australia’s Muslim religious leaders accept this new thinking? This study will answer this and other related questions. It will have important social and political benefits because it will provide insights into the potential for future interreligious harmony, cohesion and tolerance in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Hidden in the margins: the lives and trajectories of young carers. This project aims to examine the social, educational, economic and health-related experiences of young informal carers. One of the most unrecognised groups in Australian society, young carers are likely to experience enduring effects of their caring role across many domains. This project is particularly critical in light of the NDIS roll-out. It expects to improve understanding of young carers by developing and applying innovative analytic models that will lead to quantification of the determinants and consequences of being a young carer in Australia. This will identify ways to best support young carers, and in doing so, will inform the implementation of programs and policies that will deliver significant benefits to young carers. Field of research: 1603 - Demography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Prediction of phenotype for multiple traits from multi-omic data. This project aims to develop better methods for predicting traits in an individual based on their genome sequence. This method will be tested in agricultural animals and plants and in humans. The prediction formula is derived from a training dataset that has information on the traits and genome sequence of a sample of individuals. The prediction formula can then be applied to predict the trait in individuals where the trait is unknown. This is useful for selecting the best parents for breeding in agriculture and for predicting the future phenotype of animals, crops and people. The proposed method uses data on very many traits to identify sequence variants that have a function and to predict the traits affected by each variant. Field of research: 0604 - Genetics Future application of this method could be used to benefit agriculture and the health of the human population. It will benefit agriculture by helping to select the best animals and plants for breeding so that future generations are more profitable, healthier and have less environmental impact. It will benefit human health by identifying individuals who have high risk of contracting specific diseases so that they can take remedial action. For instance, selection to reduce methane emissions by ruminants is currently impractical due to the difficulty and cost of measuring this trait. This project will develop a method of selecting cattle and sheep for low methane emissions based on their genome sequence. This will have environmental benefits because methane is a potent greenhouse gas and economic benefits to Australia because, if methane emissions are not reduced, eventually ruminant agriculture will decline.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be of use as tracers for molecular imaging will be investigated. An expected outcome of this research will be an increased understanding of how chemical properties dictate the biological activity of metal complexes informing the potential long-term translation of this chemistry to to new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics. Field of research: 0302 - Inorganic Chemistry This research aims to make fundamental advances in the chemical sciences by making new designer molecules. High quality research will underpin internationally competitive discoveries at the forefront of bioinorganic chemistry. The new molecules and knowledge developed will have the long-term potential to improve modern society through technological breakthroughs in molecular agents capable of providing improved diagnosis and therapy. An excellent multi-disciplinary research environment will provide high quality training to the next generation of Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) specialist scientists that are necessary to drive Australia'a emerging biotechnology and biomedical sectors.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Using feminist pedagogy to resist harmful messages of weight-loss dieting. This project aims to develop strategies to intervene in destructive weight-loss dieting norms aimed at women at a cultural level. Weight-loss dieting is a gateway to developing eating disorders; psychiatric conditions with a total socioeconomic cost of $69.7 billion in Australia and the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. This project uses feminist teaching methods to learn how to resist diet messages and create new messages to challenge their normalisation. The expected outcomes of this project are a novel non-diet framework and social movement to raise public awareness about the harms of dieting on physical and mental health. Field of research: 1608 - Sociology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Nonmonotone Algorithms in Operator Splitting, Optimisation and Data Science. This project aims to develop the mathematical foundations for the analysis and development of optimisation algorithms used in data science. Despite their now ubiquitous use, machine learning software packages routinely rely on a number of algorithms from mathematical optimisation which are not properly understood. By moving beyond the traditional realms of Fejér monotone algorithms, this project expects to develop the mathematical theory required to rigorously justify the use of such algorithms and thereby ensure the integrity of the decision tools they produce. This mathematical framework is also expected to produce new algorithms for optimisation which benefit consumers of data science such as the health-care and cybersecurity sectors. Field of research: 0102 - Applied Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Autobiographical memory as a key to successful psychological functioning. This project aims to develop a theoretical framework that will explain how the retrieval of autobiographical memories may be essential for good mental health. Using cutting-edge statistical techniques, an international team of researchers will track young adults over a number of years to explore whether autobiographical memory retrieval underlies development of both adaptive and dysfunctional aspects of psychological functioning. Expected project outcomes will indicate whether future researchers could enhance autobiographical memory to promote healthy development and potentially prevent mental illness from ever emerging. This will allow future researchers to use cognitive science to benefit the mental health of Australians. Field of research: 1702 - Cognitive Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Improving the use of antimicrobials in Australian veterinary practices. This project aims to understand the drivers for antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine and develop methods to improve appropriate antimicrobial use in animals. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of veterinary antimicrobial stewardship using an innovative interdisciplinary approach. The project's use of new technology is expected to result in the development of novel tools that enhance capacity to address antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary medicine and build institutional collaborations. This should provide significant benefits such as improved antimicrobial use in animals and evidence for which antimicrobial stewardship policicies can be developed in veterinary medicine. Field of research: 0707 - Veterinary Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Crossing the biology meso-nanoscale divide by scanning electron microscopy. This project aims to establish complementary scanning electron microscope (SEM) facilities at The University of Melbourne and LaTrobe University to advance research into crops, disease, neurosciences and coral reefs. SEMs are rapidly evolving instruments that permit high resolution imaging of visible size samples such as parts of plants and animals. The potential innovations, applications and benefits to society are far reaching, with the facility expected to impact the development of drought and salinity tolerance in crops, production of fibres by plants, resilience of Great Barrier Reef corals to warming, advances in medicinal agriculture, control of important diseases of livestock and humans, and sensory processing and ocular disease. Field of research: 0607 - Plant Biology The facility will improve Australia's ability to develop drought and salinity tolerance in crops, produce useful fibres from plants, increase the resilience of Great Barrier Reef corals to warming, foster a medicinal agriculture industry, improve knowledge of neuroscience, vision, and how and why animals are coloured, and help control important diseases of livestock and humans.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Live Cell Super Resolution Imaging Facility. The recent convergence of nanoscience and biology heralds a new era for the development of new biotechnologies. Advances in this field are critically dependent on being able to explore and understand the interactions of nanomaterials with cells in their live, dynamic state. This proposal aims to establish a Live Cell Super Resolution Imaging Facility, which will enable dynamic nanomaterial–cell interactions to be interrogated. This facility will underpin leading research programs at The University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Bionics Institute, promoting synergies across the physical and biological sciences for generating new knowledge and advancing bio-nanoscience and technology. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology The establishment of a Live Cell Super Resolution Imaging Facility will provide cutting-edge infrastructure to investigate the complex interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems. Nanomaterials have become an integral part of everyday life, underpinning new communication technologies, functional foods, smart textiles and advances in agriculture. The continual advance of nanotechnology, and particularly transformative new applications in the biosciences, creates a need to explore and understand the interactions between nanomaterials and cellular systems in their dynamic state. This facility will address this need by enabling live cell–nanomaterial interactions to be examined. It will also foster interdisciplinary collaboration between leading physical and life scientists, generating new knowledge, which is essential to transform imaginative engineering solutions into technological platforms with biological significance. Such knowledge is critical for the development of new materials for applications in various sectors, potentially leading to social and economic benefits to Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

