RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Dynamics and Resilience of Complex Network Systems with Switching Topology . This project aims to develop a breakthrough methodology and new technology to analyse and integrate large-scale network systems, such as power grids, that involve large networks of components with switching connections. The project expects to create a new theoretical framework to tackle the challenges arising from switching topology resulted from switching connections, and methods to understand their behaviours and design intervention strategies to achieve optimal outcomes. The expected outcome is a practical technology for industry applications, such as smart power grids. This should increase the reliability and resilience of the electricity networks against faults and cyber attacks. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing This project will pioneer a cutting-edge technology for the analysis and synthesis of complex network systems with switching topology, such as smart grids, to achieve optimal performance. It will result in a methodology to understand and control of these systems helping develop smart strategies to enhance resilience against faults and cyber attacks and deliver efficiency. This will help increase the competitiveness of Australia's industrial sectors such as energy. It will also produce the next generation scientists and engineers specialising in this technology who will lead the important applications in Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Switching Dynamics Approach for Distributed Global Optimisation . This project aims to create a breakthrough switching dynamics approach and new technology to speed up finding optimal solutions. It will develop a distributed switching dynamics based optimisation scheme for global optimisation problems in industrial big-data environments where timely decision making is required. It will result in a practical technology for industry optimisation problems such as economic energy dispatch in smart grids and optimal charging and discharging tasks in a large network of electric vehicles, helping Australian power industry improve efficiency and security, as well as training the next generation scientists and engineers for Australia in this emerging field. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing This project will pioneer a cutting-edge switching dynamics approach to address the global optimisation problems in industrial big-data environments which are fast changing and uncertain. It will result in a flexible distributed global optimisation technology scalable to any size of optimisation problems to help timely decision-making. This will help reduce costs of Australia's industrial sectors such as energy by optimising operations and improving reliability. It will also produce the next generation scientists and engineers specialising in this technology who will lead the important applications to industry and society.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Structural Fuses for Safer and More Economical Bridge Construction. This project aims to develop a novel structural system leading to more economical concrete bridge construction by utilising a customised structural fuse. A significant margin of safety is required in structural design to account for accidental over-loading and to reduce the risk of structural collapse. Such a margin leads to more material usage. Incorporation of a fuse into the structure that is triggered upon over-loading will cause a safer failure mode and prohibit further increase of loading, both of which result in a reduced structure without undermining safety. The project is expected to advance structural theory, and also provide significant benefits to the construction industry via cost reduction and more eco-friendly constructions. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering The project will develop a new ‘fused’ bridge structure that will lead to not only safer bridge structures but also more economical construction. Additionally, incorporation of the new fuse in a structure will allow more durable and high-strength advanced composite materials to be utilised more efficiently and effectively, and in a safer manner. The use of non-corrosive composite materials will further facilitate the direct use of an emerging sustainable construction material, namely seawater and sea-sand concrete, without desalination. These benefits will lead to short-term construction cost saving and significant reduction in long-term maintenance and repair costs of bridge structures. As a result, contribution will be made to cutting the carbon footprint generated by the construction industry, thus assisting Australia in meeting its emission reduction target by 2050 as required by the Climate Change Act 2017. The technology developed from this project will lead to advances in structural design philosophy and construction practices for the construction industry.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Dual Stimulation Approach to Stem Cell Based Tissue Engineering. This Project aims to determine how human stem cells differentiate into different cell types in response to electrical and mechanical stimulation on a conductive biomaterial platform, and to use this knowledge to develop a custom built bioreactor. It expects to generate new insight into the mechanisms that control stem cell fate using innovative single cell measurements, and will deliver a bioreactor capable of using these mechanisms for large scale stem cell differentiation. The expected outcomes are a significant advancement in knowledge in the field of tissue engineering and more efficient methodology for patient-derived stem cell therapy. This will provide new pathways to improving stem cell therapy for tissue engineering applications. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering This Project will develop a method of improving the efficacy of culturing patient derived stem cells for a targeted cell phenotype, and will have long term impact on the use of stem cell therapy for tissue engineering in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine. The Project has great potential to benefit stem cell research and clinical trials in Australia; the societal benefit of stem cell therapy for tissue engineering lies in the improvement of quality of life for a wide range of Australians. Using the patient's own stem cells to produce new tissue to repair or replace damage caused by non-fatal medical situations, such as bone cancer or a heart attack. In addition, the global market for regenerative medicines market is expanding rapidly, and this Project demonstrates Australia's ability to contribute to the international biomedical engineering market.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Formation and stabilisation of coastal blue carbon. Blue carbon is organic carbon stored within coastal vegetated ecosystems. This project will examine the composition, formation and dynamics of blue carbon in a range of coastal ecosystems. Combining advanced analytical chemistry with environmental microbiology, we will discover how blue carbon is stabilised and destabilised, a critical factor in nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Further, we will gain a quantitative understanding of blue carbon contributions to carbon cycling, providing enhanced modeling and prediction of climate-cycle feedbacks in response to biotic and environmental change. This research will significantly benefit Australia’s effective management of coastal vegetated ecosystems for maximum carbon offsets. Field of research: 0503 - Soil Sciences Australia’s coastal vegetated ecosystems (seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, tidal marshes) hold one of the world’s largest stores of ‘blue carbon’, which has sequestration value of billions of dollars. However, coastal development and climate change have the potential to dramatically weaken the stability of our blue carbon stocks by putting ancient ‘stable’ carbon at risk of microbial attack. This project will develop fundamental new knowledge that will inform how coastal ecosystems should be managed; ensuring that Australia’s vast reservoirs of blue carbon achieve maximum carbon offset capacity, and providing new societal and financial impetus for protection and rehabilitation of coastal vegetated ecosystems. The completed project will produce significant new knowledge in preparing for, and responding to, climate change, which requires us to be able to understand and predict the degree to which the natural process of biosequestration will help offset anthropogenic emissions. This research is timely given that blue carbon ecosystems are declining globally.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Soil dynamics at extreme deformations. This project aims to conduct a fundamental study of a challenging class of geotechnical problems in which soil undergoes large strains and rapid deformations. The main goal of this project is to discover the fundamental principles governing soil behaviour at large and fast deformation rates. The expected outcomes are an innovative testing device for site investigation purposes, and robust solution and computational procedures for analysing a wide range of problems in soil dynamics. This should benefit government and engineers by providing safer and more cost-effective strategies for the design, construction, and maintenance of Australia's infrastructure. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering Australia’s infrastructure plays a major role in the functioning of its economy, its national welfare, and its development. The importance of infrastructure has been emphasised in the 2018-2019 Australian budget, with the allocation of $75 billion for investment over the next decade. Considering this huge investment, even small percentage savings resulting from scientific research will lead to positive absolute returns. The outcomes from this project will provide significant economic, social and environmental benefits for Australia, as summarised below: • Development of models and methods that will be made available to researchers and engineers, leading to safer and more economic design of infrastructure and soil related problems, with highly potential military applications. • The availability of robust software that can tackle a wide range of infrastructural problems. • Attracting international interest by the development and calibration of a new testing device, and the development of advanced computational methods, thus enhancing Australia’s excellent international reputation in geotechnical engineering.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Effective biodiversity behaviour change across supply chains. Consumption of resources is the major driver of biodiversity loss yet understanding of how to change behavioural drivers is lacking. This project aims to understand barriers to biodiversity behaviours across a supply chain, how to overcome them and increase positive biodiversity impact via spillover effects. We will use coffee as a case study to test specific interventions, design effective message frames for reducing the psychological distance of consumption behaviours and develop a framework for generalising to other behaviours impacting biodiversity. The project is expected to generate new knowledge and approaches critical for policy makers and other actors seeking to reduce consumptive impacts on biodiversity. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management Australians care about biodiversity and want to act to protect it, but the pathways for doing so are not clear. This project uses coffee as a case study to examine behaviours that could benefit biodiversity across an entire supply chain and understand structural and psychological barriers to their uptake. Our partners, along with many other organisations, will benefit from more effective behaviour change programs (PO Zoos Victoria), improved certification (PO Smithsonian) and market opportunities for biodiversity friendly products (PO Genovese). Outcomes of the project will also benefit state and Federal governments in designing policy to encourage people to connect with and act for nature and in seeking to contribute to international priorities such as the Sustainable Development Goals. More broadly, the project will benefit the community by offering an opportunity to engage in a frequent behaviour that benefits biodiversity and in doing so consider the impacts their other behaviours have on biodiversity, both here in Australia and abroad.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Bioinspired Ion Transporters for Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage. This project aims to fabricate bioinspired light-driven ion transporters with biological-level active ion transport efficiency for efficient energy conversion and storage. Engineering of artificial membranes with ion-pump-like pore structures, specific ion binding sites and photo-excited molecular gates by an innovative bioinspired approach is expected to generate new knowledge in the field of biomimetic design of artificial ion-transporter membranes and bring new technologies to applications such as in solar energy harvesting, osmotic power generation, ionic batteries, and ionic circuits. The proposed research should provide significant benefits such as new energy conversion and storage technologies for Australian manufacturing industry. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering Biological systems that efficiently use ion transporters for energy conversion and storage provide ample inspirations to revolutionise materials and devices for a wide range of applications. A novel bioinspired approach will be developed to fabricate advanced ion-transporter membranes for mimicking unique structures and functions of biological ion transporters at the molecular level. New and improved technological innovations in angstrom-porous material synthesis and modification will be delivered. This Future Fellowship proposal will provide novel bioinspired ion-transporter membranes with biological-level efficiency in energy conversion and storage that have not been achieved by conversional materials, which will ultimately benefit Australia’s advanced manufacturing sector and extend Australia’s leading position in the development of energy technology. This project has the potential to revolutionise energy industries by significantly improving the energy conversion efficiency and providing new photo-ionic energy technology, thereby underpinning a clean energy future for Australia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

The Social Credit System and Everyday Life in China. This project examines the development of the social credit system in China from a cultural and social perspective. It aims to empirically investigate the lived experience of social credit among individuals, families, and communities, in the context of China’s larger ambition to build a ‘digital civilisation’ through technological advancement. Expected outcomes include policy briefings, reports, and an open-access research hub, as well as agenda-setting academic publications. The project will advance public understanding of and inform policy responses to automated decision-making and society in both Western and non-Western societies. Field of research: 2001 - Communication and Media Studies As the first in-depth empirical study on the social implications of the social credit system in China, this project will provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the Australian community. It will inform the Australian public of social and cultural structures and values of non-Western communities and societies as they are transformed and impacted by automation technologies. It will result in a better understanding of the sociocultural factors informing individual, organisational, and national attitudes towards digital technologies and cyber security. The project will enhance Australian national research capacity and help secure Australia’s place at the forefront of global research on automated decision-making and Chinese society. Outputs from this project, in the format of policy briefings and opinion pieces, as well as academic outputs, will be of high value to policy analysis and development across industry, think tanks, government and community groups seeking constructive engagement with digital China.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Unlocking the potential of magnetic 2D materials with quantum microscopy. This project aims to create a universal, high-throughput platform to characterise magnetic 2D materials, by exploiting recently developed quantum diamond microscopy. It will enable the measurement of hitherto inaccessible magnetic properties of individual 2D microsheets, the imaging of device-relevant phenomena such as domain wall dynamics and skyrmionics, and the systematic screening of newly synthesised materials. Anticipated outcomes include crucial new insights into 2D magnetism and the discovery of magnetic 2D materials compatible with real-world conditions. This should accelerate the development of future energy-efficient and flexible electronics and memory technologies, where magnetic 2D materials are expected to play a key role. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics Capitalising on Australia's long-term investment in quantum technologies, this proposal seeks to deliver new instruments and methods to characterise magnetic 2D materials. The new instruments and methods should have a commercial value in the form of new characterisation tools for the magnetic materials industry, for instance the magnetic hard drive industry (which feeds the ever-growing data centre industry) currently lacks non-invasive high-throughput tools for in-line monitoring. By using these new tools, the project will deliver new knowledge on magnetic 2D materials, and new materials that are compatible with real-world conditions (ambient air, room temperature operation). These new knowledge and materials may be the basis of new device concepts for data storage, especially in flexible/wearable electronics, and for energy-efficient information processing, which could have significant commercial benefits for Australia's burgeoning 2D materials and consumer electronics industries.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Resource Allocation for High-Volume Streaming Data in Data Centers. Almost all chip vendors are producing new hardware accelerators by combining several units into a single main-board, and therefore making the execution of parallel and distributed run-time primitives not efficient/scalable. This project aims to develop innovative ways to building incremental and iterative computations over massive data sets in a cluster of heterogeneous systems. This will provide a significant reduction of performance bottlenecks when running heavily distributed data-driven applications. Expected outcomes will include resource management algorithms that optimise performance at large scale. The project will benefit many areas, including running stateful iterative stream-based data-analysis applications in data centres. Field of research: 0805 - Distributed Computing This project will develop new technological solutions that will help build smarter and more sustainable IT infrastructure, such as data centres, by substantially reducing their energy consumption. The outcomes will benefit Australian governments and businesses who rely on this infrastructure by significantly reducing computational costs and enabling reliable processing of high volumes of data in real-time. The proposed innovative solutions will provide a competitive edge to Australian industries by improving the way large-scale computer systems deliver reliable, real-time services.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Ambitious and Fair: Strategies for a sustainable visual arts sector. This project aims to strengthen the visual art industry’s economic ecosystem. In a context where artists’ incomes are low and falling, commercial galleries are financially vulnerable and public galleries face funding challenges, the project addresses barriers to the sector’s economic health and the challenge of improving artists’ incomes. To address this critical gap, the project will combine an analysis of current value chains and emergent forms of economic organisation with qualitative insights into the experiences of artists and arts professionals. It will propose interventions for arts industry and government policy to improve and develop this ecosystem. Benefits include improved incomes for arts workers and a sustainable arts industry. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration The impact of this national study will be significant - increasing the quality of life and working conditions of artists and arts professionals in Australia and elevating the standards of the industry. The research project centres on the practical question of what we can do to improve incomes and working conditions in the Australian visual arts sector today. In so doing, it addresses the complex relationship between the economic health of the visual arts sector broadly and the individual incomes and working conditions of artists and arts workers. By mapping current value chains and proposing interventions for industry and government to strengthen the visual arts economic ecosystem, it will provide (i) practical and implementable actions for local, state and federal government arts departments and policy advisors, arts funders, peak bodies, dealers, gallerists and arts organisations, and (ii) economic and social benefits for emerging and professional artists, curators, arts workers, artist-run initiatives, galleries, arts centres and the visual arts sector as a whole.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Photonic chip inertial movement sensors. This project aims to create a new class of optical inertial movement sensors using integrated photonic chip technology. By replacing optical fibre coils with compact waveguides, integrating light sources on-chip and by harnessing smart sensing approaches, we intend to reduce the required power from watts to milliwatts and reduce the dimensions from meters to centimetres. The expected project outcomes are sensors with military grade precision but with the size, cost and manufacturability of consumer electronics. This technology will fill a strategic gap in the movement sensor market enabling applications ranging from robotic infrastructure monitoring, manufacture and surgery to guiding satellites and other space craft. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering This project will create photonic chip based inertial movement sensors with military grade precision but with the size, cost and manufacturability of consumer electronics. The global market for inertial movement sensors, suitable for guiding autonomous vehicles, is expected to reach US$13.7b by 2024. Current commercial solutions either lack the precision or are too bulky and costly to address this market. This project will address this problem and create significant commercial opportunities. The created intellectual property and sensors have a high potential for commercialisation, which will be explored in collaboration with our industry partner Advanced Navigation. The project will also support the establishment of a high-tech manufacturing capability to manifest Australia's leading role in industry 4.0. Other expected benefits of this project will be a greater adoption of photonic technologies in Australian products and quicker innovation cycles, particularly for applications in sensing, spectroscopy, digital communications and quantum technologies.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Electronics out of thin air: MAGIC - Metal–Air Gated Integrated Circuits. We constantly seek faster, lighter, and energy-efficient devices. This project will create a new class of electronic devices, re-inventing vacuum tubes that enabled electronics almost a century ago, and scaling them down to the nanoscale realm. The devices are termed vacuum channel transistors, and transistors are the critical functional element of all electronics. At the extremely small size scales for nanoelectronics, the charge carriers travel very short distances. This avoids collisions enabling extremely high-speed transport. Such a virtual vacuum environment can potentially enable electronics thousands of times faster than the current silicon-based technology, providing a solution to the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology Current electronics is based on silicon, a material that has reached its limits in speed and efficiency. This project will demonstrate an alternative technology removing reliance on silicon. It intends to create a nanoscale electronic device that can be thousands of times faster than silicon-based electronics. The result will be an electronic technology that can be faster, potentially energy-efficient, and lower cost to manufacture. Design and creation of this technology will generate significant Australian intellectual property, research training for students and early-career researchers, and communicate outcomes to the broader community. This can position Australia as a key player in the multi-billion dollar electronics industry, complementing investments in quantum technologies, attracting local investment for joint technology development and research translation. Research training and outreach will provide social and cultural benefits, with an emphasis to be placed on diversity of project personnel.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Development of Novel Functionalised Two-dimensional Nanomaterials. This project aims to develop a series of novel 2D nanomaterials and their nanocomposites that have applications ranging from energy storage via a functional separator for batteries to thermal management devices. Developing novel functional 2D nanomaterials is important for several applications including energy storage, composite materials, and thermal management, as well as advancing knowledge in the control design of 2D nanomaterials and to promote the development of sustainable energy storage and thermal management technologies. The benefits to Australia, will be in addressing energy and environmental concerns by developing new clean and environmentally friendly energy devices and boosting national economic growth. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology This project will develop functional 2D nanomaterials and their novel composites and aerogels that will allow fabrication of highly efficient and effective devices with potential use in sustainable energy storage and thermal management applications. Expected outcomes include a clear understanding of the relevant fundamental science and mechanisms, a framework for designing and optimising for specific applications, and a demonstration of prototype devices. Success of the research can bring huge benefits to sustainable energy through development of advanced nanomaterials and devices. This research has great potential to impact millions of Australians – through the development of a cutting-edge sustainable energy storage and thermal energy management platform; the substantial benefits of the application of this platform to establish a sustainable energy future; and through the cultivation of next-generation materials scientists through high-quality training. Industries such as water purification and wearable electronics would also benefit from the outcomes of this project.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2020 · 2020-01

Detecting, preventing and responding to image-based abuse. This project aims to investigate the efficacy of digital tools and interventions to detect, prevent and respond to image-based abuse (the non-consensual creation or distribution of intimate images). Through a digital ethnography, victim and stakeholder interviews, online surveys, and an AI chatbot, the project expects to generate evidence and theory on both image-based abuse and internet governance. The expected outcomes include: increased understanding of the responsibility of digital platforms and the drivers of image-based abuse; improved platform and service responses; enhanced industry and scholarly collaborations; and harm reduction. Expected benefits include improved laws, polices and practices to tackle image-based abuse. Field of research: 1699 - Other Studies In Human Society This research will inform policies and practices for detecting, preventing and responding to image-based abuse, as well as other forms of online violence, abuse and harassment. It will contribute to criminal justice policy, education and legislative reform for the prevention of crime. It will provide practical recommendations for digital platforms and services in their responses to image-based abuse in Australia and elsewhere that will directly benefit victims and inform organisational and governmental responses to this emerging social and legal problem. The project will also critically engage in debates about the future of artificial intelligence, the limits of sovereign laws, the unprecedented power of technology companies, and the role of these platforms and services for regulating harmful content online.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Multi-resolution situation recognition for urban-aware smart assistant. This project aims to develop a situation recognition framework to recognise and anticipate unforeseen emerging situations, such as schedule changes, incidents, and disruptions in an urban environment. The project will address a significant knowledge gap by capturing and modelling unpredictability in human mobility and work routines. The outcome will be a situation recognition framework that can be applied at the individual, social group, and urban level, and at multiple locations and time scales. This should provide users with timely notifications and recommendations to resume their activities and routines. The expected benefits will be far-ranging and adaptable to many domains, from personal smart assistants to trip planning and emergency services. Field of research: 0805 - Distributed Computing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a new toolkit that will enable wastewater treatment plants to design and optimize both existing and future pipeline systems. This will support the Australian wastewater industry to plan for future growth, increase throughput and efficiency, reduce environmental pollutants, and capital and operating costs. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Development of Cryptographic Library and Support System. The protection of the whole cyber space relies on a foundation of cryptography. Cryptographic components of apps authenticate remote parties and secure the communications. However, cryptographic misuse has become a most common issue in development of security component, affecting up to 90% of apps! This project aims to research, design and develop a crypto library. The innovation of this project lays in three aspects: (1) we will develop a self-contained, reliable, compatible and verifiable crypto library; (2) we will develop security test software automatically to test and verify security of codes; and (3) we will provide intelligent decision support through argumentation to help developers to apply the library efficiently and correctly. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

New Technologies for Delivering Sustainable Free-form Architecture. This project aims to harness the full potential of digital technologies to significantly enhance the performance and reduce the environmental impact of free-form architecture of the future. The research expects to establish a fundamentally new computational platform capable of producing diverse and competitive designs, and an environmentally friendly manufacturing process for realising such designs. Expected outcomes include an unprecedented cloud-based interactive design tool, and a novel minimum-waste manufacturing technology for fabricating mass-customised building components. This project will transform the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector and make the Australian manufacturing industry more competitive globally. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Carbon Cybernetics: Next generation tools for neuroscience. The scope for technology that communicates directly with the human nervous system, is enormous. For fundamental study, the age of bionics is upon us. Biology has ways of recognising when a foreign body is present, thus implanted devices need to be camouflaged from the body's immune system. Today's bionic devices fail because they are rapidly rejected. We will use the element of biology, carbon, to construct a new class of technology for future implants. Using a combination of permanent diamond and flexible carbon fibres we will create materials that are invisible to the immune system and last for decades. Seamlessly connecting our thoughts and actions with the power of human electronics. Field of research: 0903 - Biomedical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Understanding ecological sensibilities in recreational lifestyle sport. This project aims to understand environmental attitudes and behaviours that emerge through participation in recreational lifestyle sports. Linking the growth of lifestyle sports in Australia and the significance of oceans in humanities and social sciences research, the project will highlight how surfers and ocean swimmers develop relationships to, and produce knowledge about, Australian oceans and coasts. The project will consider everyday cultural practices relating to ethical consumption and will provide key insights for surfing and ocean swimming communities to enable them to make better choices about their attitudes and practices relating to sustainable oceans and coasts. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Private searching on streaming data. This project aims to explore secure and practical solutions for various internet search types and to develop a prototype of a private searching system to avoid compromising user privacy whilst sharing query requests. Searching of streaming data allows collection of useful information from huge streaming sources of data such as on-line news feeds and internet chat-rooms. Current solutions for this problem are inefficient and restricted to a couple of simple search types, and vulnerable to identifying the search requester. The project expects to develop private searching tools to protect the privacy of user's search queries. This will have the potential to detect any attacks to our digital infrastructure while keeping the search criteria classified, and could have applications in Australian counter-terrorism and homeland defence. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Probing nanoscale disorder in 3D with x-ray free-electron lasers. This project aims to reveal the 3D nanostructure of disordered matter with x-rays for the first time. Existing x-ray scattering techniques for disordered structures currently provide limited, one-dimensional information only. The expected outcomes of the project include an enhanced new capability for the Australian Synchrotron and international x-ray laser facilities, and new insights into the microscopic origins of the properties of liquids and biological membranes. This should benefit research areas that use x-ray scattering to probe the nanostructure of materials for diverse applications such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and drug design. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2019 · 2019-01

Liquid metal chemistry towards grain boundary-free electronic materials. This project aims to develop ultra-thin materials with minimal grain boundaries for electronic applications by advancing knowledge of liquid metal chemistry. The difficulty of synthesising high quality, low-dimensional materials, particularly atomically-thin films, is the major impediment prohibiting the wide scale use of semiconducting nanosheets by the electronics industries. Improving crystal quality, while also offering scalability, is a key challenge. This project will develop new synthetic approaches by using room temperature liquid metal based chemistry. The outcomes of this project will lay the foundation of the industrial scale application of these highly functional materials, which will enable cost efficient production of energy efficient electronics. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology