Flinders University

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

New horizons for synthetic phages Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Mechano-driven decomposition of water to hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen. This project aims to harness mechanical energy in water from high shear submicron topological fluid flows in forming nano-particulate metastable hydrogen peroxide (and hydrogen) for silica hybridisation, water treatment and degradation of plastics. This project expects to generate new knowledge for controlling peroxide formation in water, impacted by magnetic fields and surface textured features. Expected outcomes of this project include understanding the properties of unprecedented metastable hydrogen peroxide, its applications, and understanding the impact of silica on atmospheric ozone. This should provide significant benefits in water treatment and purification, plastic degradation, education and climate change. Field of research: 3701 - Atmospheric Sciences This project will advance our understanding of a recently discovered and groundbreaking effect that enables the efficient and safe generation of bleach by manipulating flowing water with magnetic fields and light. This method has wide-ranging applications, including wastewater treatment, household antimicrobial water production, and the degradation of silica, polymers and other toxic compounds in the environment. Notably, it also produces hydrogen gas as a by-product, supporting Australia’s emerging hydrogen economy. The process is low-cost, safe, and scalable, making it ideal for adoption by industry and contributing to Australia’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and environmental sustainability. This project will investigate the specific conditions that drive bleach and hydrogen production and explore the underlying mechanisms of this effect. Additionally, the unique form of bleach generated may help explain atmospheric phenomena, including UV light absorption similar to ozone in the stratosphere. This has potential implications for climate change modelling and our understanding of planetary atmospheres across the solar system and beyond. The project will position Australia at the forefront of a paradigm shift, and the findings will be actively promoted through media and industry engagement.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Determining the ecological roles of Australia’s megafaunal marsupials. This project aims to address the near-total lack of ecological knowledge on the unique large herbivores that became extinct in Australia by 40,000 years ago. By uniting global expertise in palaeontology, ecology and geochemistry, it will employ a novel range of methods to generate foundational knowledge on diets and distributions, transforming our view of large marsupial species and the structure of past communities. The project will shed light on environmental impacts of their extinction, and provide a framework for better understanding how modern ecosystems evolved. This is expected to better contextualise Australia’s vulnerability to large invasive species and fire, and to offer a more data-driven basis for resolving extinction causes. Field of research: 4102 - Ecological Applications When people first arrived in Australia, they encountered large animals strikingly different from anything seen before. Some species, like koalas, kangaroos and wombats, survived to the present day, but more than 40 large marsupial species disappeared. Known as megafauna, these included the rhino-sized Diprotodon, short-faced kangaroos, and marsupial ‘lions’, species that continue to capture public and scientific attention. Efforts to understand their extinction have been hampered by limited knowledge of their biology. This study will analyse extensive fossil datasets to determine what these species ate and how they used landscapes, helping to infer the ecological impact of their loss. We will apply a novel combination of ecological and chemical methods, alongside behavioural knowledge of extinct species preserved by First Nations people. In doing so, the study will address National Research Priorities 3–4. Specifically, it will improve understanding of ecosystem function prior to human arrival, shed light on the biology of extinct species, and assess how ecologically similar these megafauna were to introduced species like camels and deer. The latter will provide critical, previously missing evidence in debates around rewilding with non-native species. Our findings will be shared through high-profile open-access scientific publications, as well as popular articles, media releases, documentaries, public events, and education programs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Unravelling a gut-brain pathway regulating fluid intake. Fluid intake must be strictly regulated to maintain proper fluid balance. Control of drinking involves multiple pathways, including signals derived from the gut inform on fluid volume and osmolarity. However, how the gut senses fluid intake remains unknown. We have discovered a specific cell type and ion channel in the gut responsible for sensing fluid intake and initiating a signal to the brain to cease drinking. The thirst response to dehydration is essential for proper health but is reduced in the elderly, driving health burdens related to dehydration, cognition, kidney function and cardiac events. Study outcomes will unravel this complex but important physiological system and inform future strategies for managing fluid imbalance. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology This fundamental research project focuses on understanding how the body controls fluid intake. It addresses a major knowledge gap: the role of the gut in regulating hydration status, which is essential for normal physiological function and good health, particularly in high-risk groups such as infants and the elderly. Changes in blood volume and fluid concentration affect critical physiological processes, including brain function, circulation, blood pressure, and cardiac output. While the gut is already recognised as playing a key role in thirst satiety, recent breakthroughs now enable this project to explore how gut osmotic sensor cells, and the gut-brain axis, regulate thirst and fluid balance. Our research will generate foundational knowledge and mechanistic insights at the interface of physiology and neuroscience, contributing significantly to the growing field of gut-brain axis research. Given that the thirst response diminishes with age, and in light of Australia’s rapidly ageing population, the insights from this project could have far-reaching implications and social benefits. We will disseminate our findings to both specialist and general research audiences, and we expect our results to engage the broader Australian public through features in general science outlets.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

A platform for chemically recyclable polymers. This project aims to investigate a new trisulfide metathesis reaction discovered by the project team, and use it to make recyclable polymers. The project anticipates generating new knowledge on how to make many classes of polymers using this reaction, define their properties and scope of use, and develop new methods to convert the polymers back to monomers at the end of their service life. Expected outcomes include new types of plastic, rubber, foams and fibres that can be made, and un-made; addressing sustainability and pollution problems from non-recyclable polymers we currently use. Anticipated benefits include new concepts in polymer chemistry, recyclable materials for industry, and environmental benefits from reducing polymer waste. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry This project aims to establish a platform for developing polymers that are broadly recyclable. In Australia, most plastics, rubbers, foams and fibres are not recycled. They are instead incinerated for energy or sent to landfill, contributing to harmful emissions and environmental pollution. This research will address critical knowledge gaps in how to design, produce, use, and recycle polymers in a sustainable way. By developing innovative materials and methods, the project has the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits to Australia through alternatives to non-recyclable polymers. Given the widespread use of polymers in daily life and across many industries, the research also presents strong potential for long-term economic and commercial impact. Promotion of the project through trade shows, media engagement, and outreach to Australian industry and the general public will raise awareness of polymer waste and support the shift toward more sustainable polymer technologies and practices.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Wellington Caves: a unique archive of faunal evolution and ecosystem change. The project aims to investigate how the mammal fauna of eastern Australia changed over the last four million years using the uniquely rich, diverse and historically significant megafauna locality of the Wellington Caves. The project will analyse faunal and vegetation change over different timescales on the back of an intensive field-, museum- and lab-based program. New knowledge on the ecological impacts of major climatic changes and megafaunal extinctions will provide improved historical benchmarks to guide biodiversity management. With its strong citizen-science / community-education focus, the project is expected to benefit regional tourism and local schools, and provide improved training opportunities for young First Nations People. Field of research: 3705 - Geology Australia’s animals are renowned for their uniqueness, but prior to 40,000 years ago, the fauna was even more peculiar, including >70 giant species. Fossils of ‘megafauna’ were first collected by Europeans in 1830 at the Wellington Caves in central western New South Wales, yet 195 years later, our understanding of these species and how their ecosystems changed over time remains poor. This hinders our ability to establish ecological benchmarks to guide ecosystem restoration. As one of only three locations in the world with vertebrate fossil sites that span the last four million years, the Wellington Caves are uniquely placed to address this deficiency. The project will study existing collections and conduct new excavations with the help of citizen science. This will allow identification of the ecological impacts of aridity and seasonality, climatic warming and cooling, and megafaunal extinctions. The work will incorporate Wiradjuri knowledge of megafaunal species and provide training opportunities for young Aboriginal people. Positive impacts are expected via increased regional tourism, enhanced school education programs, rejuvenated exhibitions at the Caves and Australian Museum, high-profile scientific publications, and a Megafauna Festival in the bicentenary of the original discovery.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Accelerating and improving mine closure with managed aquifer recharge. The closure of hundreds of open pit mines over the next decade represents a major environmental and financial challenge. Open pit mining often results in large-scale groundwater depletion with associated loss of ecosystems and contamination of rivers. To prevent mining landscapes from remaining waste lands for decades to come following closure, new and innovative solutions are required that facilitate rapid hydrological recovery. This project investigates the strategic injection of excess mine water to accelerate restoration. The outcomes are significant, providing a blueprint for injection-assisted mine closure which can be integrated into current mining practices to accelerate rejuvenation of post-mine landscapes and cultural sites. Field of research: 3707 - Hydrology Over the next decade, hundreds of open pit mines are due to close across Australia. These mines cover large areas and will require significant rehabilitation to restore pre-mining water resources and surrounding ecosystems. Relying on natural recovery through rainfall can take tens to hundreds of years, locking mining landscapes into wastelands for decades. A new approach is needed to enable rapid hydrological recovery and unlock post-mining landscapes for beneficial use. This multidisciplinary project, spanning physical, hydrochemical and economic dimensions, will investigate an untapped opportunity: the strategic injection of excess mine water, known as Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), to considerably improve mine closure outcomes. Expected benefits for Australia include: • earlier use of post-mining landscapes, associated economic and social gains • accelerated ecosystem recovery such as the resumption of natural spring flows • improved water quality through rapid submersion of minerals exposed in pit walls • faster stabilisation of pit slopes, reducing the risk of collapse The project will deliver a novel blueprint for implementing MAR to enable accelerated, sustainable open pit mine closure, enhancing Australia’s global reputation in resource technology. To support widespread adoption, results will be actively communicated to key stakeholders, including state governments and the mining sector, through seminars, workshops, training offerings, and broader media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

All-Polymer Desalination Batteries. This project aims to develop an all-polymer desalination battery containing no metals. It will study a new mechanism for the electrochemical salt-in/salt-out effect of polyelectrolytes during simultaneous ion removal and energy storage. Expected outcomes include an all-polymer battery designed for salt removal from seawater with high efficiency and safety. By combining such desalination batteries with solar and wind farms along the coast, the efficient use of renewable energy to address Australia's energy-water crisis is highly anticipated. The benefit includes new water resources suitable for agriculture and breeding industries and extends to polymer antifouling and anti-corrosion coatings for marine industries and civic applications. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Australia is an arid country facing increasing water scarcity. As large-scale solar and wind energy expand, the national water-energy nexus is shifting from traditional groundwater pumping to local seawater desalination. Unlike conventional reverse osmosis methods, desalination batteries are an emerging technology that combines renewable energy storage with seawater desalination in a single system. However, current electrochemical desalination systems rely on metal-based batteries, which encounter inherent challenges related to material stability, membrane dependency, limited desalination performance, reduced durability, high operational costs, and potential water quality risks. This project addresses these limitations by developing all-polymer desalination batteries with high desalination capacity and rate. These systems will produce heavy metal-free water while lowering operational costs through membrane-free designs. The project aligns with the Australian Government’s priorities in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable water use in agriculture and rural settings. The anticipated outcomes include patented technologies and prototype desalination batteries, which will be promoted for field trials and broader applications in partnership with the South Australian Research Development Institute, Irrigation Australia, and ARENA. The project will tackle core water-energy challenges and support smart agriculture and animal husbandry across Australia.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The Critic Counts: Archiving Theatre Criticism Down Under Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

And We Are: Determined as Indigenous Leaders to advance First Nation... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enhancing housing and optimising inclusion and health for refugees. This cross-national project aims to explore the links between housing, social inclusion and health for refugees, in order to improve settlement outcomes. Using innovative methods and participatory approaches it will generate new knowledge on how housing experiences affect social inclusion and health and ways to optimise settlement outcomes. Expected outcomes include new insights on the impact of housing experiences on social inclusion and health, interdisciplinary collaborations, and practical recommendations to improve social and health outcomes for refugees. Key benefits will include improved policies to promote social inclusion and health for refugees, fostering international collaborations, and empowered refugee communities. Field of research: 4206 - Public Health Securing affordable and appropriate housing is critical to successful resettlement for refugees arriving in Australia, as it can foster social inclusion and support health and wellbeing. However, new arrivals face barriers in accessing housing, exacerbated by the housing and cost-of-living crisis, which can lead to unfavourable housing trajectories and social exclusion and poor health outcomes. This multidisciplinary, multi-country project will examine how neighbourhood and housing contexts, housing provision models and policies, geographical factors and market conditions shape refugee social inclusion and health outcomes. It will generate critical new knowledge and evidence-based recommendations to help service providers optimise placement decisions for new arrivals, and promote innovation in service delivery, policy, and theoretical frameworks. A comparative analysis of Canada’s resettlement program will offer valuable insights for Australian practitioners, complemented by case studies in urban and regional/rural settings across both countries. There will be social, cultural and economic benefits for Australia through more effective refugee resettlement outcomes, assisting both individual refugees and host communities. Recommendations will be co-designed with stakeholders, including those with lived experience of forced displacement. To maximise impact, findings will be shared widely to agencies, governments and communities through briefs, summaries, and presentations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Addressing Water Security Challenges in the Murray-Darling Basin. Known as the driest inhabited continent on Earth, Australia faces ongoing water security issues, particularly within the Murray-Darling Basin. Water challenges can be too much, too little, or too dirty, invoking the need for robust but highly adaptable policy. In partnership with key local and national end-users, this project aims to advance understanding of freshwater security issues via state-of-the-art economic research to develop novel tools that significantly advance water demand/supply planning and implementation by government and stakeholders. This new capability will enhance collaboration between policy-makers who will be better positioned to deliver against contemporary water challenges, and meet water security for all. Field of research: 3899 - Other Economics Australia’s freshwater supply is highly variable and availability per capita is declining. Droughts, floods and water quality all impact water security, with consequences for human wellbeing, ecosystems, energy use and food production. Achieving water security, while balancing freshwater resources between human and environmental needs, is one of Australia's most critical challenges. Nowhere is this more pressing than in the Murray-Darling Basin and South Australia. Addressing these challenges requires careful assessment of when to implement different water demand and supply management approaches, as well as a deeper understanding of water’s diverse values. To fill this gap, this project will partner with key local and national end-user organisations to: 1) pioneer new methods for assessing water’s economic value; 2) develop tools and pathways for more effective collaborative and adaptive water security planning; and 3) identify factors influencing the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of water reallocation policies. The project will enhance our understanding of water security and improve our ability to assess its broader impacts, while generating innovative tools for better water management planning and implementation. Research findings and tools will be shared and promoted through training events and workshops with state and regional water utility providers and government bodies, contributing to a more sustainable and water-secure future for all.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Submerged Environments Survey and Sampling Suite. The Submerged Environments Survey and Sampling Suite includes two marine geophysical sonar sensors and one marine geotechnical coring platform. Together these marine survey items provide an integrated affordable capacity for Australian universities to expand their research into deeper waters and deeper underwater sediments in both marine and freshwater environments. The R2Sonic Multibeam is optimised for high resolution 3D sonar seabed mapping, paired with an Innomar Compact Subbottom Profiler to map the shape and depth of shallow sediments below the seabed. A floating UWITEC coring platform then allows recovery of deep samples of those sediments to extract evidence of past environments for archaeological and paleoenvironmental research. Field of research: 4301 - Archaeology Submerged landscapes hold invaluable records of past climate shifts, landscape transformations, human and animal activity in Australia’s deep past. However, accessing these underwater archives has long posed a challenge to researchers. This project overcomes that challenge by integrating advanced survey and sampling technologies to investigate submerged marine and freshwater environments. This equipment will enable the capture of high-resolution sonar 3D maps of the seabed, sonic mapping of underlying sediments accumulated over tens of thousands of years, and extraction of sediment cores for dating and analysis. The data generated will shed light on Australia’s changing environments over deep time, providing valuable insights into the archaeology of submerged ancient landscapes, past climate change, offshore geomorphological history and ancient flora and fauna. Archaeological surveys will expand submerged landscape research beyond Western Australia, covering the entire country in close partnership with Traditional Owners. This will support the management of Australia’s Sea Country, including sustainable offshore development for renewable energy and resource exploration, coastal management, and climate adaptation strategies. Project partners will collaborate on public outreach, leveraging a wide range of media and immersive digital techniques to communicate discoveries.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

All-Polymer Desalination Batteries Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Better sleep for better mental health: Implementing sleep disorder... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Future-proofing Australia's Great Southern Reef. Climate change threatens Australia’s valuable temperate seaweed forests. This project aims to describe the responses of seaweed to warming and marine heatwaves and provide the best genetic management strategies for long-term survival for vulnerable seaweed populations. By integrating cutting-edge genomics, ecological forecasting, and biophysical models, the project will generate the knowledge required to develop tools and technologies that help prioritise and guide effective proactive management strategies to enhance seaweed forest resilience. Expected outcomes include improved capacity to safeguard these vital ecosystems and their essential functions and services, benefiting Australia’s government, marine managers, and coastal communities. Field of research: 3108 - Plant Biology Safeguarding seaweed forests is crucial for sustaining Australia’s fisheries, coastal culture, tourism, marine water quality, and carbon storage—ecosystem services valued at over 10 billion dollars annually. However, Australia’s coastal waters are warming up to three times faster than the global average, causing widespread losses of seaweed forests across southern states. Introducing naturally warm-adapted seaweeds to vulnerable populations has been proposed to combat these impacts, but its long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. This project will integrate cutting-edge genomics, marine ecology, and predictive modelling to assess the viability of genetic management strategies for enhancing resilience to warming and marine heatwaves. It will develop tools to guide strategic management, prioritise recipient sites and optimise seaweed donor selection to maximise resilience and return on management investment. This project is of national significance, directly supporting Australia’s efforts to reduce biodiversity loss and protect coastal ecosystems. Findings will be shared with government agencies, marine managers, and coastal communities to mitigate seaweed forest declines. The project is also of global significance, providing fundamental insights into species’ evolutionary potential under climate change. It will establish a global network of scientists and managers to test and refine these strategies while investigating long-term benefits for seaweed forests.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Unearthing the critical roles of microbiomes in soil health. This project aims to bring a transformational advance in soil health knowledge by reconceptualising our understanding of the functional roles of microbial communities through quantifying their genomic capacity to process an array of compounds. This work expects to generate new knowledge of the compound processing potential of microbiomes in different soils and ecosystems, and develop leading indicators of soil carbon trajectories. Transforming microbiome functional analysis through this new compound-oriented approach will improve insights to the roles of microbiomes in sustainable agriculture, food security, ecosystem restoration, human health, bioprospecting and management that improves soil health and resilience under global change. Field of research: 4106 - Soil Sciences Microbes are ubiquitous and play essential roles in maintaining the health of soil, land, and water while supporting food security, environmental resilience, and human well-being. Despite their significance, a substantial knowledge gap remains in understanding the functional potential of microbiomes across these domains - knowledge that is essential for harnessing microbes for our benefit. For instance, in soil health, the specific contributions of microbiomes to carbon decomposition versus sequestration remain unclear. In many microbial ecosystems, research has focused more on the chemical compounds microbes produce or utilise than on the vast diversity of poorly characterised microbial taxa. This project seeks to bridge this critical gap by revolutionising functional microbiome analysis. By quantifying the genomic potential of microbial communities to metabolise various chemical compounds, and how this varies across different soil environments, we aim to develop real-time indicators of soil carbon sequestration trajectories currently measurable only over 5 to 10 years. The findings will provide new insights and open-source methodologies to uncover microbiome functions, benefiting applications in sustainable agriculture, soil health, carbon management, ecosystem restoration, medical research, and nature-based health solutions. Through established networks, these advancements will drive innovation in microbial science for long-term environmental and human benefits.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Co-Designing and Testing a New Framework for Correctional Supervision Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

An SA in-situ Scanning Electron Microscopy facility for Advanced Materials. This proposal aims to establish Australia’s first open access in-situ scanning electron microscope with Raman. The custom-built platform will provide state-of-the-art investigations of advanced materials under environmental conditions, including temperatures from -5 to 1000°C, tensile stress up to 5kN, gaseous and liquid environments, under bias and electrochemical control. The multifunctional platform will directly correlate chemical composition with microstructure with in-situ Raman microscopy providing insight into chemical changes of materials under working conditions. The expected outcomes are the development of new materials for next generation batteries, solar cells, quantum materials, mining, defence and advanced manufacturing. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering Currently there are no instruments in South Australia capable of high-resolution imaging and chemical analysis of materials under real-world conditions. This project will address a critical capability gap by establishing a state-of-the-art facility that delivers unmatched accuracy in elemental and microstructural analysis. It will drive the development of next-generation technologies and enable innovative research across sectors, including high-performance batteries, solar cells, quantum materials, mining, 3D printed construction materials, environmental monitoring, and biomedical devices. The facility will be a unique, open-access world-class resource that enhances Australia’s research capabilities through stronger local and international collaborations. It will also train the next generation of scientists and engineers, creating a future-ready workforce to grow national capacity in advanced manufacturing, materials science, clean energy, mining, defence and biotechnology. By supporting cutting-edge R&D and quality control for local industries, the facility will attract investment and help build a stronger, more resilient economy. Research outcomes will promote sustainable, efficient technologies and inform new guidelines for governments, communities and industries. The project has strong potential for commercialisation by translating breakthroughs into industrial applications, accelerating product development, and delivering broad value through industry-driven innovation.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

A platform for chemically recyclable polymers Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Molecular Bismuth Catalysts in Hydrogen Evolution Reactions. This project aims to achieve a sustainable, non-toxic and state-of-the-art approach to developing environmentally benign bismuth catalysts for hydrogen production within Australia. Current industrial approaches for the generation of hydrogen rely primarily upon the steam-reforming of methane, a process that is responsible for significant global greenhouse gas emissions every year. This project will utilise redox flexible bismuth systems in catalytic hydrogen evolution reactions. The outcomes of this project will provide significant support to Australia on its mission to establish effective and lucrative hydrogen production technologies to support the wider hydrogen roadmap. Field of research: 3402 - Inorganic Chemistry Molecular hydrogen is a promising energy source, producing only water upon combustion and emitting no pollutants into the atmosphere. However, most hydrogen that is currently used is prepared from methane steam-reforming, a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions. While technologies are being developed to split water into molecular hydrogen and oxygen using electrical and/or thermal energy sources, these processes often suffer from high operating costs and harsh reaction conditions. To make hydrogen a viable fuel source, more economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly production methods are needed. This project explores the use of bismuth, a non-toxic and environmentally benign element, as an easy-to-handle molecular reagent for producing hydrogen from sustainable resources via simple chemical transformations. Findings will be disseminated through media outlets, published in leading scientific journals, and will highlight Australia’s world-class research. The outcomes are expected to significantly enhance Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy and deepen our understanding of the role of bismuth complexes in catalysis.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

The first global currency: tracing early Indian Ocean cowrie shell... Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Bad Vibrations: Understanding how noise pollution affects soil health. This project will investigate how human-generated noise pollution affects soil health, an overlooked but critical environmental issue. Using innovative acoustic and DNA technology in the lab and the field, it will assess how noise impacts soil organisms and essential ecosystem functions. The findings will improve our understanding of noise-related soil degradation, informing land management and ecosystem restoration strategies. This research will support nature conservation, food security and climate resilience by identifying ways to mitigate noise pollution’s effects on soil ecosystems. The outcomes will benefit environmental policy, agriculture and urban planning, helping to position Australia as a leader in soil health research. Field of research: 4106 - Soil Sciences This project will investigate the impact of human-generated noise pollution on soil health, a critical yet understudied environmental issue. While noise pollution is known to disrupt wildlife, its effect on the soil organisms essential for biodiversity, food production and carbon storage—such as microbes, insects and earthworms—remain largely unknown. With most of Australia's soils at risk due to pollution and unsustainable land use, understanding this relationship is crucial. Using advanced ecoacoustics monitoring, DNA technology and predictive modelling, this research will uncover how noise pollution influences soil health and identify effective mitigation strategies. The findings will inform land management, agriculture and urban planning, helping to protect biodiversity, enhance food security and promote sustainable farming practices. This research will also support policies aimed at reducing ecosystem degradation and strengthening climate resilience, aligning with national sustainability goals. To maximise impact, the research outcomes will be shared with policymakers, environmental organisations, farmers and urban planners through workshops, public reports, talks and media engagement (e.g., TV, radio, podcasts, books). Collaborations with government agencies and industry will ensure real-world applications of the findings, positioning Australia as a global leader in soil protection and ecoacoustics research.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Enhancing housing and optimising inclusion and health for refugees Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2026 · 2026-01

Schools as lonely spaces: Loneliness and undesirable social connections. Loneliness is a prevalent, and increasing, problem among young Australians, with long-term physical and mental health consequences. This project aims to investigate how young people experience loneliness within the physical, social, and emotional environment of high school. Loneliness is traditionally considered an absence of desired relationships; this project, with an innovative flipped focus to consider loneliness as the presence of undesirable relationships (e.g., bullies), expects to rectify a critical lack of knowledge about loneliness in young people. Expected outcomes include tested recommendations to better inform wellbeing policy and interventions in schools to support young people and create safer and more connected schools. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Loneliness is a major issue among young Australians, rivalling the prevalence of bullying in schools. It has significant short- and long-term mental and physical health implications, with an estimated annual cost of $2.7B in Australia. However, loneliness research and policy have traditionally focussed on older populations, leaving a critical gap in understanding how young people experience and manage loneliness. This project, co-designed and co-researched with young people, aims to shift the focus toward young people by investigating the impact of the social and emotional environment of schools. Validated insights from this project into how schools create opportunities and habits for building social connections will inform federal, state and school-based wellbeing policies, including the $61M annual investment in the National Student Wellbeing Program and the $510M Student Wellbeing Boost. Evidence from interventions targeting loneliness in older people and other youth-related social issues, suggests a return on investment exceeding 200%. Project findings will be disseminated to end-users through policy briefs to federal and state ministers, involving partner networks, a plain language report for professional practitioners (teachers and youth/social workers), a stakeholder forum to launch resources, and targeted media outreach.