National Facility for Quantum Diamond. Quantum technology is set to play a significant role in the next generation of sensors, computers and communication systems. Diamond is a critical part of this technology revolution as it allows for room temperature quantum-based applications. This projects aims to establish a world leading facility to engineer quantum-grade diamond for precision sensing, secure communications and desktop quantum computing applications. Direct outcomes from the facility include: ultrasensitive magnetometers for magnetoencephalography, atomic microscopes for biomolecular imaging and novel sensing probes to interface with biology. The facility will seed the emerging diamond quantum industry in Australia and train the next generation of quantum engineers. Field of research: 0206 - Quantum Physics Global investment in quantum technology over the past 5 year is upward of US$13 Billion. This emerging industry will permeate a number of key sectors including defence, finance, medicine and communications. Diamond materials will feature heavily in this emerging industry given their ability to operate under ambient conditions. This proposal aims to provide Australia with the most advanced diamond fabrication, processing and characterisation facility in the world. The national facility for quantum diamond would service the large diamond community in Australia and would provide government and defence departments with a competitive advantage in areas such as quantum metrology and secure quantum communications. The investment into this facility will complement the significant programs of quantum research around Australia and will help maintain our international lead in this emerging area. The research training provided by the facility will provide a critical mass to support future quantum technology enterprises.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Single Particle Elemental Analysis – Imaging Mass Cytometer Facility. This proposal aims to establish an Australian facility for next generation high resolution inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (icpTOF-MS), coupled with high speed laser ablation (LA) imaging. The facility, being the first in Australia, will allow for the entire elemental/isotopic make-up of individual particles and cells in suspension, or within a solid sample, to be performed simultaneously. This is particularly significant when materials are rare, or not readily available. Expected outcomes include the generation of new knowledge and training in the industrial, biological, defence and environmental research sectors and the significant enhancement of Australia’s leadership in nanotechnology and elemental imaging. Field of research: 0301 - Analytical Chemistry This proposal aims to contribute to Australia's national interest directly by building a national high resolution imaging facility capable of mapping the location of elements and isotopes in materials, which is essential to understanding the function of biological and environmental systems. Impact will be felt in areas of significant importance to Australian society through the detection and remediation of heavy metal pollution, drug delivery, brain and immune function processes and protection of Australian Defence Force personnel from chemical agents. The facility aims to provide a step-change and accelerate discovery for key problems facing Australia and place Australian industry in a market leading position, in sectors such as the environment, defence, medicine, bio-nanotechnology, advanced materials and manufacturing. It will provide a world-class training environment for future Australian research leaders who will move into Australian industry and tertiary institutions to ensure Australia will drive innovations critical for our future commercial success.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility. The Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy Facility will provide a comprehensive range of new spectroscopic techniques that cover all energies (from the ultraviolet to infrared regions of the spectrum) and timescales relevant to the absorption, emission and transformation of light in advanced photo-active materials. Expected outcomes and benefits are more efficient light harvesting, lighting and optical sensing processes; control over light-induced activity in new materials, and enhanced chemical reactivity. This will provide a platform to enhance capacity in materials characterisation, and will increase institutional and cross-disciplinary collaborations involving Universities, defence organisations and industry. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) Processes that involve the absorption or emission of light occur on ultrashort timescales and are crucial to how light energy can be collected (e.g. for solar energy conversion or sensors) or emitted for lighting applications (such as light emitting diodes). Creating new ways to harness and manipulate light in advanced light-active materials is required in the development of new and more efficient products for the collection, detection and emission of light. The proposed new instrumentation and techniques to study these materials are intended to improve Australia's competitiveness and environmental sustainability, and increase researcher training and opportunities for job creation. The project also aims to significantly broaden the technical support to large scale projects including Centres of Excellence, CSIRO, renewable energy and defence agencies, and through these to facilitate new intellectual property in nationally important objectives including improved currency security, chemical screening and photocatalysis for enhanced synthesis of high-value chemical products.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics. The Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics will deliver breakthroughs in our understanding of the Universe through the pursuit of the discovery of dark matter particles which comprise 80% of the mass of the universe. It assembles for the first time a strong and diverse team of physicists from particle, nuclear, and quantum physics as well as particle astrophysics. It will deliver high-profile experiments using new cutting-edge technologies. The Centre will exploit the unique geographical location of the first underground physics lab in the Southern Hemisphere. The ultra-sensitive detectors and ultra-low radiation techniques will translate into a broad range of industrial applications and train a new generation of scientists. Field of research: 0202 - Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics