RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Finding answers for complex questions. This project aims to develop a new search paradigm for on-line search engines that presents users with answers to complex questions, rather than forcing them to find answers themselves from lists of retrieved documents. The project will develop a taxonomy of complex answer search tasks, devise novel techniques to increase the effectiveness of complex answer retrieval through interaction and, create a new evaluation framework for precise measurement of system effectiveness. This project should provide significant advances that will benefit all users of search engines. Field of research: 0807 - Library and Information Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Representation of gender and sexual diversity in Australian film and television. This project aims to investigate the cultural, health and identity impact of gender/sexually-diverse characters, themes and narratives in Australian film and television from 1990 to present. The project expects to generate new knowledge by providing the first comprehensive account of Australian media production’s contribution to sexual minority representation, in the context of its importance for fostering healthy identities, and acceptance of minorities to mainstream audiences in a digital media era. This knowledge will provide significant benefit to the mental health, wellbeing and social harmony for both minority and mainstream Australians and help showcase an important aspect of Australian media inclusivity and diversity in international scholarship. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Advanced coding techniques for fast failure recovery in storage systems. This project aims to improve the performance of distributed data storage systems during the recovery of node-failures using advanced repair techniques for the underlying erasure coding schemes. Reed-Solomon codes, employed in most of current storage systems, for example Google Colossus, Baidu's Atlas, Yahoo Object Store, and Facebook's f4, require extremely high network bandwidth and disk I/O for failure recovery. Expected outcomes of this project include significantly improved repair schemes for Reed-Solomon codes with respect to the network bandwidth and disk I/O. The project will benefit data storage service providers, governments, businesses, hospitals, and schools. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Missing people, missing stories in the aftermath of genocide. This project aims to explore how the unresolved issue of the missing people from the 1992-95 Bosnian conflict has affected the social identities, memories and settlement patterns of the survivors in three diaspora contexts in Australia, Sweden and The United States. The ethnographic study expects to generate new knowledge in the area of forced migration and provide understanding of the complexity of the refugee condition in the aftermath of genocide. Expected outcomes of this project include institutional and interdisciplinary collaborations, raising awareness about the missing worldwide and informing policy on migration and resettlement of refugee communities after conflict, loss and social fragmentation. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Hybrid photocatalytic nanomaterials for water purification. This project aims to synthesise and characterise a range of porous photocatalytic materials (materials that absorb light to catalyse a reaction), and to establish high-throughput processes to simultaneously test the effectiveness of multiple photocatalytic materials. This interdisciplinary project expects to develop two new techniques that will lead to faster materials optimisation of materials that breakdown organic pollutants in water under light irradiation. The intended outcomes include the production of industrially relevant photocatalysts and building capability in Australia to decrease photocatalytic testing time and cost. This should provide significant benefits to industry and the environment, and have an impact on human health. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

A multi-scale risk assessment platform for inhaled carbon nanotubes. This project aims to develop a coherent risk assessment platform to evaluate human respiratory exposure to carbon nanotubes. Compared to the exponential growth of carbon nanotubes technology, capability of inhalation risk assessment is lagging. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the unique role and risk of carbon nanotube geometry. It will develop a new transport model and create a unified risk assessment. The expected outcome is the enhanced risk assessment capability of human exposure to carbon nanotubes, which will provide a significant benefit to the nanotechnology industry through ensuring safety in developing an emergent technology. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Advanced multifunctional photoelectron spectroscopy platform. This project aims to establish a new integrated facility that will allow researchers to characterise the surface structure and electronic properties of materials, which is essential for a complete understanding of their functionality. The development of the next generation of electronic, optical, and biomedical devices requires new materials with properties optimised for the particular application. This facility, to be housed in state-of-the-art laboratories and managed as an open access resource, will meet the needs of a large number of innovative projects and enable advances in many fields including electronics, nanotechnology, solar energy, biotechnology and advanced materials. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Tuning the multiplexing of optical angular momentum with graphene photonics. This project aims to develop a conceptually new graphene nano-device that allows for tuning the multiplexing of optical angular momentum from the near-infrared to mid-infrared wavelength regions. The innovation of this project is nano-engineering of the cutting-edge graphene-on-silicon technology in designing the world-first tunable optical-angular-momentum multiplexer for on-chip integration. This project will result in a new horizon of ultra-high-capacity chip-scale devices which can enable the new applications including wireless optical communications and thus accelerate the realisation of the emerging LiFi-based big data technology platform. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Evolution of chemical warfare in invasive plants. The project aims to test when, where and how exotic plant populations become invasive through the rapid evolution of chemical compounds that inhibit native plant species. Using an innovative quantitative genetics framework, the intended outcome is to determine how the chemicals are selected, and whether there is sufficient heritable variation for the chemicals to evolve across heterogeneous landscapes characteristic of introduced ranges. The project will deliver key insights into the ecological and genetic mechanisms of adaptive evolution in invasive species, and predict evolutionary dynamics of biological invasions that inform their effective management. The project’s expected outcomes will be useful to policy makers, weed managers and farming communities. Field of research: 0603 - Evolutionary Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

How the missing matter. This project aims to investigate how the issue of people who are missing in conflicts impacts on the identities, memories and migration patterns of the survivors in the aftermath of violence and displacement. The expected outcomes include raising awareness about the missing worldwide and to provide better understanding of refugee wellbeing following resettlement and to improve the work done by governments and organisations in creating supportive resettlement contexts. Field of research: 1601 - Anthropology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Acoustomicrofluidic platforms for two-dimensional materials processing. This project aims to exploit high frequency vibration through a novel microfluidic platform for efficiently synthesising and manipulating two-dimensional materials. The project is anticipated to circumvent practical limitations with current synthesis methods, particularly in terms of controllability and reproducibility. The expected outcome is a versatile means for rapidly and uniformly coating these materials on a variety of surfaces. Given their remarkable properties, such disruptive technology for consumer/industrial-scale production will provide tremendous opportunities for their application in electronics, energy and catalysis, among other uses. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Inference and resilient control of complex cyber-physical networks. This project aims to establish a fundamental framework to efficiently analyse and control critical, modern infrastructure networks such as power grids and the Internet. The project expects to bridge the gap between cyber-physical network theory and network resilience engineering through developing a body of knowledge about cyber-physical systems, security analysis and emergence of network behaviours. The project will develop design methodologies to improve the resilience of these networks against internal faults and external attacks. This should improve the robustness and invulnerability of Australian power grids and the Internet against random failures and malicious cyber-physical attacks. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Hybrid methods with decomposition for large scale optimization. This project aims to develop advanced approaches for solving large scale real-world optimisation problems that are expensive to evaluate, and difficult to formulate, involving thousands of variables and constraints. The project will make novel contributions to improving state-of-the-art large scale optimisation algorithms in terms of scalability, effectiveness, and efficiency for real-world problem solving. The outcomes of this project will bring about greater understanding of real-world large scale optimisation, and deliver practical solutions to these problems. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

What shapes our brain? This project aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive folding of the cerebral cortex, which occurs during development of the brain. Cortical folding is unique to humans and higher mammals, and is thought to underpin the emergence of intelligence and contribute to higher-order brain functions. This project will enhance knowledge of how the cerebral cortex folds and develop novel tools for analysing brain development. The project will provide significant benefits including the generation of fundamental knowledge with implications for future understanding of cortical folding abnormalities in babies born preterm, following fetal growth retardation in utero, or when exposed to maternal alcohol. In the longer term, the project will contribute to improvements to human neurodevelopment and brain health. Field of research: 1109 - Neurosciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

The impact of income support design on the outcomes of children and youth. This project aims to assess how children from low-income families are affected by welfare policy design in Australia – specifically, by policy intended to influence welfare payment receipt and workforce participation of their parent(s). Causal impacts of policy design on children will be identified and evaluated using unique administrative and survey data, and treating recent welfare reforms in Australia as natural experiments.. This will be the first comprehensive Australian analysis of intergenerational impacts of welfare policy design. Field of research: 1402 - Applied Economics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2018 · 2018-01

Multicultural Australia in national and state libraries. This project aims to develop strategies to assist major Australian libraries to enhance their library collections of histories of Australia as a multicultural nation. The project will develop a new methodology for evaluating multicultural collections, and new policies and strategies to develop and provide access to these collections. Benefits will include enhanced understanding of Australia’s history and heritage, and Australia’s identity as a multicultural nation. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Distributed ultra-fast optical clocks for terabit/s communications. The project aims to enable experiments with full spectrum occupation for transmission over field-deployed optical fibre. Future optical communication systems will have to use the full available spectral bandwidth and advanced multiplexing and modulation to achieve ultimate data capacity over a fibre link. To realistically test such links, experiments must be performed over "real-world" fibre links. By linking three telecoms research laboratories, the project will create a close collaboration optical network that enables this research. Anticipated outcomes are the opportunity to conduct research over field-deployed fibre links and to prototype and test communication technology over real-world links, creating a simplified path to commercialisation. Field of research: 1005 - Communications Technologies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The wartime comfort women of Japanese-occupied New Guinea, 1942-1945. The project aims to discover if the Papuan New Guinean government is justified in seeking recognition and reparation over the sexual enslavement of its female nationals as ‘comfort women’ during the Pacific War. The Japanese military occupied New Guinea between 1942 and 1945 and established military brothels there, but whether New Guinean women were sexually enslaved is unknown. The project will study the archival records of Australia's post-war administration of New Guinea and Japanese occupation-period military documents, and produce an English-language monograph and English- and Japanese-language articles. The project is expected to contribute to international relations and Australian regional diplomacy. Field of research: 2103 - Historical Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Precisely doped metal oxide nanostructures for thin film optoelectronics. This project aims to develop efficient and low-cost transparent electrodes for optoelectronic devices. Transparent electrodes are core components in devices such as solar cells, touch panel displays and LED lighting, but require scarce and costly materials and expensive deposition technologies. This project will design materials based on earth-abundant elements with precise control on doping and morphology, and develop deposition methods which use liquid precursors to form thin transparent conductive coatings. The anticipated outcome is inexpensive and efficient optoelectronic devices with reduced carbon footprint, which will affect the consumer electronics, solar energy and smart window markets. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

International policing and civilian protection in UN peace operations. This project aims to evaluate how police implement mandates for the protection of civilians in United Nations peace operations. Police peacekeepers are deployed to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians in increasingly complex conflict situations. However, their contributions to civilian protection have not been systematically evaluated. Through a structured comparison of five missions, the project will analyse what works, what does not, assess the factors that determine these outcomes and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness in future. The expected outcome is an evidence-based contribution to strategy, doctrine and tactics, interoperability guidance and planning for peace operations. Field of research: 1606 - Political Science

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Photochemical toolkit based on tetracyanoquinodimethane metal-organic semiconducting hybrids. This project aims to develop low-cost light-activated materials for flexible electronics, wearable sensors, antimicrobial fabrics and highly active catalysts. A photochemical toolkit will be developed comprising ultraviolet-active zinc oxide, visible-active metals and visible/infrared-active charge transfer semiconducting materials. Hybridisation of these components will create materials photoactive across the solar spectrum, leading to photo-redox catalysis and light-activated antimicrobial applications. These materials are expected to lead to cost-effective industrial processes, efficient environmental monitoring, clean-up of industrially-contaminated water streams, infection control in wounds and healthcare settings, and advancing consumer technology platforms. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Occupational health and social justice in South Africa. This project aims to study South African asbestos and gold miners’ political and legal struggles for social justice. It will explain how their class actions for occupational injury against employers have been possible, and explore the wider significance of the legal cases. The research will examine how disabled miners re-captured science from corporate influence and used the law in pursuing their claims. The resultant book and articles are expected to illuminate aspects of a regional occupational health crisis and provide evidence to improve working conditions and action for legal redress. Field of research: 2202 - History and Philosophy of Specific Fields

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Biodegradable magnesium alloy scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. This project aims to develop a class of porous, biocompatible, biofunctional and biodegradable magnesium alloy scaffolds with designed pore architecture and mechanical properties mimicking those of natural bone for tissue engineering applications. These magnesium alloy scaffolds will be biocompatible, able to bear loads, and will be gradually replaced by natural bone. The outcomes are expected to benefit the ageing population and people with bone abnormalities. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Engineering evolving complex network systems through structure intervention. This project aims to create a theory and technology for engineering complex network systems (CSS) through structural intervention. Complex network systems with evolving components are ubiquitous in nature and society. The science of biological networks, the Internet and large-scale power networks demand tools to understand and influence their evolving dynamics. This project could result in a breakthrough theory in network science and technology to augment biological systems and power grids. Expected benefits include cost-effective augmentation of power networks injected with renewable energy sources, and advancing basic biology research. Field of research: 0102 - Applied Mathematics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Prediction of mixed mode fracture failures of metal pipelines. This project aims to create a theory for failure mechanisms of metal pipes and solve their service life prediction, thereby preventing catastrophic failures of metal pipes. This project integrates corrosion science, fracture mechanics and time-dependent reliability theory into a methodology to accurately predict pipe failures. The project is expected to advance failure theory, fracture mechanics and reliability theory, and solve the intelligent management of the vast asset of pipelines in the world. The outcomes should maximise economic, commercial, environmental and social benefits both nationally and internationally. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering