RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Using extreme conditions to synthesise new materials. This project aims to synthesise useful materials from non-crystalline light element precursors. Boron, carbon and nitrogen are the hardest known solids, and their ability to form many kinds of chemical bonds offers opportunities for attractive new materials. This project will apply high pressures and temperatures to non-crystalline precursor materials to access previously unobtainable synthesis conditions. This project will create strong and hard materials with tuneable optical and electronic properties. The expected outcome is new light materials that emit and detect light in the far ultraviolet for biological imaging and tough materials with low friction needed for motors and regenerative technologies. Field of research: 1007 - Nanotechnology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Optically-activatable nanolithography for ultralow energy long data storage. This project aims to investigate greenphotonic long data storage. Optically-activated nanolithography that adopts earth abundant lanthanide-doped nanoparticles and vectorial holography could enable the development of ultra-long lifetime, ultra-low energy consumption, and ultra-fast access speed technology platforms for exabyte big data centres. The research discoveries from this project will enable the greenphotonic long data storage technology, reducing energy consumption. Such a breakthrough would provide a key platform for the emerging industry revolution 4.0 and build Australia’s international leadership in green and smart digital economies in the big data era. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The legal implications of revenge pornography. This project aims to investigate prevalence, nature and effects of revenge pornography in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Revenge pornography is a serious criminal justice problem, but only one Australian jurisdiction has introduced legislation to address the issue. Applicable laws here and elsewhere are inconsistent and inadequate. Little is known about how widespread these behaviours are or how socially, economically and psychologically harmful they are. The project aims to generate knowledge, a theoretical framework and a much-needed evidence base to develop law reform and strategic interventions. Field of research: 1602 - Criminology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Hybrid resonant acoustics for microfluidic materials synthesis. This project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a new class of sound waves as a microfluidic micronisation platform for high throughput particle synthesis and crystallisation of active pharmaceutical ingredients.It will use theoretical and numerical studies to research the fundamental physics of a hybrid between bulk and surface waves. This platform is expected to improve energy efficiency a thousandfold, providing an economical and environmental alternative to conventional processes such as spray drying, and potentially transforming practice across the pharmaceutical, food and other industries. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

A direct drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion. This project aims to investigate a direct drive linear electromagnetic generator system for the maximum wave energy conversion and frequency bandwidth. This system has a translator of a multiple degree of freedom non-linear oscillator system built with the Halbach ring array pattern and ferro-fluid bearings. To establish wave energy conversion science, this project will investigate the device, its integration with a buoy structure under wave loadings and automatic control of power conversion and conditioning. The outcome could meet demands for wave energy conversion technologies that reduce power generation cost and emissions, benefiting the Australian economy and environment. Field of research: 0913 - Mechanical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

How art-based social enterprise helps marginalised young people. This project aims to analyse how art-based social enterprise organisations manage training and work transitions and develop the health and well-being of marginalised young people. After the Global Financial Crisis, young people were disproportionately affected by unemployment and precarious employment. The most marginalised young people make up more than 55% of those unemployed for more than a year. Social enterprises are a rapidly expanding sector of the Australian economy with 20,000 programmes in operation. Using a longitudinal, critical case methodology. the project intends to provide a strong evidence base to develop long-term strategy for policy and engagement practice in the sector. Field of research: 1301 - Education Systems

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Safe and efficient biomedical nanomaterials. This project aims to rationally engineer nanomaterials with controlled biological responses. Nanomaterials are becoming widespread in biomedicine and engineering, but are inefficient and unsafe. This project will develop atomic scale models to understand interactions between engineered nanoparticles and the crowded cellular environment. It will design extremely sensitive biosensors and theranostic nanodevices combining medical imaging capacity with precision targeted drug delivery to improve efficiency and safety of nanomaterials for biomedical applications in both vitro and in vivo enabling cost effective early diagnostics and more efficient treatments. Field of research: 0307 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Job quality and care quality in aged care. The project aims to investigate how job quality and the quality of care are linked in residential and community-based aged care services. Population ageing and fewer informal carers place pressure on aged care provision across the OECD There is little understanding, at either the policy or workplace levels, of how the quality of aged care jobs affects the viability and quality of that provision. The project expects to improve knowledge about how job quality affects aged care quality; and identify care markets, policy regimes and work organisation that best support sustainable quality aged care. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Privacy-preserving cloud data mining-as-a-service. This project aims to explore practical privacy-preserving solutions for cloud data mining-as-a-service based on the Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) technology. The research addresses privacy concerns of users when outsourcing data mining needs to the cloud. These concerns have increased as more businesses evaluate data mining-as-an outsourced service due to lack of expertise or computation resources. The expected outcomes from the research will include new data privacy models, new privacy-preserving data mining algorithms, and a prototype of cloud data mining software. These will help businesses cut costs for data mining and privacy protection, and provide significant benefits toward helping Australia achieve its national cyber security strategy and potentially provide economic impact from commercialisation of new software technology for the industry partner. Field of research: 0804 - Data Format

