MONASH UNIVERSITY

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Dynamic Microcages for Cells: Advanced Tools to Interrogate Cell Mechanics. This project aims to develop a suite of movable micro/nanostructures with integrated mechanical and biological sensors, which will be interfaced with cells to investigate how those cells respond to their surrounding physical environment. Expected outcomes are new technologies in micro/nanofabrication, sensing, and advanced imaging, and deep understanding of the biological processes that control tissue formation and repair. These outcomes would impact how 3D microsystems are developed and applied, informing the design of advanced in-vitro cell culture systems. Significant benefits are expected in 3D nano-microengineering, and in generating new knowledge underpinning future advances in stem cell and tissue engineering technologies. Field of research: 4018 - Nanotechnology This project aims to used advanced manufacturing technologies to develop miniaturised sensors that can detect changes in the structure of human cells. These sensors will tell us new and important information on how individual cells respond to their surrounding environment without the need for expensive animal or human studies. This will provide better understanding of how tissues develop, how they change under different conditions, and the processes that control repair. With the knowledge gained, it will be possible to design new cellular therapies, or to screening libraries of novel compounds, such as in the pharmaceutical industry and personalised medicine, benefitting our ageing population. These developments will benefit Australia by creating knowledge and technologies that will give Australian cell therapy and tissue engineering companies a competitive advantage and create highly skilled jobs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A platform technology for developing mesoporous polymer particles. This project aims to apply polymerisation-induced self-assembly process to develop triggerable mesoporous polymer particles as advanced functional materials for various applications. By combining this scalable process and automated synthesis technique, mesoporous polymer particles that can disassemble in response to external triggers, such as light, redox conditions and enzymes, will be developed. The knowledge gained from this research will allow researchers to fully understand the formation and evolution mechanism of inverse bicontinuous structures observed in nature and produced in synthetic labs. Importantly, the applications of these novel stimuli-responsive particles as nano-carriers and templating scaffolds will be investigated. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry Porous materials can absorb and retain fluids, and familiar examples include sponges, sandstone or human lungs. This research focuses on polymers that are porous, forming structures with tiny, molecule-sized channels. Such polymers can host and transport other active species within, and when exposed to external stimuli such as heat, light, or enzymes, they fully degrade to release these carried loads. These polymers have many applications in controlled delivery of drugs, smart coatings, and energy storage materials, but are currently difficult to fabricate. This project aims to develop automated technology to produce porous polymers more easily. The technology will be scalable and sustainable, increasing our capacity to make such polymers and tailor them to specific applications. Through collaboration with industry partners, we will pursue applications in drug delivery to reduce side effects and within the energy sector to make more efficient battery materials.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The Benefits of Utilising Visual-Spatial Representations of Numbers . The aim of this project is to investigate how visual-spatial representations of numbers enhance practice to promote the use of retrieval-based over counting-based strategies for children learning early arithmetic. About one-third of Australian children stay reliant on counting strategies for basic arithmetic, despite these being associated with lower achievement in mathematics in later years. Expected outcomes of this project are new understandings of how problem-answer associations can be strengthened in memory and the development of tools to promote retrieval-based strategies. Potential benefits include children who are better prepared to take on higher-level mathematics in secondary school and, subsequently, more numerate citizens. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education A scientific workforce with a strong background in mathematics and citizens who are competent to reason with quantitative information are needed to ensure Australia’s economic, environmental and social long-term needs. Raising achievement levels in mathematics among Australian students requires sustained attention as many students continue to experience an erosion of confidence and fewer opportunities for success with mathematics as they progress through to higher year levels of school. This project will support teachers to build young children’s early number knowledge and repertoire of efficient strategies for basic arithmetic, in ways that have not been tried before in classrooms, to ensure children’s future success and engagement in higher-level mathematics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Biomolecular condensates in mRNA-regulation in germ cells. This project aims to investigate how cells form microenvironments that are enriched for specific biological functions. Using a powerful combination of cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo experiments, the project will generate new knowledge in the emerging area of liquid-liquid phase separation. We will analyse the formation of germ granules that are required for fertility. The expected outcome is a transformational understanding of how liquid-liquid phase separation occurs in cells which, in the longer term, will have applications in biotechnology and disease treatment. Field of research: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology Living beings are composed of cells, and each cell is organised into compartments with different functions, in which different chemical reactions occur. Some of these compartments form via a process called “liquid-to-liquid phase separation”. This project will increase our understanding of how these compartments form, including how molecules are attracted to them, with the aim of devising a general set of rules for how compartments form by phase separation. This new knowledge would allow bioengineers to harness this process, paving the way for many applications. For example, these compartments could be artificially produced and used to generate molecules and materials with unusual properties. This outcome could open up a new area for Australia's biomaterials biotechnology sector. In addition, defects in phase separation can lead to neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. This new knowledge could be used by industry partners to identify how to alter phase separation processes and therefore develop new treatments, contributing to human health and providing socioeconomic benefit for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Labour Market and Health Dynamics of Australia's Front Line Workers. Australia’s front line workers are there in times of greatest need, but face significant health risks. These risks are expected to increase with the predicted growth in natural disasters, and these concerns have been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will apply econometric methods to population-based administrative data to study (1) the determinants and patterns of recruitment and retention into these occupations, (2) how labour market and health outcomes are impacted by exposure to major disasters; and (3) the impact of the pandemic on labour market and health outcomes. The project will provide insights that can inform policies designed to protect the health of front line workers and meet future workforce demands. Field of research: 3801 - Applied Economics Front-line emergency and medical workers are facing ever more demanding circumstances with an increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters such as floods and bushfires, in addition to pandemics. This places a greater strain on workers that can impact their health, and may lead them to leave their professions. This project will analyse population and survey-based data focusing on issues of recruitment and retention, and both physical and mental health in these occupations. The findings will support policy development that could lead to stronger career trajectories, improve recruitment and retention in the sector at a time when there is rapidly growing demand, and holistic planning to support front-line workers during and after active service. This project will directly contribute to the National Action Plan for Mental Health of Emergency Services Personnel.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Dark-field: A new kind of x-ray imaging. This project aims to develop new x-ray imaging capabilities that look inside an object and map out those details that are too small to be seen directly, by extracting the dark-field which is produced as x-ray light scatters. Dark-field images can reveal tiny cracks in manufactured parts, discover powdered explosives or drugs during security screening, and detect changes in the size of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs. Expected outcomes of this project include new instruments and methods of analysis that will allow x-ray dark-field imaging to be quantitative and widely adopted. These methods should benefit non-invasive multi-scale imaging at the Australian Synchrotron and equip x-ray imaging in industry, security and healthcare. Field of research: 5103 - Classical Physics X-ray imaging capabilities are being transformed with a new approach known as x-ray dark-field imaging. This powerful imaging method shows up tiny details that were previously invisible in X-rays, such as the air spaces that make up the lungs, small cracks in manufactured parts, and powdered substances like drugs in security screening. Early demonstrations have required expensive equipment in specially designed precision laboratories, limiting the use of x-ray dark-field imaging. Using new mathematics, this project will design low-cost, robust x-ray dark-field imaging set-ups for widespread use, and develop methods to extract quantitative measurements, such as the size of the lung air spaces. These developments will allow quantitative x-ray dark-field imaging to be installed in factories, airport security checkpoints, and hospitals, supporting Australian manufacturing, security, and healthcare.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Understanding the role of digital technologies in addressing loneliness. This sociological project aims to develop a new approach to understanding the role of digital technologies in efforts to overcome loneliness. The team expects to generate new knowledge of how digital technologies are used by people who feel lonely and applied in policies and programs, using an innovative approach to explore different views, gaining the essential knowledge for assisting lonely Australians, and building much-needed research capacity in the sociology of loneliness and digital technologies. This should provide significant benefits such as a deep understanding of the sociocultural factors that influence people’s use of digital technologies to address loneliness, and evidence-based support for effective strategies and policies. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology Nearly six million Australians are affected by loneliness, with significant related socioeconomic costs due to work absences, productivity loss, and healthcare needs. This project will investigate the role of digital technologies in helping the public, policymakers, researchers, and service providers to address Australia’s increasing loneliness and associated socioeconomic burdens. The research will provide new evidence on the utility of different digital technologies for different groups and needs. The findings will assist Relationships Australia, Ending Loneliness Together, Department of Health and Aged Care, and peak patient organisations to develop loneliness strategies tailored to the specific needs of diverse Australian social groups and populations. By working with service providers, community organisations and government agencies tasked with addressing loneliness, the project will develop practical measures that will help to reduce loneliness in Australians, particularly among younger and older people as well as remote populations, while also reducing the associated social and economic burden.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Exploiting Geometries of Learning for Fast, Adaptive and Robust AI. This project aims to uniquely exploit geometric manifolds in deep learning to advance the frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and applications in cybersecurity and general cognitive tasks. It expects to develop new theories, algorithms, tools, and technologies for machine learning systems that are fast, adaptive, lifelong and robust, even with limited supervision. Expected outcomes will enhance Australia's capability and competitiveness in AI, and deliver robust and trustworthy learning technology. The project should provide significant benefits not only in advancing scientific and translational knowledge but also in accelerating AI innovations, safeguarding cyberspace, and reducing the burden on defence expenses in Australia. Field of research: 4611 - Machine Learning This project aims to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) theory to enable machines to learn faster and be more trustworthy. Intelligence is about change, adaptation, and consistency, aspects that current AI systems, grounded in deep neural networks (DNN), are unable to deal with systematically. By better understanding geometrical properties and structures of DNNs and tools to study them, this project will create new learning systems that are trainable with limited annotations, adaptive and robust. We subsequently apply the developed algorithms to understand and analyze images, improve our cybersecurity capacities in detecting vulnerabilities, and defending against sophisticated AI-based attacks. These developments will benefit Australia in staying at the forefront of the AI revolution and competitiveness, safeguarding the country’s cyberspace and reduce the burden on defence expenses.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Extracting subtle hints for new phenomena at the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to investigate the detailed nature of the Higgs theory which underpins the mass of elementary particles. The project aims to increase the understanding of particle interactions in the context of precise measurements of the properties of the Higgs boson that will come out of the experimental program at the large hadron collider. Expected outcomes include the development and application of methods to address existing gaps in the framework that confronts theory and experiment and to efficiently explore its high dimensionality. The benefits of conducting this research in Australia include the development of intellectual culture and the training of early-career researchers as flexible problem solvers in academia or beyond. Field of research: 5107 - Particle and High Energy Physics This project aims to provide a detailed study of the Higgs boson which plays a primary role in our understanding of fundamental questions, such as the origin of particle masses and whether our universe is stable. The project will enhance the framework that confronts theory with experimental results at the large hadron collider. This project, by participating in the research program of the large hadron collider, will improve our understanding of fundamental particle physics and further enhance Australia’s high energy physics presence on the global stage. The project will establish new tools, including visualisation techniques to better understand models and data in high dimensions. These tools could benefit other fields that encounter high dimensional problems, such as cybersecurity, the study of biological processes and drug research, or finance as they will assist in dealing with large amounts of data more efficiently. More immediately, the project will provide outreach activities aimed to attract young students into science and mathematics and to inform the general public about the fundamental laws of nature and the importance of basic research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Understanding uterine contractility for reducing newborn lamb mortality. The project aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying normal and dysfunctional uterine contractions in labouring ewes. Significantly, ~20% of newborn lambs die within days of birth, costing the Australian sheep industry more than $780 million annually. Difficult lambing is the leading cause of lamb mortality and weak uterine contractions are the most important contributor to difficult labour (dystocia). Intended outcomes include a better understanding of dysfunctional labour contractions in sheep, and this knowledge could then contribute to the identification of more specific targets for genetic testing for dystocia. The benefits should include more specific aids for selective breeding programs for improved productivity and profitability. Field of research: 3109 - Zoology In 2022, the sheep industry is expected to contribute $5 and $3.2 billion to the Australian economy for meat and wool, respectively, involving 1/3 of our farmers and employing an additional 200,000. Newborn lamb loss (~20%) has been identified by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) as costing the Australian sheep industry in excess of $780 million annually. Dystocia, defined as “difficulty in lambing requiring assistance", has been identified as the leading cause of newborn lamb mortality. A 2018 study concluded that “ewe risk [for dystocia] was difficult to predict”. Weak uterine contractions are the most important contributor to a difficult labour. Our knowledge of how uterine smooth muscle contracts in an effective manner at labour in sheep is limited and this hampers our ability to predict and/or treat dystocia. We will address this issue by determining mechanisms that underlie normal and dysfunctional labour contractions in sheep. Our results will identify markers, potential therapeutic targets, as well as genes that could aid in the selection of breeding sheep for improved productivity and profitability.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Fundamental research advancing remanufacturing with a 3D printing technique. 3D printing manufactures items directly from a computer model. This project aims to develop a computational tool for applying direct laser metal deposition, a 3D-printing method, to repair metallic components and develop a way to predict the remaining life of the remanufactured components. The tool should optimise use of this printing method and improve the quality of repaired components. The research expects to validate the tool for simulating the printing process, provide a better heat treatment during repair, and allow safe prediction of the service life of repaired components. This research should benefit the Australian manufacturing industry and reduce resource use by helping apply this 3D printing method in remanufacturing. Field of research: 4017 - Mechanical Engineering The repair and remanufacture of industrial products play an important role in reducing human impact on the environment through reusing materials, and are more efficient and cost-effective than recycling. This project will develop a theoretical computational tool and a framework to optimise the processing parameters of direct laser metal deposition, a key 3D printing technique for remanufacturing of metallic components. The technique is more precise, and repairs can be stronger than with traditional repair methods such as welding. These applied outputs should improve the quality and safety of remanufactured components and allow prediction of the remaining service life of the repaired components, which will provide evidence to increase uptake of the technique and confidence in the remanufactured components for both manufacturers and customers. Developing this agile approach to remanufacturing could contribute to revitalising Australian manufacturing in areas like repair and maintenance in the aviation and rail industries. It could also open up new global markets while contributing to the circular economy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Determining the links between size and function in phytoplankton. Marine phytoplankton are responsible for around 50% of the carbon fixation on planet. This project will examine how phytoplankton size declines will alter marine food webs and carbon sequestration. Changes in nutrients and temperature will cause phytoplankton to be smaller but the consequences of these changes are uncertain because of a lack of knowledge regarding how changes in cell size affect function within a species. This project will evolve 20 species of algae to be different sizes and estimate the consequences of these size changes for biological functions. The project will then use these data to refine global models of carbon budgets, leading to better predictions about how the global carbon pump will change. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology Australians rely on the ocean for food, and recreation. Small single-celled plants called phytoplankton are essential for marine food chains, and for aquaculture, but they also cause harmful algal blooms. Australia’s marine environment is changing more rapidly than most places on earth and, because our coastal waters are particularly low in nutrients, phytoplankton might be particularly vulnerable to climate change. This project will evolve phytoplankton to adapt to future ocean conditions and in doing so, will identify strains that are tolerant to higher temperatures and more productive in culture. Such information is essential for “future proofing” Australian fisheries and aquaculture under future climates. This project will also develop new methods for aquaculturists to use selective breeding techniques to improve current and future yields of phytoplankton species used in Australian aquaculture.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

A Universal Power Law for Growth and Diversity of Dinosaur and Bird Beaks. Universal rules that govern how animals grow have tremendous power to explain the highly complex processes of growth and development. The project investigators have recently discovered a new rule of growth that controls how teeth, horns, claws and beaks are generated in animals. This project aims to use this new rule to examine the evolution and diversity of beaks in birds and dinosaurs. By combining 3D modelling, biomechanics and genetic analysis of bird beak development with the study of dinosaur fossils, this project expects to reveal the underlying processes controlling the growth and evolution of beaks. The anticipated goal of this project is to show the power of new theoretical models to explain the diversity of life. Field of research: 3104 - Evolutionary Biology This project will investigate a new law of growth discovered by us that controls the shape of structures such as teeth, claws, horns, thorns and beaks in animals and plants. This project will explore in detail how this law applies to the evolution of beaks in dinosaurs and modern birds over millions of years. The advances of this project will generate better predictive models of animal and plant growth and generate considerable public attention due to the significant cultural interest in dinosaurs. Yield in agriculture and aquaculture systems is dependent on growth processes, and the basic biological understanding generated by this project will offer targets to be used by plant and animal breeders and geneticists to improve crop and livestock production, and by biomedical scientists to enhance growth processes in regenerative medicine.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Invisible labour: Principals’ emotional labour in volatile times. Schools face a major principal recruitment and retention crisis due to intensified workloads and the emotional labour of managing diverse communities. This project aims to improve leadership preparation and development for school principals to help them manage complex emotional workload demands. The project expects to generate new knowledge about principal workforce development and to create a framework for policymakers that identifies the knowledge and practices required to develop leaders’ emotional skills and build bridges across diverse communities. Anticipated benefits include reduced principal turnover, improved teacher retention, improved student outcomes and greater social cohesion. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education This project will investigate the nature, scope and scale of the new, intensified emotional demands on principals’ work arising from their leadership of increasingly diverse and polarised school communities. It will generate a robust evidence base and set of theoretical and practical tools to better understand, prepare and support principals and systems to productively manage these new and intensified forms of work. Australia’s aspirations to “increase productivity” and “achieve sustainable economic growth” depend on improved “national well-being”. Quality educational leadership is instrumental in achieving these aims. The attraction and retention of high-quality educators into the principalship and lower turnover accrues significant social benefits: positively impacting teacher retention, school-community engagement and students’ outcomes, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. The project will foster healthy and resilient communities by reducing the significant social costs associated with high principal turnover, stress and burnout and has direct economic benefits in reducing turnover costs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Redesigning workers’ compensation using participatory systems modelling. This project will use participatory system modelling techniques to develop and test new approaches to the design and delivery of workers' compensation in Australia. The project responds to the substantial evidence that Australia’s workers' compensation systems are failing to achieve their social and economic objectives. We will actively engage people with lived experience of work disability to co-design an alternative workers' compensation system. The outcomes of this system will be assessed using agent-based modelling, and compared to the current state. The study will provide a vision for an alternative approach to workers' compensation that supports the social and economic participation of Australians with work disability. Field of research: 4407 - Policy and Administration The project seeks to design and test a new approach for supporting Australians with work-related injury and illness, through workers' compensation. The approach will be based on lived experience of people with work-related injury and illness, their families and carers. The project responds to growing evidence that our workers' compensation systems are not achieving their social or economic objectives. The project will produce a computer simulation model of the new approach and compare the social and economic impacts of this model with a computer model that describes the current state. Every year, Australia spends >$10 billion on workers' compensation benefits and services and ~250,000 Australians make new compensation claims. The project will provide an alternative vision for system design and management that improves outcomes for workers and their families at the least cost to government and employers, and the evidence to support that vision. Findings will inform future policy development in workers' compensation systems, as well as the regulation and operation of workers compensation systems.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

The sociology of health data for sexuality and gender diverse people. This project aims to investigate the sociological dimensions of digital health data for sexuality and gender diverse people with complex health needs. It employs qualitative and co-design methods to engage with sexuality and gender diverse people, advocates, clinicians, decision-makers, and health data designers. The project expects to generate much-needed knowledge about the participation of sexuality and gender diverse people in health data systems, with respect to trust, disclosure, stigma and prejudice. Expected outcomes include insight for enhancing health data systems for sexuality and gender diverse people. This project should provide significant benefits for the promotion of inclusive, safe and useful health data systems. Field of research: 4410 - Sociology My Health Record and related health data systems are increasingly important for the provision of cost effective and safe health care in Australia. The Australian government has a significant economic investment in My Health Record and similar health data systems. However, participation in health data systems is lower in sexuality and gender diverse people with complex health needs due to fear of prejudice and misuse of personal data. Missing data means that sexuality and gender diverse Australians will not fully benefit from health data systems. This project seeks to find ways to strengthen the safety and trustworthiness of health data systems for sexuality and gender diverse people. The project will help inform the development of inclusive, safe and useful health data systems that will contain more comprehensive health data for the benefit of all Australians.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Sexualised Deepfakes: Predictors, Consequences, Responses and Prevention. Artificial Intelligence is changing how perpetrators sexually abuse. Yet little research has explored this, and laws and digital platforms are failing to keep pace. This project aims to identify the predictors, harms and consequences of sexualised deepfakes (a form of Artificial Intelligence-Facilitated Abuse) and produce evidence to inform legal, technological and social responses to this growing problem. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of the drivers of abuse, the development of improved prevention resources and social, technological and legal responses for digital platforms, organisations and government. Expected benefits include improved laws, policies and practices to prevent Artificial Intelligence-Facilitated Abuse. Field of research: 4402 - Criminology Responding to technology-facilitated abuse is an Australian government priority. Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way abuse can occur, making it easier to abuse and harm others. This includes sexualised deepfakes where machine learning is used to create highly realistic but entirely fake pornography, such as digitally swapping the face of someone performing a sex act. Technology to produce images impossible to detect as fake is expected to be freely available by 2023. This problem threatens the wellbeing and cybersecurity of Australians at individual, societal and economic levels, leading to fraud, bribery, sexual abuse and reputational harm. This project aims to ascertain the predictors, nature and consequences of Artificial Intelligence-Facilitated Abuse and inform law, digital platform policy and social practice. The research seeks to provide government and policymakers with evidence of what social, technological, and legal interventions could be used to prevent this abuse. The project aims to provide social and economic benefits to Australia by finding ways to reduce this form of cybercrime.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Resonant tender X-ray scattering of organic semiconductors. This project aims to establish resonant tender X-ray scattering as a mature technique for unravelling the complex microstructure of organic semiconductor layers. By understanding and exploiting the resonant interaction between organic semiconductors and X-rays tuned to appropriate absorption edges, new information about the molecular packing of these materials will be obtained. The expected outcomes are new experimental methodologies and analysis tools for determining the complex structure of technologically relevant materials. Benefits include understanding of the properties of solution-processed semiconductors enabling the design of high performance materials with applications in energy, electronics, lighting and health. Field of research: 5110 - Synchrotrons and Accelerators This project aims to develop new ways of using X-rays to study the next generation of electronic materials that are flexible and stretchable. X-rays quickly and easily reveal the crystal structure of materials, which provides information about the origin of material properties. Conventional X-ray analysis works best for solid, perfectly arranged crystals, but struggles to provide information about flexible materials that have a moderate level of disorder. To empower X-ray analysis of flexible materials, this project will exploit X-rays whose frequency is specially tuned to resonate with atoms in flexible materials, rather than relying on a solid crystal structure. This new analysis will be leveraged to intentionally design new materials with desired properties, strengthening Australia’s leading position in the development of next generation electronic materials with application across a broad range of fields including flexible low-cost solar panels and wearable electronic devices. Benefits include understanding of the properties of solution-processed semiconductors enabling the design of high-performance materials with applications in energy, electronics, lighting and health. The research will be shared with Australian industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Carbon in a Bubble: Cavitation in Ionic Liquids. This project aims to investigate the potential of pressure-driven phase change as an energy-efficient mechanism for removing dissolved gases from low melting point salts, by advancing understanding of the cavitation behaviour of ionic liquids. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fluid mechanics through an innovative combination of advanced computational simulations and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques developed by the investigators. Expected outcomes of this project include expanded understanding of the physics of ionic liquids, and the ability to engineer more efficient gas separation systems. The project aims to benefit the chemical and energy sectors through improved energy efficiency. Field of research: 4012 - Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering This project aims to reduce the cost of capturing greenhouse gases emitted from power plants by replacing the expensive gas separation machinery available today with innovative new designs that are cheaper and simpler. Existing approaches to capturing emissions from power plants are expensive because the fluid which absorbs greenhouse gas from the exhaust must be continuously heated and cooled. This requires extra energy, increasing the cost of electricity significantly. This project will develop an innovative yet simple nozzle system with no moving parts that traps the gas in microscopic bubbles rather than relying on high temperatures. By better understanding the factors that influence the behaviour of these bubbles, the project will deliver new component designs which can be commercialised and scaled up for use in existing power plants. This will benefit Australians by putting downward pressure on both electricity prices and greenhouse gas emissions, and position Australia as a leader in innovative clean energy technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Impact of teacher shortages on teachers remaining in hard to staff schools. This project aims to investigate the lived experiences of teachers in a time of unprecedented teacher shortages. While previous studies have examined the causes of teacher shortages, the project is significant in its review of the issues of teacher retention focusing instead on those teachers who remain. By addressing the problem of retention this way, the expected outcomes of this project include developing a much deeper understanding of how educational systems, as well as individual schools, can support those teachers remaining in the profession. This will provide significant benefits such as informing policy on how to facilitate greater teacher retention at a time when maintaining support for a declining teaching workforce is urgent. Field of research: 3904 - Specialist Studies In Education The Australian Government reports unprecedented teacher shortages leading to a weaker and unskilled future economy, poor social and educational outcomes for young people with serious economic implications both in the immediate post Covid recovery and impacting long term issues of educational opportunity and achievement. This project offers new ways to investigate a crisis level problem unlocking the effect of teacher shortages on the work of those still teaching. The project has economic benefits, seeking to inform key stakeholders on teacher recruitment, attrition, and retention. Investing in a strong teacher workforce has clear economic benefits preparing young people to make future economic contributions. It has social benefits such as improving working conditions for quality teachers. It has cultural benefits as schools are crucial to thriving communities. By understanding the complexity of teachers’ work, this research can be translated into policy recommendations addressing the social, cultural, and economic national interest informing governments and schools on how to support a struggling profession.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Driving Towards Greener and Safer Roads using Big Spatiotemporal Data. This project aims to design novel techniques for using big spatiotemporal data to reduce the impact of road transport on the environment and improve road safety. This project expects to address key challenges and lay scientific foundations of using the big data for developing a next-generation eco-friendly navigation system and increasing situational awareness for road transport safety. Expected outcomes of this project include novel big data management and analytics techniques, and new edge computing models for vehicular networks. The success of this project should bring several key benefits including reducing greenhouse gas emissions on roads, facilitating urban planning, and improving road safety. Field of research: 4605 - Data Management and Data Science Greenhouse gas emissions and accidents are two of the most critical issues in road transport. This project will harness the big data obtained from ubiquitous smartphone sensors to reduce the impact of road transport on environment and to improve road safety. Specifically, novel techniques will be designed that exploit the big data to create a next-generation eco-friendly navigation system which will not only significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions but will also result in fuel saving. The project will also systematically study the citywide impact of the adaption of eco-friendly navigation on traffic, environment and road safety thus helping in urban planning and decision making. Furthermore, the project will use the big data to improve road safety by automatically identifying risky road conditions and unsafe driving behaviors, and sending real-time alerts to potentially affected vehicles. Computational models will be developed to meet the demands of time-critical road safety applications. We expect to collaborate with major logistics companies and road transport departments for research translation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Populism’s Heartlands: Place, Identity, and Localism in Populist Politics. This project aims to investigate how populism intersects with localism through systematic, comparative, and in-depth empirical study of three populist parties inextricably associated with ‘heartlands’ in Australia, Germany and Spain. This project expects to generate new knowledge about how populists utilise the language of localism and how people’s attachment to place shapes their support for populists. Expected outcomes of the project include a new understanding of how populism and localism affect one another; and identification of how right and left populist support are differently affected by community engagement and participation. Benefits include the identification of local interventions to lessen the appeal of exclusionary populisms. Field of research: 4408 - Political Science It is often acknowledged that populism poses a threat to social cohesion in liberal democracies like Australia, but we know very little about how it operates, or what to do about it, on the local and regional level. This project examines how populists build strong links in regional communities; identifies local initiatives that can contest or alternatively bolster populism in these areas; and offers policymakers, governmental bodies and community leaders a comparative best-practice evidence base for designing programmes that build strength in diversity and community participation – a core goal of the Australian Government’s Countering Violent Extremism program – in regional settings. This will benefit Australia socially and culturally by providing practical ways to improve inclusion in regional Australia, which will have flow-on effects for these regional economies by increasing their attractiveness as places to live, work and raise families.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Hybrid additive manufacturing of critical metallic components. This project aims to combine world-class expertise and facilities to deliver on-demand and advanced alloy components produced by revolutionary hybrid additive manufacturing technology, along with applicable processing parameters and post-process schemes for fabricating high-performance metal products for space and aerospace applications. The intended outcomes of this project include the delivery of a knowledge platform for fabricating alloy parts that have unprecedented high-temperature mechanical properties and environmental performance and providing significant benefits for the industry partner to establish its international portfolio of high-profit products. Field of research: 4014 - Manufacturing Engineering Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is widely regarded as a game-changing emerging technology. However, its use for printing load-bearing metal components required by the space and aerospace industry is extremely limited due to printing defects and concerns over product strength and durability. This project aims to overcome current limitations by using a revolutionary hybrid additive manufacturing technology to reduce underlying defects and produce a more reliable product. The research will provide a crucial knowledge platform and enable development of a novel hybrid micro-rolling and printing technology to create a wide range of novel critical products with superior performance for the aerospace industry. The hybrid additive manufacturing system and the new printed products they enable will be high-profit and generate significant revenue, expanding the technology to a much wider range of load-bearing and critical applications. This will substantially improve the international competitiveness of Australian industry, enhancing Australia’s sovereign capability in emerging cutting-edge manufacturing.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Nanoengineered, Encapsulated Catalysts from Fly Ash Waste. This project aims to deliver advanced catalysts and novel catalyst synthesis methods from the use of iron-rich fly ash, an otherwise abundant valueless waste with projected steady growth across Australia and globally. The as-synthesised catalysts are expected to be applicable to and exhibit excellent activity in the production of green hydrogen and renewable bio-fuels from lignocellulosic waste. These efforts are significant and beneficial in restoring the manufacturing capability of Australian industry, driving Australian industry towards the development of a circular economy for the appropriate management of solid waste, as well as for a seamless introduction of renewable and clean energy sources to address the pressing climate change. Field of research: 4004 - Chemical Engineering Coal-fired power plants produce a large amount of a solid waste product known as fly ash. This fly ash is collected and, traditionally, landfilled, causing long-term environmental concerns such as soil and water contamination. These negative impacts are felt mostly in rural areas, where power plants are mainly located, and millions of tonnes of fly ash have been produced as a legacy from the existing and decommissioned power plants. The project seeks to divert fly ash from landfilling into higher-value products. It will develop new chemical catalysts and demonstrate their use at pilot-scale. Their scale up through local manufacturing would foster the creation of substantial jobs and revenue streams. These new products could then be commercialised in a broad variety of clean and renewable energy applications, which will promote a smooth transition to a carbon-neutral future economy for Australian industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Comedy Country: Australian Performance Comedy as an Agent of Change. Comedy Country aims to investigate the development of comic performance and its transformational relation with, and impact on, Australian society, culture and the creative industries from the aftermath of World War 2 until the present. The project’s key hypothesis is that since the 1950s comic performance has not merely reflected a changing Australia but helped drive social and cultural transformation. The project partners with two festivals, five cultural collecting organisations and a media production company to build interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences/industry collaborations in digital methods for archive research and transmedia communication, and deliver digital exhibitions, documentaries, podcasts and scholarly histories. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies Comedy is a central element of Australia’s identity, and a major contributor to our creative industries. However, its tangible value is poorly understood. This project seeks to establish the cultural and economic value of performance comedy to Australia, examining a range of live and mediated forms and recognising the contribution of Indigenous comedy. The project will enable the emergence of new knowledge by collaborating with industry and archival collections to identify the innovative ways in which comedy has adapted to changing conditions over the past seventy years. The findings will benefit Australia through a range of engagement strategies aimed at policy makers, industry and the public. These will inform policy development for the continuing economic and cultural vitality of comedy; deliver skills for the new cultural economy by creating an online collaborative and interactive hub, linking researchers, collections, festivals and performers; and communicate the cultural value of comedy through the public distribution of curated forms of media content and interactive storytelling.