UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. A national framework for managing malignant plastics in museum collections. This collaborative project between three universities, four museums and an art gallery aims to discover how to predict and increase the lifespan of malignant plastics or polymers by studying their identification, deterioration and conservation. 5 to 80% of museum collections, composed of growing numbers of plastic or polymer-based materials, need better preservation. Conservators do not have much expertise in preserving plastics, which are contemporary and have a relatively short life expectancy. This project intends to provide museums with a model for prioritising and effectively allocating resources to preserve a vulnerable group of collections for future generations. Field of research: 2102 - Curatorial and Related Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. Industrial biotechnology for improved manufacture of medicinal alkaloids. This project aims to develop a new semi-synthetic route for the manufacture of Codeine from Thebaine. Codeine is manufactured by the chemical conversion of poppy-derived Morphine, which is low yielding and environmentally unfriendly. This project will investigate and optimise two key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway to Codeine and develop an innovative bioreactor to achieve high yield. It will research industrial biotransformations, providing a greener and cheaper process for increased global access to Codeine. Australian opiate manufacturing is expected to benefit from value adding and increased flexibility introduced by a biotechnology approach. Field of research: 1003 - Industrial Biotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. This project aims to improve the fuel efficiency of gas turbines, the backbone of power generation and aircraft propulsion, for efficient and affordable power generation and air travel. Australia is large, remote and has some of the world’s highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Improving fuel efficiency will reduce cost and emissions, but current design tools lack the accuracy to advance technology. This project will investigate fluid flow in gas turbines and use big-data analytics to develop more accurate design tools. Gas turbines with reduced fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions are expected to reduce the cost and environmental impact of power generation and air travel in Australia. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Three-dimensional property ownership map base for smart urban land administration. Three-dimensional property ownership map base for smart urban land administration. This project aims to support smart urban land administration by upgrading a two-dimensional (2D) property ownership map base to a three-dimensional (3D) map base, using 3D digital data from regulatory subdivision processes. The map base coherently represents all land-based parcels, and provides valuable intelligence used to make land and property decisions. The 2D map base omits above and underground properties and infrastructure common in urban settings, forcing stakeholders to rely on fragmented data streams. The 3D map base will provide a connected, digital source of intelligence about urban property objects. This is expected to reduce social and economic risks and enable more intelligent city planning and management. Field of research: 0909 - Geomatic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Legal and social dynamics of eBook lending in Australia’s public libraries. Legal and social dynamics of eBook lending in Australia’s public libraries. This project aims to develop an evidence base of quantitative and qualitative data about how eBooks are used in libraries. EBooks have tremendous beneficial potential, particularly for Australians in remote areas and those with impaired mobility or vision. However, libraries’ rights to acquire and lend them are more restricted than for physical books. Libraries and legal, social and data science researchers will investigate eBook lending practices and understand their social impacts. The project will identify ways of reforming policy, law, and practice to help libraries fulfil their public interest missions. This project is expected to enable libraries to extract more value from existing public investments. Field of research: 1801 - Law

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Determining implementation drivers in resilience education. Determining implementation drivers in resilience education. This project aims to develop implementation frameworks to help the education sector universally provide resilience education programmes. More young people have mental health problems. Although evidence-based resilience education reduces these problems, education sectors do not know how to address barriers to school provision. The solution is implementation research. This project will study system and school-level factors influencing primary and high school uptake of social and emotional learning curricula that enhance resilience; and implementation drivers at both system and school levels, and influences on uptake and student and staff resilience. The outcome is universal provision of resilience education programs that benefit young people. Field of research: 1303 - Specialist Studies In Education

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Resolving human-flying fox conflict in the face of environmental change. Resolving human-flying fox conflict in the face of environmental change. This project aims to identify socially-acceptable priority areas to be managed for the long-term viability of flying-foxes under a changing climate, and develop strategies to mitigate human-flying fox conflict, using ecological and social analysis in a decision-theoretic framework. Flying-foxes are nationally protected mammals pivotal to Australia’s forest ecosystems, but are threatened by habitat loss, extreme weather and legal culls at orchards. Their exceptional mobility puts them in frequent conflict with human settlements, leading to forced dispersals from roosts. Anticipated outcomes are the conservation of Australia’s flying-foxes and international understanding of how to resolve human conflict with highly mobile species that are threatened but locally abundant and controversial. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

The invisible farmer: Securing Australian farm women's history. The invisible farmer: Securing Australian farm women's history. This project, believed to be the first national study of farm women in Australia, aims to address their historical and contemporary invisibility by creating an online, publicly accessible, multimedia documentary database that maps the role women play/played in Australian agriculture. Chief investigators in the fields of social work, women's history, cultural informatics and archival practice will collaborate with community, government and cultural organisations to create digital tools for research, public access and community engagement. Reframing the narrative of rural Australia is expected to create greater understanding and awareness of the value of inclusion, reveal structures of gender inequality in rural communities, and enable significant outcomes in research, industry and public policy. Field of research: 2102 - Curatorial and Related Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Understanding the past to predict and manage the climate of the future. Understanding the past to predict and manage the climate of the future. Using key analogues from the geological record, this project aims to understand seasonal and spatial changes in Australia’s rainfall under a warming climate, and to chart the nature of the ecological responses. Shifts in rainfall patterns will have a greater societal impact for Australia than changes in temperature, but are difficult to predict with existing numerical models. The research is expected to forge important international links between researchers studying past and future climates, anticipate and manage change, and demonstrate the critical scientific value of Australia’s geological heritage. Field of research: 0406 - Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Effects of Positive Education during the critical post-school transition. Effects of Positive Education during the critical post-school transition. This project will examine if school-based positive education helps young people during their post-school transition, using a mixed method, longitudinal design. Positive education improves the short term mental health of high school students. Its sustained effects are not known, particularly at the post-school stage when young people negotiate challenges in work, learning and relationships. This project will also examine whether a new youth-led Positive Transition Program provides added benefits, using in-the-moment experience sampling and bio-data. This research is anticipated to determine the utility of positive education to improve the transition experience for young people. Field of research: 1117 - Public Health and Health Services

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. Using fire to manage biodiversity in fragmented landscapes. This project intends to develop a conservation management tool for use in fire-prone fragmented landscapes to reverse biodiversity loss. It will address two critical knowledge gaps: the combined effects of fire and fragmentation on animal movement, and the implications of current and future fire regimes for native animal populations. Land-use change has severely fragmented 40% of Australia’s natural landscapes, resulting in loss of habitat for native biodiversity. Remaining habitat fragments are at risk from increases in the frequency and intensity of fire, which also threatens biodiversity. The anticipated outcome is a conservation management tool that is readily transferable to any fire-prone system. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is needed to exploit this potential. Fluid dynamics and optimisation researchers will design an improved vertical axis tidal turbine for use in the Torres Strait Islands. This project could improve tidal turbine design and turbine placement designs, and improve understanding of interactions between turbines and the maritime environment. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Transforming drug screening technology. Transforming drug screening technology. This project aims to develop field-leading microchip technology, including the ability to measure contraction of micro-tissues on a chip. Micro-chip technology is in its infancy for use in drug discovery. However, interest in development and applications in Pharma and Biotech industries is immense. The project is intended to take proof-of-concept studies through to the “working model” stage and then to a level of industry-utility, focussing on predictive value, reproducibility and throughput. Successful development of the drug discovery micro-fluidics chip is expected to improve efficiency, reduce the costs and the use of experimental animals. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. Practical model-based control for low emission and low cost diesel engines. This project aims to develop and implement robust multivariable model predictive control algorithms for low emission and low cost diesel engines that reduce calibration effort. Legislative and increasing consumer requirements demand better control approaches than have been deployed in production vehicles to date, and motivate the use of model based techniques to meet performance and emissions specifications. However, current model-based controllers amplify the calibration effort and increase development costs as the tuning parameters are not related to time domain specifications. The anticipated outcome is new model based control architectures that improve diesel engine operation and reduce its calibration effort and cost. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Building an integrated system for Australian bushfire prevention. Building an integrated system for Australian bushfire prevention. This project aims to develop a comprehensive approach to prevent arson. Bushfires are a serious issue in Australia, made worse by climate change; since most of these fires are started by people, it is important to prevent arson. Building on previous work, this project intends to improve community responses, and build a model to predict risk and improve data sharing. The intended outcome is an all-risks approach to arson prevention and community engagement. This research should reduce the incidence of arson in Australia, and also be useful overseas. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Automatic control systems for low-energy pipelines in irrigation networks. Automatic control systems for low-energy pipelines in irrigation networks. This project aims to design automated pipelines to distribute irrigation water from backbone open-channels to end-users. Automation can make irrigation networks more efficient, which is important for food security and the environment. Automation is expected to achieve low-energy distribution, in line with the gravity-powered operation of typical open-channel networks. The main challenges are the development of suitable models for designing outlet-flow control systems, optimization-based outlet-flow scheduling methods for ensuring operation within hydraulic constraints, and system monitoring techniques. This project will design automatic control systems to enable low-energy water distribution from open-channels to end-users by pipes. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Mining and society in a changing environment: Pathways to sustainability. Mining and society in a changing environment: pathways to sustainability. This Fellowship seeks to address an urgent, largely unstudied global challenge: how to govern mining activities so they enhance sustainability, justice and development. It will conduct a systematic comparative analysis of mining activities across Latin America, Australasia and South-East Asia, drawing on political ecology, sustainability science, Indigenous geography and geographic information science. Such an in-depth, theoretically innovative study of government, company and civil society efforts to adapt mining projects and policy should make Australia a recognised centre of expertise and is likely to make the mining industry more socially and environmentally sustainable. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Smart passive sampling of heavy metals in aquatic systems. Smart passive sampling of heavy metals in aquatic systems. This project aims to construct smart devices with extracting polymeric membranes for advanced passive sampling of heavy metal ions. These devices should improve the passive sampling of pollutants such as heavy metals by overcoming the effect of the variability of water temperature, composition and velocity during sampling, which substantially reduces the reliability of analytical data. These devices are expected to reliably identify sources of heavy metal pollution in urban municipal wastewaters and stormwaters without the need for labour intensive monitoring operations, thus saving considerable time and expense to the Australian water industry. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Managing urban trees. Managing urban trees. This project aims to explore the effects of different urban tree types and plantings on people and wildlife in Melbourne, Moreland and Ballarat so they can better plan their future urban forests. Local governments spend millions of dollars planting and maintaining urban trees every year. Research provides little guidance to these land managers when making critical decisions in a rapidly changing social and physical environment. This project will combine tree inventory data with new information on the social and ecological effects of trees (e.g. human well-being, bird diversity). This research is expected to guide future tree management decisions that have better social and environmental outcomes for Australia’s cities. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Understanding and modelling platelet flow and binding in blood. Understanding and modelling platelet flow and binding in blood. This project aims to predict how platelets flow through vascular scale geometries, using an experimental and numerical development programme. Platelets maintain a healthy vascular system. Like other cells, they respond to local stimuli: the concentration of chemical agonists, bonds with neighbouring species, fluid dynamic stresses, and even their history. On a single cell level, many of these biophysical processes are not understood or quantified. At the blood vessel level, multiscale modelling techniques cannot translate this single cell knowledge to capture how collections of platelets behave. This project is expected to lead to better therapies for cardiovascular disease and a new class of strongly interacting multiphase fluid dynamics problems. Field of research: 0915 - Interdisciplinary Engineering