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Continuous and summarised search over evolving heterogeneous data. The project aims to design a search engine that monitors and retrieves over multiple social media and micro-blogging platforms. The engine presents search results in a personalised continuously updated summary. An inverted index structure systematically captures and provides easy access to all monitored content, including text, linked and relational data. The structure enables a continuous search paradigm that tracks updates on both the content and popularity of search results. This is expected to help organisations and governments track, understand and exploit social media. Field of research: 0806 - Information Systems

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

A chemical looping process for carbon fibre production from plastics. This project aims to develop Mineral Looping Plastic Reforming (MLPR), a chemical looping reforming process for tonnage production of carbon nanofibers from plastic waste. This efficient process uses naturally occurring minerals (limestone, dolomite and ilmenite) to convert plastic waste to carbon nanofibers. The project will research the inner working of the MLPR process and the reforming reactions of plastics in the presence of naturally occurring mineral mixtures. This project is expected to make Australia a leader in waste use, facilitate the uptake of abundant waste streams to produce high value products, and resolve sustainability, energy and environmental issues in Australia. Field of research: 0904 - Chemical Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Harnessing properties of liquid metals for future devices. This project aims to hybridise low toxicity liquid metal alloys of gallium with surface confined functional micro/nano materials and explore fundamental new fluidic and physical-chemistry phenomena. Liquid metals are an under-used group of materials, but their combination of flexibility, bestowed by their room temperature fluidity, and metallic properties means they demonstrate startling behaviour. The expected outcomes are new devices and systems such as reconfigurable and highly efficient actuators/generators, catalysts, sensors, and electronic and optical components. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

The molecular basis of endothelial mechanotransduction through TRPV4. This project aims to understand how blood flow dynamics coordinate the plasma membrane localisation and interaction of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a candidate mechanosensitive ion channel broadly expressed in endothelium with physiological and pathological roles in the cardiovascular system, with other mechanoreceptors and the physiological relevance of these events. Blood flow haemodynamics affect cardiovascular health and morphogenesis. This project will highlight the role of TRPV4 channels in the short- and long-term adaptive responses to shear stress and will also have significant potential for application in future drug discovery. Field of research: 0601 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Controlling arsenic to unlock value in gold and copper resources. This project aims to characterise the transformation of arsenic between oxidation states during mineral processing. Up to one third of the world’s gold reserves are locked up in arsenic rich minerals and 5000 tonnes of arsenic is released annually from mine waste. The project will enable the development of process technology that immobilises and removes arsenic at the earliest possible stage. The use of novel time-resolved in-situ techniques proposed in this research will give vital information of the complex chemical pathways involved during processing which current characterization methods on pre- and post-processed species do not achieve. Field of research: 0914 - Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2017 · 2017-01

Transforming 21st century creativity education in Australasia. This project aims to address the development of Australasian creativity education by advancing a unified intercultural approach to the enhancement of creative skills and capacities in compulsory schooling. The project will use an innovative approach across the education lifespan, marked by emerging models of education and workplace training. The expected outcomes of this project include a consistent approach to develop creative skills and capacities to better prepare Australians as high quality global workforce. This will help to ensure creative and cultural industrial advancement in our region and provide significant benefits across education, economic and transnational alliances. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Next generation space weather forecasts. Next generation space weather forecasts. This project aims to improve Australia's space weather prediction capabilities by developing space weather forecasts that use ground- and space-based GPS data. The Earth's ionosphere is temporally and spatially variable and the small number of observations limits understanding of its dynamics and effects on radio waves. Using ground- and space-based GPS to remotely sound the ionosphere increases this coverage and can be used to develop space weather forecasts tailored to industries that heavily rely on GPS and satellite communications. An expected direct outcome of this research is modernised space weather forecasts, with economic benefits for several industries. Field of research: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Sustainable planting of trees in suburban environments on shrinkable clays. Sustainable planting of trees in suburban environments on shrinkable clays. This project aims to develop a rational and reliable model to reduce the risk of damage to structures and increase tree plantings in suburban environments. Trees are vital to urban environmental sustainability, but local government, house-owners, engineers and the building industry are concerned about building damage and settlement from tree root drying. If tree water needs and patterns of moisture extraction were predictable, house footings could be designed reliably. This research will provide such understanding through field experiments on suburban sites with trees, investigating damaged structures and numerical modelling. An anticipated outcome of this research is to develop a rational and reliable model to reduce the risk of damage to structures and increase tree plantings in suburban environments. Guidelines for both footing designers and local government. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. Visual intelligence for safe vehicle operation in industrial environment. This project aims to develop safety devices for loosely constrained environments with public access, building on visual-based collision avoidance technology in controlled industrial settings. Increasing productivity in industrial workplaces creates a need for faster industrial vehicles. At fruit and vegetable markets and construction sites, forklift drivers, crane operators and crews are under pressure to move faster. The need for higher speed and the enormous human and financial cost of unsafe operations create opportunities for the deployment of intelligent safety devices. The expected outcomes of this project are safer public industrial environments, reductions in work related injuries, injury compensation costs and associated societal burdens. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

A Tough Resilin Based Hydrogel Platform for Repair and Regeneration. This project seeks to develop novel hydrogels that mimic the properties of the body. In the field of repair and regeneration, our challenge is to make hydrogels that retain the fatigue and resilience properties of the natural body part, but are comprised of nontoxic material. Resilin is a remarkable material exhibiting a broad range of stimuli-responsive behaviour and outstanding elasticity. The project aim is to create a tough and responsive hydrogel platform from this disordered protein family through greater understanding of structure and mechanical function and incorporating adequate stiffness, strength and biocompatibility. Such tough hydrogels would be applicable to a range of biotechnological applications (eg intervertebral disc repair or artificial skin tissue engineering). Field of research: 0304 - Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Security and Privacy of Individual Data Used to Extract Public Information. The project aims to contribute to the development of techniques to allow the harvesting of useful information without compromising personal privacy. Intelligent analysis of personal data can reveal valuable knowledge about a population but at a risk of invading an individual's privacy. This project aims to provide at least partial solutions to some of the problems associated with the protection of private data. In particular, it plans to work on the problem of security of statistical databases and privacy of streaming data. This would be underpinned by a study of anonymisation and homomorphic encryption. The expected outcomes are new theoretical results, new algorithms and protocols applicable to at least some of the current significant problems in information security. Field of research: 0803 - Computer Software

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. This training centre aims to train a cohort of industry-focused researchers and to develop new lightweighting technologies, which are key to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 emissions in transportation. In partnership with domestic and international companies and universities, this centre intends to develop new lightweight materials, advanced manufacturing processes, energy storage designs, and rapid non-destructive evaluation techniques. The intended outcome is to accelerate the transformation of Australia's automotive industry—now facing unprecedented structural adjustment—from vehicle production to export of design and engineering services, high-value products, and novel technology solutions. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. Development of a live vaccine for gut health in poultry. The project aims to develop a live vaccine against necrotic enteritis, a disease of poultry estimated to cost the global poultry industry $5-6 billion USD/annum. It builds on work that has demonstrated the efficacy of an experimental vaccine. The proven antigen, NetB, will be expressed in live delivery vehicles, including the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria and several bacteria strains particularly suited to use in chickens. Comparative analysis of the different vaccine vehicles will allow evaluation of the relative advantages and disadvantage of the different vehicles for delivery of heterologous vaccine antigens, thus informing the choice of appropriate vectors for this and other vaccine applications. Field of research: 0702 - Animal Production

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Crowd tracking and visual analytics for rapidly deployable imaging devices. Crowd tracking and visual analytics for rapidly deployable imaging devices. This project aims to develop visual analytics technology that adds machine intelligence to a rapidly deployable time-lapse imaging platform. Such devices can operate on solar and wind power, and be remotely programmed (via a cellular network) to take photos and send them to a server at given times. This project, which focuses on monitoring crowds of objects of interest, is expected to introduce “smart” imaging platforms that could be triggered and shoot high-quality photographs when “events of interest” occur. This project could make Australia both a world leader in video analytics and secure through on-line threat detection, and improve traffic control and agriculture. Field of research: 0104 - Statistics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

How the gut nervous system interacts with bacteria. This project aims to reveal how the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract interacts with the gut microbiota. Gut function has largely been studied without considering microbiota. The project will use genetically modified animal models, image analysis of gut motility and sequencing of gut microbes, and develop neurophysiological methods to understand gut function. Expected benefits include better understanding of mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance, risks associated with discretionary caesarean sections and the benefits of breastfeeding. Field of research: 1109 - Neurosciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Early start arts programmes to counter radicalisation. This project aims to strengthen interfaith relationships, through youth arts workshops that generate positive images of Muslim and non-Muslim Australian youth belonging together. Anxiety about violent extremism can stigmatise Muslim-Australian youth, but the arts can transform negative effects and amplify feelings of belonging. This project will create early childhood and primary interfaith arts intervention workshops to develop interfaith bonds at crucial developmental stages. It will also develop a public art campaign featuring images from the workshops about Muslim children belonging to Australian culture. The project has potential economic, social and cultural benefits for Australia. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies