RMIT University

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Crime and Justice by Social Media: Citizen engagements with justice online. The project seeks to examine the nature, influence and impact of citizens’ engagement with crime and justice via social media. The way our society engages in public debate on key social and political issues has been dramatically transformed by the participation enabled by social media technologies. The project aims to systematically examine the contradictory promises, perils and tensions of such citizen engagements, which have the potential to facilitate democratic deliberation on crime and justice, as well as injustice, punitiveness and vigilantism. Field of research: 1602 - Criminology

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

The policy and practice of designing healthy, equitable higher density. This project aims to investigate higher density housing and the impact of policy guidance, on-ground implementation of building design criteria, and locational characteristics on residents’ wellbeing. Higher density housing is promoted to sustainably accommodate population growth; however, in some Australian cities there is limited design and planning guidance. Could this have implications for the quality, versatility and equity of the housing provided, and for the health and wellbeing of residents? This project aims to produce new policy-specific empirical evidence around these issues that could inform higher density design guidance in Australia and internationally. Findings have the potential to change public policy to mandate the inclusion of health-enhancing design requirements in future higher density developments. Field of research: 1205 - Urban and Regional Planning

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Biomimetic lipidic self-assembly materials for protein encapsulation. This project intends to improve understanding of the interactions between proteins and lipidic materials to guide the development of new biomaterials. Proteins and peptides play an increasingly important role as drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. However, these fragile, often large, macromolecules come with challenges for drug delivery. Lipid-based materials are ideal matrices for encapsulation of functionally active proteins. They also offer advantages as drug delivery vehicles including controlled release properties. The combination of strategies creates an ideal delivery system for protein therapeutics. The project aims to characterise the physicochemical interactions between the protein and the lipid matrix. This may guide the development of novel lipidic materials for the encapsulation and controlled release of protein therapeutics. Field of research: 0306 - Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic Device Fabrication Facility. Low temperature co-fired ceramic device fabrication facility: This project seeks to establish a low temperature co-fired ceramics fabrication facility. New kinds of ‘meso-scale’ structurable ceramic processes are filling the technological and dimensional gap between microsystems in silicon and macro microsystems, as the platform can now structure microdevices in the range from a few micrometres to millimetres. This facility would provide a resource for Australian researchers to create novel electronic materials and devices that will be key to achieving breakthroughs in micro/nano-technologies and telecommunications. This project expects to support cutting-edge research into multilayer ceramic microsystems such as microelectromechanical systems, wireless sensors and actuators, radio frequency and microwave devices, microfluidic packaging, interfacing and implantation of ultra-fast photoelectrons and acoustic wave devices. Field of research: 0906 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Automated Fibre Braiding Facility for Multifunctional Structural Materials. Automated fibre braiding facility for multifunctional structural materials: This project seeks to establish an Australian automated braiding facility to create innovative fibrous materials with multiple functionalities. This facility aims to provide Australian researchers with the capabilities of high-speed, precision and versatility to radially braid single or multiple filament types including carbon, metal, optical, natural, bio-inspired and bio-compatible fibres and filaments to create new materials with unique functional properties. The facility would be able to braid over multiple length scales spanning nanofibres to millimetre-sized filaments to create novel materials and shapes not possible using other processing techniques. Expected applications include new materials for building, self-healing, human protection and biomedicine. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Designing next generation smart materials for capturing toxic gases. The project aims to use rapid computational and experimental screening tools to speed the design and development of robust metal organic frameworks for detecting and capturing toxic gases. Detecting and capturing toxic gases is vital for numerous industrial processes. Metal organic frameworks are porous materials that hold the world record for specific surface area and storage of gases. Their development and application in practical conditions require stability in the operating environment. It is expected that this project will lead to the development of efficient and effective porous materials that detect and capture toxic gases, thus improving Australian industry’s ability to monitor and eliminate emissions, improving air quality and public health. Field of research: 0204 - Condensed Matter Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Design of Novel Metamaterials Considering Large Deformation and Plasticity. The project aims to establish an effective and efficient computational framework for the topological design of novel mechanical metamaterials considering both geometrical and material nonlinearities. This would overcome a formidable bottleneck in practical applications of metamaterials which are mostly based on linear elastic assumptions. The expected outcomes will be a new methodology and an advanced engineering design tool that can be used for the development of new classes of metamaterials with exceptional mechanical properties (eg negative compressibility or negative Poisson’s ratio) over a large strain range. Such novel metamaterials would have many important applications, particularly in biomedical and defence industries. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Tunable plasmonics in ultra-doped transition metal oxides and chalcogenides. The project is designed to explore new classes of plasmonic materials based on low-dimensional transition metal oxide and chalcogenide nanostructures. These crystals, with stratified structures and high surface affinities to charged particles, present a new frontier in plasmonics by allowing reversible stimuli induced doping and defect embedding. The project plans to focus on achieving tunable plasmonic properties across a broad spectrum from ultraviolet to infrared light. Targets are systems with low propagation losses or ultra-sensitivity towards environmental changes. The anticipated outcomes will serve as a base to establish the next generation plasmonic communication and sensing systems with active on-chip controllability, which could be used as the base of future telecommunications, energy harvesting and sensing systems. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Paid work in cash-for-care: Australia in comparative perspective. The project seeks to build an evidence base to address the public policy problem of how to develop a sustainable workforce in the publicly-funded disability sector based on quality jobs for care workers and flexible high-quality care. Under new social care arrangements, money for care is allocated directly to vulnerable people to purchase their own services. Cash-for-care changes the organisation of paid care work in ways that pose significant risks for workers and for the development of sustainable social care workforces. This project intends to examine outcomes for care workers under cash-for-care and to identify regulatory strategies for creating quality work for paid care workers in flexible, high-quality care systems. Field of research: 1605 - Policy and Administration

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale and morphology of the microstructure. This project aims to use the interdependence model of grain refinement to control and design grain sizes. The project first plans to investigate the near-rapid solidification conditions in aluminium alloys. It then plans to re-design the harder-to-manufacture titanium alloys to improve grain size control. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

So what do you do? Graduates in the Creative and Cultural Industries. This project plans to analyse national graduate employment in Australia’s creative and cultural industries, and compare the utility of 'creative' and 'cultural' models for tracking employment outcomes. Although the image of work in the creative and cultural industries is attractive to students and course planners alike, international evidence suggests graduates face very poor employment prospects. The project plans to use a proven model for mapping creative graduates to compare the value of creative degrees for the creative workforce in two nations, Australia and the United Kingdom; and to use sophisticated quantitative analysis of national datasets and interviews to produce a comprehensive study of creative graduate work. Field of research: 2002 - Cultural Studies

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

A Multiscale Modelling Platform for Nanoparticle Inhalation Risk Assessment. This project aims to explore the health risks caused by nanoparticle inhalation and its penetration through respiratory mucus and tissue cells. Exposure to nanoparticles has the potential to cause serious and possibly fatal health effects. An understanding of nanoparticle toxicology would enable us to appropriately protect the public’s health and safety. The project plans to consider human respiratory anatomy and physiology and use advanced computer modelling and experimental techniques to evaluate the health risk of exposure to the burgeoning number of nanomaterials found in consumer products. The expected outcome of the project is a predictive tool that determines nanoparticle exposure risk and its health consequences. Field of research: 0801 - Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Buckling of Functionally Graded Multilayer Graphene Nanocomposites. This project aims to contribute to the development of novel lightweight structural members made of graphene nanocomposites with greatly enhanced resistance to abrupt or progressive buckling failure. Abrupt or progressive buckling failure under excessive compressive loads is a common and often catastrophic problem in engineering structures. The project intends to develop a functionally graded multilayer graphene nanocomposite structure and to conduct a combined theoretical, numerical and experimental investigation into its buckling and postbuckling behaviours, taking into account the effect of initial imperfection. The project aims to advance the knowledge base of the mechanical behaviour of lightweight nanocomposite structures with improved structural reliability. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Flexible transparent oxides – the future of electronics is clear. This project aims to support the development of flexible electronic devices incorporating the functional properties of oxide thin films. Oxide thin films require high processing temperatures, which are incompatible with flexible substrates. This project seeks to provide a solution by using a novel transfer process that allows oxides to be combined with flexible polymer substrates. Applications in sensing under the influence of heat, gas, and light will be studied. This project will potentially create devices that can be conformally applied to surfaces or worn on a person to act as low-cost sensors for toxic gases or ultraviolet radiation. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Electro-mechanical behaviours of carbon nanotube composite structures. This project aims to investigate the electro-mechanical behaviours of carbon nanotube reinforced polymer composite structures. Such structures demonstrate considerable potential in structural health monitoring and strengthening due to their unique electro-mechanical behaviours. However, the electro-mechanical behaviours of these composites remain unclear due to the multiscale nature of the problems and the constraint of current techniques to capture nanoscale features that underpin the macroscopic behaviours. This project aims to investigate the electro-mechanical behaviours of these composites and their structures via atomistic simulation and continuum mechanics modelling. The outcomes are intended to enhance the application of these multifunctional composites and improve the performances and sustainability of engineering structures. Field of research: 0905 - Civil Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Biocompatible magnesium alloys with specific materials properties. This project aims to develop biocompatible magnesium alloys with highly desirable mechanical properties and degradation on demand, and the fundamental science to achieve the materials properties. Injured human bones often need biomaterials to restore function. This project’s magnesium biomaterials could change the biomaterials field by making implant removal surgery unnecessary, and avoiding the adverse tissue reactions and stress shielding typically associated with conventional implanting metals. The outcomes are expected to provide insights in designing biodegradable magnesium alloys and surface coating technology, and generate intellectual properties and advanced biomaterials that will benefit the Australian ageing population. Field of research: 0912 - Materials Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Laser threshold sensing. This project aims to create a new class of room-temperature ultra-sensitive magnetometers based on laser threshold magnetometry. By using nitrogen-vacancy colour centres in diamond, these magnetometers will demonstrate at least femto-Tesla per root Hertz sensitivity, and could replace SQUID magnetometers. This project aims to develop its theoretical concept into a platform for advanced sensing with applications in magneto-encephalography, nerve sensing, MRI imaging, mining and aircraft guidance systems. Field of research: 0205 - Optical Physics

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Insoluble-fibre enriched beverages. Insoluble-fibre enriched beverages. This project aims to develop healthy new beverages, by studying the effect of chemistry and physical interactions of insoluble dietary fibre with other food ingredients. Insoluble fibre reduces the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. This project will research how insoluble-fibre linked phytochemicals behave in complex matrices and contribute to malodorous flavours; and design advanced experimental protocols to prevent undesirable sensory characteristics in liquid systems. Field of research: 0908 - Food Sciences

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Additive manufacturing wear-resistant products for erosive environments. Additive manufacturing wear-resistant products for erosive environments. This project aims to develop technology to manufacture large scale, wear resistant components, involving new materials, computer-aided-design and direct hybrid manufacturing comprising laser additive and machining processes. The technology could produce more wear resistant components, using new iron-based powders, designed mesoscale graded structures and microscale reinforcing phases of appropriate morphology and size. The proposed approach is expected to lead to lower cost manufacturing mining products which perform better and have a lower environmental footprint, and more competitive Australian mining manufacturing operations. Field of research: 0910 - Manufacturing Engineering

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2016 · 2016-01

Designing green spaces for biodiversity and human well-being. Designing green spaces for biodiversity and human well-being . This project aims to determine mechanisms linking urban design to socio-ecological benefits from green spaces. Ecological restoration in urban green space could attract more biodiversity into urban environments, reduce maintenance costs, provide market advantage for the development industry and improve a sense of place for residents. However, how best to encourage biodiversity using urban design is poorly understood, and little is known about how green spaces create health and well-being. This project will alter levels of green space design explanatory variables in modular experimental plots, in both Royal Park, the City of Melbourne’s largest public green space, and Melbourne’s CBD; conduct biodiversity and human wellbeing experiments; and develop urban design recommendations that support biodiversity and human wellbeing. Field of research: 0502 - Environmental Science and Management