RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Dual-comb Hyperspectral Imaging Facility. This project will create a Dual-comb Hyperspectral Imaging Facility responding to newly emerging global trends towards video rate imaging with precision spectral analysis. Current spectral analysis systems require serial scanning of samples to create an image, which is too slow for dynamic systems such as biological specimens. This facility will harness optical frequency combs from visible to the mid-infrared, to rapidly image and spectrally analyse specimens. The diverse variety of applications supported by this facility will make it a unique nexus point between multiple disciplines, enabling research in health and life science, characterisation of functional nanomaterials, precision photonic metrology and sensing. Field of research: 4009 - Electronics, Sensors and Digital Hardware This facility will establish a new form of microscope that uses thousands of beams of laser light to simultaneously record both the three dimensional shape and precise colour of an object being imaged. Using this information, it is possible to determine both the physical form of an object and its chemical composition. The facility will have two nodes. The equipment at the University of Adelaide will use infrared light to enable breakthrough insights into nanomaterials. The equipment at RMIT University will use visible light and will be particularly valuable for imaging of living organisms. This facility will be at the leading edge of international research into new methods of imaging and will be offered as an accessible service to the Australian and international research community. The new imaging approaches created could be licensed to existing Australian medical imaging companies and form the basis for new technology start-ups. Use of the facility could yield new knowledge across diverse fields from materials for renewable energy generation and storage to in-vitro fertilisation.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Ageing in and through Data: What data can tell us about ageing. As the first generation to age in a data-rich world, this project asks: What insights can data (i.e. computational information) give us about ageing, ageing well and ageing in place (i.e. at home)? And what escapes data and why? By taking up the UN Healthy Ageing challenge, this project combines ethnography, data sensing and creative practice to provide insights—opportunities and limitations—into how we might age well and in place. Expected outcomes include data visualisation, ethnographic mobile storytelling, art exhibition, codesign workshops and symposium. These outcomes will activate public debate and provide alternative futures for ageing well in a data-saturated world. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies This project will explore the link between data, technology and ageing well—specifically, the opportunities and challenges for data to support healthy ageing. With a growing crisis in access to quality aged care, this research will provide vital evidence on how technology can most effectively assist Australians as they age in their own homes. The research will provide social, cultural and technological insights into Australians’ experience of ageing, identifying ways that technology can assist older people in areas of mobility and healthcare to social connection and security. The findings will take the form of resources (reports, exhibitions, online media and workshops) to raise public awareness around the implications of ageing in a system and culture where all information is rendered data. Online documentaries and art exhibitions will bring to light lived experience lessons. The research, created with and for older Australians, will be shared with key industry (i.e. U3A and councils), policy makers and government via workshops to inform models for sustainable ageing and data literacy.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

High specificity nanosensors for glycobiology . This project aims to develop high specificity glycosensors for identifying and characterising carbohydrates. These glycosensors are expected to generate detailed information on carbohydrate stereochemical structure and how this controls protein-carbohydrate binding and other interactions fundamental to biochemical processes. This innovative nanotechnology aims to deliver a new capability for understanding cellular recognition and antigen binding mechanisms. The expected outcomes are new tools for glycobiology and research into carbohydrate structure-function relationships, strengthening Australia’s global reputation in nanosensors with an incisive analytical technology for biomedical sciences and the many industries utilising carbohydrates. Field of research: 3401 - Analytical Chemistry The cells of all forms of life, including bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, contain sugars. These sugars play key roles in the progression of numerous diseases such as cancer, infection and diabetes. There are currently no sensors that can detect sugars within cells. In this project, we will create a new class of sensor that can detect sugars in cells by investigating their unique shapes, enhanced by interactions with silver nanoparticles. These new sensors will have many applications in the biomedical and biotechnology industries including as new diagnostics for cancer, infection and diabetes, and for the analysis of sugars in foods such as grains. Benefits to the Australian public include heathier aging through diagnosis of disease and improved nutrition. Our sensors have the potential to be translated into a variety of healthcare and agriculture settings to provide rapid means of detecting biologically important sugars. These sensors could be adopted as rapid diagnostics for healthcare professionals, and as quality control for food products.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Designing liveable neighbourhoods to support healthy ageing. This project aims to identify whether neighbourhood liveability influences healthy ageing, and the extent to which this association is modified by individual preferences and socioeconomic disadvantage using longitudinal analyses. The research expects to generate new knowledge on urban design that supports healthy ageing, which is mostly derived from cross-sectional studies. Expected outcomes include evidence-based recommendations for informing urban design and health policies to support healthy ageing and ageing in place, which is a key government agenda in Australia. This should provide benefits such as the delivery of high quality liveable environments that support healthy ageing and reduced aged care expenditure. Field of research: 3304 - Urban and Regional Planning Australia’s older population is expected to double by 2057 and new evidence is needed on how changes to places and neighbourhood design impact health outcomes. This project will identify features of the built, social, and natural environments that support healthy ageing in older adults over time to provide recommendations on how we can support the long-term health of older Australians. Throughout the project lifetime, researchers will engage and test findings with older people and the general public, government policymakers and planning professionals through in-person workshops and conferences, guidance notes, scorecards, webinars, academic and social media articles before producing policy briefs for stakeholders. The new knowledge will shape improved urban design and health policies, promotion of healthy ageing in the community, and help decrease future needs and healthcare costs for residential aged care. This project aligns with national priorities directed at improving health outcomes in vulnerable populations and providing resilient urban infrastructure in Australia for the long-term.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Improving the stability of biomolecules using ionic liquids. This project aims to address critical issues in studying proteins outside their native environments by developing new solvents that will increase their stability and solubility. The project expects to create new knowledge in our understanding of solvent chemical properties through a novel approach using high throughput robotics, synchrotron analysis of protein structures and Molecular Dynamics simulations. The expected outcome is a set of design rules for creating new solvents. This should benefit many research and industrial applications, including determining protein structure for the development of new drugs and biocatalysts, and cryopreservation of protein-based pharmaceuticals. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry Medicines and vaccines like the Covid-19 vaccine often have poor shelf-lives, and sometimes need to be kept well below freezing temperature. This makes them hard to manufacture, store and transport. Chemicals can be added to address this, but it is challenging to find suitable ones. We have shown that some special salts are in fact suitable chemicals with the potential to stabilise medicines and vaccines. In this project, we will test hundreds of salt combinations to find those that improve the shelf-life of medicines. We will also determine how and why they work, allowing us to design the best salts for specific medical applications. Designing stabilising salts for medicines will solve a key problem for the bioprocessing industries that make, purify, store and/or transport medicines and vaccines. The salts produced from this project will be made in Australia and adopted by industry through incorporation into existing drug and vaccine formulations. This will benefit Australian chemical and pharmaceutical industries and provide cheaper medicine costs and greater accessibility for remote and rural communities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Rational design of array-based nanozyme sensors. The project aims to obtain a deep understanding of molecular interactions at the nano-bio interface, and use this knowledge to develop a robust sensor technology for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens in complex samples. The project proposes to employ an innovative approach that mimics the senses of smell and taste, where an array of aptamers are expected to work in synergy to precisely identify a target, providing an edge over current sensing technologies. Expected outcomes include a ready-to-go analytical tool for the detection of food contaminants. This should provide significant economic, health, and social benefits through supporting Australian food and health sectors, and the potential commercialisation of sensor technologies. Field of research: 3106 - Industrial Biotechnology The high complexity of foods poses a major challenge in confidently detecting food spoilage and infectious organisms in the food, as the food itself can mask the presence of bacteria, viruses and diseases. This project will develop a highly sensitive sensor technology that can reliably detect different foodborne pathogens and diseases by investigating the interactions between sensors and food. The sensors generated by this research can be used by food suppliers at their manufacturing sites and incorporated into food packaging to visually indicate food quality. The use of these sensors will enhance food safety for Australian consumers. Additionally, the sensors will help prepare Australia for potential future threats to our food, environment, and health. Translation of the sensor technology will be achieved by co-developing them with Australian industries and biosecurity agencies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Synthesising novel phases of carbon by shear-induced phase transformations. Carbon forms the hardest known solids and offers the opportunity for new materials with outstanding properties. The aim of this project is to establish a new technology for synthesising dense, diamond-like carbon materials without the need for high temperatures. The approach uses shear stress caused by non-hydrostatic compressions to drive phase changes in solids. Guided by modelling and using novel experimental techniques, this project seeks to understand and then exploit this remarkable phase change phenomenon. Expected outcomes include hard and tough coatings for high performance tools, impermeable encapsulations to enhance the longevity of bionic implants and a possible explanation for the mystery of deep earthquakes. Field of research: 3403 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry The hardness and stability of diamond makes it highly useful in a diverse range of applications, including machining, mining, and medical implants. This project seeks to develop new materials that are harder and tougher than diamond, leading to more reliable medical devices, and more efficient tools for industry and minerals extraction/processing. The outcome will be a longer and a better quality of life for Australians and more productive manufacturing capacity for new Australian enterprises. Studying materials produced under the extreme conditions found on Jupiter and Saturn will lead to opportunities for Australia in space exploration, putting Australia at the forefront of new space technologies. The materials produced in this research can be readily adopted by industry through the replacement of existing low quality machining tools and shorter lifespan, less reliable prosthetics.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Visualising Retinal Microglia as a Window into Brain Inflammation. This project aims to use the unique autofluorescence signature of immune cells, microglia, imaged in the retina, as an index of brain inflammation. This project expects to provide the fundamental knowledge to allow us to image microglia non-invasively and identify the presence of brain inflammation without needing to access the brain-proper. Expected outcomes include full characterisation of microglial autofluorescence in the retina and how it relates to brain inflammation. This should provide significant downstream benefits for the detection of inflammatory brain disease well before visible symptoms develop with substantial benefit for livestock, pets, zoo and conservation animals, as well as research knowledge. Field of research: 3209 - Neurosciences Brain disease is difficult to detect, particularly in animals that cannot communicate their symptoms. Most brain diseases cause inflammation that activates the immune cells of the brain, known as microglia, to combat the disease. When microglia are activated, they change their brightness (fluorescence), and this can be observed in a non-invasive exam of the retina of the eye. This project will develop a rapid testing platform to detect microglia brightness in the eye, triggering targeted testing to identify the cause, key examples being prion diseases, dementia and brain cancers. The platform can be readily commercialised by the Australian medical devices industry as a diagnostic device for use in the field. The technology will benefit Australian agriculture and veterinarians, allowing rapid identification of brain disease in livestock and pets. Improving the diagnosis of prion diseases in livestock, for example, will reduce the risk of transmission to humans. The technology will also benefit conservation efforts, helping ensure the health of endangered Australian animals used in breeding programs.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Accelerated Finite-time Learning and Control in Cyber-Physical Systems. Efficient learning and control in cyber-physical systems such as smart grids and robotic systems are very important for achieving economic and social benefits. This project aims to establish a breakthrough accelerated finite-time dynamics theory and technology to assist in delivering efficient learning and control. Expected outcomes include new distributed accelerated finite-time dynamics based learning and control algorithms and tools for optimal operations in cyber-physical systems. This should provide significant benefits including a practical technology for industry applications in smart grids and robotic systems, and training of the next generation engineers in this technology for Australia. Field of research: 4007 - Control Engineering, Mechatronics and Robotics Fast responses are desired in industrial systems for performing mission-critical tasks such as quickly restoring a power supply and allowing industrial robots to swiftly reach objects. This project aims to develop new algorithms that can be used to reliably speed up these responses in complex situations, for instance power grids under extreme weather conditions and robots in hazardous environments. These algorithms will be developed and tested in the research laboratories at participating universities and applied in the ongoing and new collaborative projects with industry partners. Proof-of-concept tools will be built and tested, ready for commercial implementation after the completion of the project. These tools can be used to improve the reliability of the Australian electricity system, especially as power is increasingly being generated by renewables, and by Australian industries looking to reduce costs through automation, by improving the effectiveness of factory robots.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Break the deadlock in corrosion research to prevent infrastructure collapse. Corrosion destroys one-quarter of the world’s annual steel production and costs the Australian economy $30 billion each year. This project targets a crucial missing link in understanding the structure and dynamics of the atomic lattices of corroded steel and the degradation of its mechanical strength. By combining advanced electrochemical and mechanical measurements with dynamics simulation of atomic lattices of corroded steel, this project will produce the first concerted picture of corrosion induced strength degradation with a particular focus on real industrial conditions. This promises to guide the ongoing diagnosis of corrosion damages to steel, effectively preventing the collapse of corroded infrastructure. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering This project investigates the cause and prevention of steel corrosion damages to corroded infrastructure. It addresses a major knowledge gap in steel corrosion, the relationship between the degree of corrosion and degradation of mechanical properties of corroded steel, so as to identify and predict the critical point at which the infrastructure collapses. Expected outcomes of the project include a corrosion diagnostic technique and enhanced capability to prevent collapses of corroded infrastructure. The research can benefit Australia economically by preventing accidents of corroded infrastructure - saving billions of dollars; socially by mitigating disruptions caused by infrastructure collapse - assuring the quality of life; environmentally by resource savings due to extended service life - preserving nature; and commercially by increasing confidence in using steel products - improving trade. The research will be shared with Australian industry end-users, e.g., structural engineers and asset managers, to enable its adoption in diagnosis and prevention of unexpected collapse of corroded infrastructure.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2023 · 2023-01

Addressing Online Hostility in Australian Digital Cultures. This project aims to provide a comprehensive account of Australians’ experiences of online hostility, abuse, trolling and extremist hate speech, which have increased over the past decade. The research expects to analyse the experiences of diverse Australian online users, moderators and stakeholders, to determine their practices, attitudes, and innovations, and their perceptions on how to address this social problem. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced understanding of the support needs and remedies to online hostility among a diverse cross-section of Australians. This will provide significant benefits by providing roadmaps for improved intervention, support, regulation and education on digital communication in Australia. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies Changes to the culture of online engagement have meant most digital users are now exposed to unprecedented high rates of digital hostility and hate speech. This project will analyse the experiences of Australian digital users, moderators and policy personnel to determine how to address this social problem. We expect this project will provide enhanced understanding of the issues, support, and remedies to digital hostility. This research provides significant social and cultural benefits to Australia by providing practical user-driven recommendations to regulators and platforms, ensuring that Australians can participate in digital culture without fear of digital hostility and be well-supported in times of online adversity. Through a program of engagement including stakeholder workshops, videos, and multi-sector national symposiums, the project will deliver advanced knowledge that will help Australia’s digital users and workforce to maintain wellbeing and resilience in the face of hostility, and assist platforms and regulators to perform a continuing role in fostering ethical digital cultures.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Energy Poverty and Policy Responses in Australia. This project aims to understand the factors influencing energy poverty in Australia. Using econometric methods, this project will examine: 1) the impact of life shocks and weather shocks on energy poverty, and 2) the impact of existing government programs and policies on energy poverty. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the pathways through which shocks and policies influence energy poverty. The outcomes include knowledge generation and dissemination of findings to key stakeholders. This project will provide significant benefits, including better understandings of energy poverty that can influence policy directly shaping the health and wellbeing of Australians and others vulnerable to energy poverty. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics Household energy is a basic daily need that is vital to our overall health and wellbeing. Indeed, research has shown that energy poverty, defined as the inability of households to comfortably meet domestic energy needs, can lead to poor health and wellbeing, mental stress and mortality. In Australia, however, energy poverty rates are as high as 14%, suggesting that over 3.5 million Australians are energy poor. This research will develop energy poverty related wellbeing metrics that can help monitor progress and provide insights on the factors that influence energy poverty. This will equip policymakers to effectively address energy poverty. If state and federal policymakers are better equipped to tackle energy poverty successfully, millions of people living in energy poverty will benefit. Productivity lost to poor health and wellbeing could be minimised, thus ensuring Australia’s ongoing prosperity. For the research community, the success of this project builds a solid and innovative foundation that will guide future studies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Superhydrophobic thermally rearranged membranes for low-energy separation. This project aims to develop thermally rearranged membranes with superhydrophobicity using novel polymer chemistry and nanofibre morphology. Both water flowrate in membrane distillation and gas flowrate in carbon dioxide stripping from solvents will be increased by minimising the water vapor condensation between the nanofibers; resolving shortcomings in current energy-intensive filtration systems. This project will provide significant benefits to Australian communities by advancing cost-effective and energy-efficient potable water production and carbon dioxide separation processes for sustainable development. The advanced materials developed can be manufactured locally and will enhance our national capability in modern manufacturing. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering By 2025, the value of the membrane filtration market is estimated to grow to USD 19.6 billion; Australia, like many countries, is heavily invested in developing new membrane technologies for clean water and clean energy. This project aims to develop thermally rearranged nanofibre membranes to advance emerging processes such as membrane distillation (MD) and membrane gas absorption (MGA). This will lead to significant environmental and socio-economic benefits for Australia: MD will form part of the next generation water processing portfolio that can draw clean water from sources such as seawater, domestic wastewater, or saline dairy effluent. Carbon capture by MGA technology will be a key approach to mitigate climate change and to accelerate our transition to a hydrogen economy. The project also addresses the National Science and Research Priority “Advanced Manufacturing”. The successful development of thermally rearranged nanofibre membranes and membrane modules could have significant impact on sustainable economic growth, providing potential employment growth in manufacturing jobs within Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Impacts of the apartment boom on public transport in Australian cities. This project aims to investigate the impacts of high density housing on public transport use and service provision to directly inform policy and practice. Recent growth in high density housing along public transport corridors is associated with overcrowded public transport services in Australian cities, yet this complex and interconnected relationship is not well understood. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the field of transport and land use integration and produce much needed cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence of the impacts of the apartment boom on public transport. Anticipated benefits include reduced overcrowding on public transport, improved travel choices and enhanced liveability in Australian cities. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning This project will significantly increase our understanding of the effect that high density housing has on the use and provision of public transport. This research is critical given the rapid growth in high density housing in Australia coupled with overcrowded and unreliable public transport services. The project will help to improve policy and practice for better integrating transport and land use planning. Public transport operators will also benefit as the research findings will help to facilitate improved management and efficiency of public transport services, through reduced passenger overcrowding. Greater alignment between high density housing and public transport will contribute to enhanced liveability in our cities through reduced traffic congestion and overcrowding on public transport, greater travel choices and improved accessibility.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Unravelling the mechanisms of sodium-selectivity in biological ion channels. The aim of this project is to determine the origins of protein-mediated sodium ion transport across cell membranes. The project expects to reveal the mechanisms of selective ion conduction in different sodium-selective ion channels using advanced computer simulations, in concert with non-canonical mutation experiments that target the roles of protein chemistry. The expected outcome is improved understanding of how proteins discriminate between ion species, challenging theories that have stood for decades. The results should provide benefits in the form of basic understanding relevant to ion transport phenomena in biology and novel materials, with atomic-level views of nervous system function to guide future directions in drug development. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology This project aims to provide fundamental explanations for charge transport processes in the nervous system that are central to life. It will lead to new understanding of biological ion channels that will assist in the development of improved therapeutics to treat neurological, cardiac and muscular disorders, such as epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmias, chronic pain, neurodegenerative disease and stroke, each representing significant social and economic burdens on the Australian public. For example, chronic pain affects over 4 million Australians and is estimated to cost $30 billion per year; higher than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. This knowledge will also guide future developments in advanced materials, such as ion channel mimetic membranes for more efficient water desalination; being a high priority for Australian agriculture and its growing cities. This project represents cutting-edge interdisciplinary and international collaboration, employing the latest experimental and computational technologies, leading to improved Australian competitiveness in biotechnological research.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Developing novel two-dimensional hybrid nanostructures for renewable energy. This project aims to develop novel two-dimensional (2D) hybrid nanostructures with new physical and chemical properties. This innovation intends to address the critical challenges of control functionalisation of 2D hybrid nanostructures: essential to understanding the potential of nanomaterials in key applications of energy generation. Expected outcomes include scalable technology to produce functional 2D nanomaterials and hybrid nanostructures to accelerate research to advanced materials and frontier material manufacturing technologies. This project will provide significant social and economic benefits to Australia in the growth of sectors in advanced materials, energy generation, and advanced manufacturing. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Climate change demands new technology and materials to develop clean, renewable, and sustainable energy. This project addresses this need by developing functional nanomaterials and their advanced hybrid nanostructures with unprecedented physical and chemical capabilities. The new materials can be assembled into devices that feed into technologies and industries for energy harvesting, water purification and smart sensors. Importantly, this program will have far reaching implications across a range of research disciplines including physics, chemistry, and materials science and engineering, and ultimately sectors critical to Australia’s environmental, social, and economic future. It is anticipated that these advances will facilitate new ideas in advanced nanomaterials, novel hybrid technology, renewable energy materials and technologies industries, addressing the need for increased renewable and sustainable energy and diversification of advanced manufacturing in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Ultrahigh strength maraging titanium alloys for additive manufacturing . This project aims to pioneer an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing by capitalising on both the alloy design theory of ultrahigh-strength steels and the unique capability of laser-based 3D printing. The planned research expects to significantly advance the knowledge base of advanced metallic materials and metal 3D printing via atomistic level characterisation and systematic mechanical property evaluation in relation to specifically tailored 3D printing conditions. Expected outcomes include a group of ultrahigh-strength novel titanium alloys for 3D printing and a new alloy design theory. This should provide significant benefits to the manufacturing industry to support the national economy and security. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Key engineering materials are the cornerstone of the manufacturing industry. They play a pivotal role in enhancing the strength of the industrial supply chain to support the national economy and security. The expected outcome of this proposal is an unprecedented class of ultrahigh-strength titanium alloys for 3D printing using a new concept initiated in Australia. These novel ultrahigh-strength and ductile lightweight materials are ideal and essential for critical applications in the defence, aerospace, ship building, energy generation, and automotive industries. In particular, they could immediately enhance the influence and uniqueness of our supply chain in the defence and aerospace sectors. The patents or new intellectual properties out of this project will be made immediately available to our manufacturing industry via existing and new partnerships with small to medium enterprises. Examples of new commercial products include light, ultra-strong, ductile, corrosion-resistant components in commercial and military aircraft, helicopters, defence air, road and sea vehicles, energy production facilities etc.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Privacy-Preserving Location Based Queries. This project aims to develop efficient solutions for mobile users to consume location-based services (LBS) without revealing their locations. The project expects to demonstrate the effectiveness of the solutions using theoretic analysis and practical experiments. The expected outcomes are a multiparty trust model, techniques to distribute user location information among multiple location-based services, and a practical system to protect privacy in mobile environments. This should protect the privacy of individuals and increase users’ trust in location-based systems. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format The techniques developed in this project will protect the location data derived from mobile device users using location-based services and apps. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to have the world’s highest growth in located-based services in this decade. These new techniques will lead to commercial software products, such as privacy-preserving, location-based service mobile apps, specific for Australian geography, and therefore benefit the Australian mobile industry. A 2020 survey showed that privacy is a major concern for 70% of Australians, with almost 90% wanting more choice and control over their personal information. Australians who would never download the COVIDSafe app listed privacy as their top concern. The outcomes of this project will allay those concerns and improve the effectiveness of government initiatives to monitor disease outbreaks and protect public health. The technology is also aimed at highly secure data acquisition for defence. It will allow Australian Defence Force personnel deployed in the field to navigate without revealing their locations.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Boosting photosynthetic efficiency using a plant nanobionics approach. The project aims to improve light capture and enhance electron transport rates using a plant nanobionics approach. Biocompatible plasmonic low-dimensional transition metal oxides with unique optical and electronics properties will be selected as the bioinspired materials. The investigation will focus on developing oxide compounds as artificial antenna, capturing extended optical wavelengths that are not normally available to natural plants. Energetic hot electrons excited from plasmonic materials injected into the plant system will further be explored, achieving unprecedented energy conversion from solar to chemical. The anticipated findings will provide a strong base to develop new plant systems with improved photosynthetic efficiency. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering This project is designed to create new low-dimensional metal oxide materials with highly tunable optical and electronics properties, which will target applications in augmenting photosynthetic efficiency in plants and result in more sustainable biomass production. The knowledge that will be produced is of fundamental importance in realising viable and vibrant energy and environmental industries. The high yield of biomass production through improvement of photosynthesis in plants will reduce the dependence on non-sustainable fossil fuels. Australian industry will benefit through the intellectual property that will be generated. Any arising patents will be Australian owned and will be beneficial to the economy through licensing. Australian industry will benefit through the intellectual property that will be generated. Any intellectual property/patents arising from this project will be Australian owned and will be beneficial to the economy through licensing. The project outcomes will place Australian research at the forefront of current technological advancements.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Dopant engineering of diamond for quantum sensing technologies. Doped diamonds are central to a growing range of quantum-sensing technologies for future industries, including medical and defence. These diamonds must be doped with both an electron donors and active 'quantum-defects' to operate. Within existing devices, the electronic donors also create parasitic magnetic noise, due to their magnetic-spin properties. In this project we aim to investigate the growth of diamond with new electronic donors, aiming for spin-free and thus noise-free dopant properties. This should provide significant benefits to defence capability, through enhanced magnetic anomaly detection in naval environments, and health outcomes, through neural sensing of brain signals at room temperature. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics Diamond-based magnetometry devices are already being commercialised and explored for a variety of advanced industrial applications, including defence and medical technologies. This project would leverage the significant expertise in diamond-materials within Australia’s universities and create a breakthrough for the use of diamond, due to an increase in sensitivity up to 100x. This would create a system with unprecedented combination of ultra-sensitivity, room-temperature and extreme environment operation, and size-scalability. This would have a direct economic impact, through the creation of Australian high-tech industrial activity, strengthen Australia’s defence capabilities and enable new medical technologies, benefiting the community and the national interest.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Liquid metal solvents and colloids – a new frontier in chemistry. This project aims to develop a holistic understanding of dynamic bond formation within molten metals to unlock the full potential of liquid metal chemistry. The project expects to develop new methodologies required to study the nanoscale chemistry of liquid metals, an emerging class of solvents that could revolutionise modern catalysis, metallurgy and inorganic synthesis. The expected outcomes are an in-depth theoretical understanding of liquid metal chemistry as well as new electron and atomic force microscopy techniques that will shed light on these extraordinary materials. This should benefit future studies of liquid metal chemistry and consequently the development of industrial applications of these unique liquids. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) This project will cement Australia’s leading role in the emerging field of liquid metal chemistry. The fundamental scientific discoveries will catalyse further innovations in this emerging field, leading to valuable intellectual property in areas such as catalysis, metallurgy and biomedical technology that can be developed by Australian industry. The fundamental understanding will also facilitate the uptake of liquid metals as tailored solvents for advanced processing, opening new markets for metals that are mined in Australia. This project will develop new readily accessible analytical techniques that will be of tremendous benefit to the Australian metallurgy and mining industries, since these methodologies will be capable of providing insights into chemical processes that occur within liquid metals. This will aid the design of better alloys, improved materials for additive manufacturing and more efficient metal refining processes.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

A new class of titanium alloys developed for additive manufacturing. This project aims to develop a new class of (Ti-Cu)-based alloys featuring high strength, high toughness, and high hydrogen-embrittlement resistance specifically for additive manufacturing (AM). This project expects to generate new knowledge of grain refinement and phase transformations in dynamic temperature field of metal AM process and to solve the common weakness – strong mechanical anisotropy and poor fatigue life – of AM Ti components. The expected outcomes include a whole set of processing maps of AM (Ti-Cu)-based alloys tailored to demanding applications. This should provide significant benefits to aerospace, marine and biomedical industries by delivering better durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering This project will develop a new class of titanium alloys for additive manufacturing (AM), in which vanadium (the current standard alloying metal) is replaced by the more abundant and cheaper copper, leading to alloys with excellent strength and toughness. The global market for titanium-based AM powders is predicted to be $518 million in 2022 with a 20% growth rate over the next five years; the new alloys will position the Australian industry to take full advantage of this growth. The manufacture of these powders will increase demand for copper ore, currently a $10 billion industry in Australia. Additive manufacturing is revolutionising the aerospace components industry. In 2016-17 the Australian aerospace industry contributed $2 billion to the economy and employed over 13,000 people. The development of high-performance, lower cost AM alloys will expand the local industry, leading to new jobs. Another use of these alloys will be in dental implants, currently a $2 billion market in Australia. They will be very attractive to this industry because of copper’s antibacterial properties.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Data-driven development of photocatalytic and optoelectronic perovskites. This project aims to use materials informatics to discover new, high efficiency perovskites for synthesis and testing in optoelectronic applications. This project expects to identify perovskite composition-property relationships to overcome current drawbacks of high performance perovskites (contain rare or toxic elements and low stability in oxidative and humid environments) by considered selection of elements and their properties. Expected outcomes from this project include new perovskites with commercial potential in critical areas such as energy conversion, photocatalysis and luminescence. This should provide significant benefits including approaches to materials discovery, novel materials and in renewable energy and environmental areas. Field of research: 0303 - Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry A key issue for the application of perovskites is that those with high efficiency are unstable and contain toxic or rare elements. This project aims to discover perovskites with commercially applicable composition for optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications, as well as establish an approach for the development of industrially relevant advanced materials. Therefore, this research contributes to Australia's national interest as it has potential to produce materials that will have an impact on renewable energy generation, energy consumption and environmental remediation. By contributing materials that have application in clean energy sources that are efficient, cost effective and reliable and in developing solutions for water based pollutant degradation there is potential for product development and increased competitiveness internationally, leading to job growth. The materials informatics approach developed in this project will provide academic and industrial researchers with a tool to advance their materials research, thereby adding to the economic, environmental and societal benefits to the country.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Shop Talk: Department Stores, Shoppers and Consumer Capitalism, 1945-2025. This project aims to provide a deeper understanding of shopping and its significance in everyday Australian life by using oral history interviews with shoppers, workers and managers who have engaged with department stores since 1945. This project expects to produce the first history of the country’s post-war department stores. Expected outcomes include new, more nuanced perspectives of shopping and the challenges affecting the retail sector via a range of publications, international collaborations, and an archive of oral history recordings. This should provide significant benefits to researchers examining the retail sector, to Australians working in retail, and to ordinary Australians, whose stories will be placed on the historical record. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies The retail sector accounts for 4.1% of Australia’s GDP and is the country’s second largest employing industry. Yet its future is uncertain. This research develops new, broader understandings of current challenges through long-term analysis of Australia’s department stores. As major retailers, employers and innovators, department stores make a significant contribution to the nation's economic, social and cultural well-being. The project’s historical study of the relationship between department stores and shoppers provides new insights into the business of department stores. It offers retailers an opportunity to reflect on past approaches to disruption and innovation and reconsider current strategies. The project gives voice to everyday Australian experiences, recording them for the historical record. Its engaging and innovative investigation of an essential part of everyday life will deepen Australians’ understanding of their past at a critical moment in Australia’s retail evolution.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2022 · 2022-01

Precarious Dwelling: Encounters with housing crisis. This project aims to investigate the hidden impact and lived experience of housing insecurity. Using an innovative ethnography and policy analysis, the project will generate new knowledge about how people practice dwelling under conditions of dispossession, forced relocation or homelessness and the policy settings that create and sustain those conditions. The intended outcome is a holistic understanding of the lived experience and impacts of precarity and the policy changes necessary to remedy its conditions. This should provide benefits to people experiencing precarity, support policy makers to understand the implications of different policy choices, and inform public understanding about contemporary housing and urban conditions. Field of research: 1604 - Human Geography Housing and home are the foundations of a good society. This project will provide new evidence about the impacts of living under housing insecurity. The project is focused on renters experiencing forced relocation due to eviction or public housing renewal, people experiencing homelessness, and Indigenous people dispossessed of their Country. This will contribute to Australia’s national interest by improving public investment and policy decisions to support the right of all Australians to secure living conditions. Better evidence about the social and wellbeing impacts of dispossession, displacement and homelessness can provide economic benefits by informing policy choices that contribute to greater housing security. The project will contribute to a more socially inclusive Australia by enabling people faced with dispossession, displacement or homelessness to share their experience, enhancing understanding for all Australians. The project will contribute to Australia’s community infrastructure and service sector by improving understanding of contemporary social issues facing a growing number of Australians.