Curtin University

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2025 · 2025-01

All-perovskite inorganic anion exchange membrane water electrolysis Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

SCALES of evolution: A genomic view on reptile resilience. Reptiles are declining at a global scale with >20% of the worlds’ species threatened by extinction. Despite this, reptiles are understudied in many parts of the world hampering efficient protection. For conservation efforts to work, it is imperative to have knowledge on current and past species distributions, and to understand their resilience to environmental change. The DNA molecule carries information at all three scales why we propose a three-pronged genetic framework. The SCALES research project will use environmental DNA, ancient DNA, and Genomics to study the formation, distribution, and resilience of Australian reptile diversity. This will foster new evolutionary insights and more efficient conservation of these endangered animals. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics A worldwide biodiversity depletion is ongoing, and Australia is no exception to this crisis. Efficient tools to monitor the current impacts and predict future ones are at the forefront of our fight against this 6th global mass extinction. To mitigate further biodiversity erosion, conservation efforts must encompass both a basic knowledge of the problem and the tools to deal with it. Hence this research project is designed to deliver insights on both the mechanisms that are driving the distribution and depletion of biodiversity combined with concrete biomonitoring tools to measure ecosystem health in real time. This will allow for more efficient conservation management to preserve our unique biodiversity. The 2016 State of the Environment Report identified that conserving animal, plant, microbial and genetic resources for food production, agriculture, and ecosystem functions such as soil fertility and pollination of crops, is critical for the ongoing ecological, cultural, and economic sustainability, health, and wellbeing of Australia. The molecular tools and insights from this proposed research are also perfectly aligned with the Federal Government’s Science and Research Priority 4: Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment which identifies critical research areas into “predicting ecosystem and biodiversity changes caused by climate change and human actions” and “new and innovative approaches to discovering, protecting and restoring biodiversity”.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

From Titan's haze to Earth's labs: predicting organic crystal growth. This project aims to model organic mineral formation on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, whose atmosphere functions like a natural laboratory for prebiotic chemistry. By developing new computational methods, we will uncover which minerals are likely, their formation, and properties. Expected outcomes of this research are new computational techniques for the prediction of crystals and their properties, an enhanced understanding of geological processes on Titan and the formation of new interdisciplinary collaborations. This should provide significant benefits across wide-ranging applications, from supporting future missions like NASA's Dragonfly to from pharmaceutical design here on Earth, enabling new approaches for materials design and beyond. Field of research: 3407 - Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Predicting organic molecular crystal formation is crucial for designing novel materials, finding new drugs, and understanding chemical processes here on Earth and beyond. Advanced computational quantum chemistry methods offer the capacity to explore realms challenging or impossible to access through experiments alone. However, current methods struggle to accurately model realistic conditions and dynamic processes. This project will develop new methods to predict organic crystal formation under diverse conditions, from pharmaceutical labs to alien worlds like Saturn's moon Titan. These methods will increase the predictive power of simulations for real-world materials, including new pharmaceutical co-crystals and potential extraterrestrial minerals. The potential of such predictions is exemplified by recent products like Entresto, a drug-drug co-crystal with annual sales of $4.5 billion. Such a breakthrough would have enormous economic and scientific benefits for Australia's pharmaceutical, materials, and space industries. Our open software will make these methods immediately accessible to Australian researchers and industries, positioning Australia at the forefront of computational chemistry and planetary science. This project aligns with Australia's National Research Priorities in Advanced Manufacturing, Health, and Space. It will train the next generation of computational chemists, supporting high-value jobs in Australia's growing scientific and space exploration ecosystem.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Rehabilitating Mines Through Ecosystem-based Approaches to Biodiversity. This project aims to develop best practice standards for the transformation of Australia's over 80,000 abandoned mines to transform them from sites of environmental degradation to functional ecosystems. This project will generate new knowledge on how to recreate habitats to allow animals to live and persist in rehabilitated mining landscapes. Expected outcomes include the development of national standards for creating fauna habitat based on co-design with academia, industry, regulators, and Traditional Custodians. Benefits for Australia will be significant as the project will provide models and standards for future mine site rehabilitation grounded in entire ecosystem re-creation. Field of research: 3103 - Ecology Australia has approximately 80,000 abandoned mine sites in need of rehabilitation to fix environmental damage. However, there are no evidence-based standards or models to ensure that fauna is included in the rehabilitation process. This project aims to provide the first-ever national guidelines for the creation of fauna habitats in mine site rehabilitation, collaboratively co-designed by industry, Traditional Custodians, government regulators, and researchers. This project will investigate the specific habitat requirements of case study animals to highlight how targeted threatened and culturally significant species can be attracted back into areas post-mining. This research will serve as a model for including culturally significant fauna as a standard practice in in mine rehabilitation across Australia. The guidelines to be produced will be of great benefit to Australia, which must address its significant mining-related biodiversity losses and provide nature positive outcomes. The improved rehabilitation practices produced through this project will leave a positive legacy of healthy nature spaces which will benefit Traditional Custodians and the wider community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Digital Twin and Vision-based Techniques for Bridge Health Monitoring . This project aims to develop advanced digital twin models and computer vision-based techniques, to effectively conduct structural health monitoring, crack detection and progression monitoring, and reliable load rating for preventing catastrophic failure of ageing bridges. This project will develop next-generation bridge inspection and digital twin techniques. Expected outcomes of the project include advanced vision-based approaches to conduct defect identification, novel digital twin models to process the identified defects and determining the load rating of real remote in-service bridges. This project will provide significant benefits to asset owners and research end-users to reduce operational interruptions and prevent structural failure. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Main Roads Western Australia (WA) owns close to 3000 bridges as the largest proportion of bridges (42%) in WA, and is responsible for the routine inspection and maintenance of these high-value assets. This project aims to address the industry-identified challenge to effectively conduct bridge health monitoring and determine the load rating of ageing bridges in WA and elsewhere in Australia by developing next-generation digital twin and vision-based techniques, for preventing catastrophic failure of structures. This project has significant economic benefits for remote communities and Main Roads WA as asset owners and end-users in reducing operational interruptions and maintenance costs, and better understanding of bridge defects and the impacts on load rating for ensuring public safety and minimising environmental impacts. The new knowledge advanced in the project will contribute to Australian’s Science and Research Priorities 2024 on ‘Building a secure and resilient nation’, by addressing the planning and engineering of infrastructure for Australia and region that account for likely future climate conditions and responding to natural disasters. Through the long-term collaborations with Main Roads WA, the defect detection and load rating results of ageing bridges can be adopted to support maintenance decision-making, achieving a sustainable and resilient transport infrastructure network subject to natural hazards and climate change impact, ultimately, increasing productivity.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2025 · 2025-01

Novel modular panel system for multi-hazard resistant construction. This project aims to develop an innovative modular construction system that integrates advanced composite wall and floor panel technologies with multi-hazard resistance. It addresses gaps in current systems by enhancing wall panels to withstand wind, seismic, and impact loads, and introduces an energy-efficient floor panel system that tackles vibration and long-term performance issues. The project also develops robust connections between panels, enabling rapid, adaptable construction in hazard-prone areas, improving resilience, safety, and energy efficiency for residential buildings. The broader adoption of these systems will support environmental goals and benefit a wide range of sectors, such as disaster relief, defence, and mining. Field of research: 4005 - Civil Engineering Australia faces growing risks from natural hazards, including severe winds and earthquakes, highlighting the urgent need for resilient, adaptable infrastructure to protect communities and ensure economic stability. This project directly addresses these challenges by developing lightweight, multi-hazard-resistant modular wall and floor panels, designed from innovative materials like fibreglass and rigid foam. These cost-effective, panelised systems will enable rapid assembly, especially suited for remote and disaster-prone areas, offering a faster and more affordable pathway to resilient construction. Expected outcomes include robust, experimentally validated design procedures that improve the hazard resistance, enhancing community preparedness and recovery. The project's innovations also have wide-ranging applications in critical sectors such as disaster relief, defence, and mining, where the need for rapid and resilient construction solutions is paramount. By collaborating closely with industry partner WABi Systems, this project will ensure immediate real-world impact, with pilot projects integrating the new panels into modular systems for rigorous field testing. These efforts support national priorities in disaster resilience and economic security, advancing innovation in construction and yielding significant social and economic benefits through stronger, more adaptable infrastructure.

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-11

Remote and Regional Health Monitoring Platform Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-11

2024 Equipment Grants Category: Health and Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Digital Disability Inclusion: design lessons from COVID-19 Category: Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-06

COLchicine and non-enteric coated aspirin in the Cardiovascular Outcomes... Category: Medical Research

GrantConnect (Australian Government grants) · FY 2024 · 2024-06

COLchicine and non-enteric coated aspirin in the Cardiovascular Outcomes... Category: Medical Research

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Electrochemical Deactivation of Enveloped Viruses. The project aims to develop electrochemical methods and surface-science strategies to prevent the spread of enveloped viruses. A multidisciplinary approach involving surface electrochemistry, single-protein electrochemical measurements, and electro-active nanomaterials will be used. The expected outcomes are electrochemical devices to gain new fundamental knowledge of the electrochemistry involved in viral infectivity mechanisms and the development of new virucidal materials. The materials will be the active elements of new generation of anti-transmission products such as facemasks, wipe cloths, surface coatings and air filters. Field of research: 3406 - Physical Chemistry Due to high population densities and urbanisation, global travel and trade, and climate change that affects the distribution of wildlife, it is only a matter of time before a new viral threat emerges. COVID19 has cost Australia severe economic losses in lockdowns to contain and treat the COVID19 pandemic and we need to be better prepared for outbreaks of similar viruses. The aim of this project is to understand the electrochemistry involved in the infectivity mechanism of enveloped viruses and to create a paradigm change in how we fight the spread of these viruses – particularly those that share similar properties to coronaviruses. New electrochemical methods and electroactive materials will contribute to countering future pandemics. The proposed electrochemical techniques and virus-capturing materials can potentially be applied to all coronaviruses and other related viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Ebola, Marburg and Influenza. The project will generate new fundamental knowledge that will be put in use for the development of spin-offs related to the manufacturing of new anti-transmission products. The products include innovative and powerful types of facemasks, air filters, wipe cloths and surface coatings.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Transforming Australian cities through net-zero transit activated corridors. Cities represent a huge, but largely untapped, opportunity to meet Australian commitments to become 'net zero by 2050'. Transforming Australian cities through net-zero transit activated corridors is a transdisciplinary research project about sustainable urban planning. It builds upon past research on integrating land use and transport planning and places it within a net zero frame. It will involve national and international academic collaboration. Expected outcomes include evidence-based urban planning recommendations focused on increased liveability, sustainability and affordability through new spatial structures (urban design) and new governance structures (planning policy) necessary to deliver thriving net zero Australian cities. Field of research: 3304 - Urban and Regional Planning Every Australian metropolitan plan has 'infill' targets, these are rarely met. It is easier to keep releasing land on the fringes, resulting in car dependent urban sprawl and congestion with many associated social and sustainability problems. There is a need to transform Australian cities to be more sustainable and more liveable. Net-zero transit (train and tram) activated corridors appear to address many of these challenges, but effective models for integrating transport and planning have not been widely adopted. This research will focus on best practice, as well as barriers and enablers for net-zero transit activated corridors. It will also investigate whether technological advances promising cheaper electric solutions (e.g. trackless trams), and net zero financing could catalyse a change in the way cities are developed. The project will involve national and international academic collaboration. Expected outcomes include urban planning recommendations focussed upon new spatial structures (urban design) and new governance structures (planning policy) necessary to deliver thriving net zero Australian cities.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Police custody and young people: Informing human rights responses. The conditions of police custody have received national and international criticism since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Youth detainees are amongst the most vulnerable. Using a case study design in three Australian states, this project aims to attend to these concerns by building new knowledge about police custody and young people from multiple perspectives. Results will inform evidence-based solutions grounded in human rights principles. Intervening early in the criminal justice process to address young people’s health and wellbeing needs can prevent their future re-incarceration and derive significant social and economic benefits, including government savings in social services, policing, the courts and prisons. Field of research: 4402 - Criminology Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, human rights organisations, academics, and Ombudsmen have called on governments to address concerns regarding the human rights of people detained in police custody in Australia. Youth detainees are amongst the most vulnerable, often experiencing social disadvantage and complex mental health and drug dependence issues. Being detained young often establishes entrenched patterns of reoffending that extend across the life course, producing a long-term cumulative burden on their lives. In addition to direct personal costs for young people and their families, detention produces growing economic costs for government. This project will attend to these issues by informing policy and practice to improve the management and care of youth detainees. Intervening early in the criminal justice cycle and addressing youth detainees’ unmet health and wellbeing needs can help divert them from a system that consumes an increasing amount of government expenditure. In doing so, future economic savings can be made in the areas of policing, our legal systems, and prisons.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

New water-inserted perovskites for high-current-density water electrolysis. This project aims to develop a new type of water-inserted perovskite oxide materials to realise high-current-density hydrogen production in anion-exchange-membrane water elecrolysers using renewable electricity. Innovations are expected in the rational design and engineering of novel materials, elucidation of new catalytic mechanisms from experimental and computational studies, and breakthroughs in commercially-relevant water electrolysis processes. Expected outcomes include innovative materials engineering methods, in-depth reaction mechanism understandings, and demonstration of robust electrolysers. This project will provide significant benefit to Australia’s hydrogen industry and economic growth and energy sustainability in the long run. Field of research: 4016 - Materials Engineering Water electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, is an essential component of the efficient production of green hydrogen and thus key to the achievement of a sustainable energy future and mitigated carbon emissions. However, there are still huge challenges in realizing hydrogen production at both high efficiency and low cost due to a lack of catalyst materials that can accelerate the water splitting process. This project will design, develop, and apply a new class of catalyst materials called water-inserted perovskites that can overcome these challenges. The innovative processes developed will lift Australia’s position in green hydrogen production and energy sustainability. There will also be commercial opportunities for the renewable energy sector to use this technology to produce green hydrogen, opening avenues for hydrogen storage, utilization, and export in the future.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Quantum studies of dissociative electron attachment to molecules. The ability to predict the outcomes of molecular collisions is a difficult, yet important, problem with many applications in science and industry. Recent work at Curtin University has led to the first complete solution of the electronic part of the scattering problem for collisions with the hydrogen molecule, a major breakthrough in the field. This project will build on this progress to accurately model the nuclear motion during collisions, which will enable the first calculations of molecular dissociation processes without the use of approximations. The data which will be produced is highly sought-after in fusion energy and astrophysics applications. Field of research: 5102 - Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Nuclear fusion, produced on an industrial scale, can provide large amounts of clean, safe, and cheap energy. At present this process is not reliable, however researchers all over the world are working towards perfecting the technology. This project will provide high-quality data to help a global team of researchers understand the basic chemical reactions involved in the nuclear fusion process and more importantly, generate predictive models to help improve our ability to control these reactions. Australia is a key global partner contributing towards understanding this technology. Computer models developed in this project are critical for progressing this technology. The success of this project will be a major factor in meeting the UN sustainability goals of affordable and clean energy and climate action, by reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the energy needs of future generations are met. Via a collaboration between Curtin University and the Max-Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany, the results of this project will be applied immediately to construct diagnostic methods for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the largest fusion experiment in the world.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Investigating Energy Transfer Pathways in Lanthanoid Elements. This project aims to investigate fundamental aspects concerning the luminescent properties of compounds containing lanthanoid elements. These elements have extensive use in many high-tech applications, yet essential knowledge related to their properties is still quite limited. This project will elucidate in detail the origin of lanthanoid luminescence through a multidisciplinary approach combining synthetic chemistry and spectroscopy. The outcomes of this proposal will expand our limited knowledge in this field, underpinning the future development of novel materials for advanced applications. This will lead to significant economic benefit in Australia as new commercial applications relying on lanthanoid luminescence will be developed. Field of research: 3402 - Inorganic Chemistry Rare earth elements are critical to current and developing technologies, which ensures that the demand for their global annual production runs to hundreds of thousands of tons. Rare earth elements, for example, form the light-emitting components of smartphones and tablets and the magnetic materials in vehicles, and they play an essential role in advancing greener energy production through their use in wind turbines. Australia has important deposits of rare earth metals, especially in Victoria and Western Australia, which could position us as one of the leading economic beneficiaries of the rare earth industry. This proposal intends to explore the fundamental properties of rare earth elements, to gain a deeper understanding of how they can best be leveraged to advance current technologies; for example in improving the inefficient functioning of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers used in telecommunication signalling. The findings should also contribute to the development of new groundbreaking solutions in fields such as energy and medicine. The project’s enhancement of fundamental knowledge in this area will incentivise collaborations between academia and key industry groups, creating opportunities for our partners to adopt the findings and strengthen Australia’s position in the global rare earth market.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape. Audio description (AD) is a track of narration describing important visual elements of visual media to make it accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired. It is also increasingly being used by the mainstream audience. This project aims to examine the consumption and production of Audio Description throughout Australian cultural life. It expects to generate new knowledge about the ways digital media including emerging generative artificial intelligence might be leveraged to increase access to audio description. Expected outcomes include a curriculum, guidelines and materials designed to empower industries, communities and governments to work together to meet Australia's obligation to provide access to cultural activities using AD. Field of research: 4701 - Communication and Media Studies This project will research the history and present use of, and the future potential for, audio description (AD) in Australia. AD is a verbal translation of visual media allowing access for blind audiences. Australia’s implementation of AD to date has been narrow and unambitious in scope, aiming to meet minimum requirements. By mapping the increasingly transformed media landscape through online services and their deployment of AD, this project will illustrate examples of local best practice and situate them within international trends. It will then focus on the current and near-future utility of cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI, to examine the much wider potential for AD in Australian culture. Far from being only for people with vision impairments, this technology has the potential to greatly enhance the way Australians access, understand and enjoy screen and live creative work. The research findings will be translated via user-friendly resources (reports, podcasts, an AD training course, and guidelines). The research, created with and for AD audiences, will be shared with key industry groups (Amazon, FIFA, SBS) and peak bodies to build a robust roadmap that will ensure Australian screen and creative industries and policy makers have a clear understanding of the scope and potential of AD, and that Australia can meet obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disability to provide access to cultural activities using AD.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Optimizing benefits of cultural diversity in Australian healthcare sector. Australian society and workplaces are increasingly becoming culturally diverse with growing numbers of immigrants from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds. However, it is not clear to what extent this diversity is being harnessed to improve organisational performance by leveraging the diverse range of knowledge and skills of CaLD customers and employees. This project aims to use social identity theory and role theory to develop a comprehensive conceptual model for the process by which organisations identify, acknowledge, engage, accept, and adapt to cultural and linguistic diversity among their customers and employees. We also plan to test this model with data from customers and employees in Australian service sector. Field of research: 3505 - Human Resources and Industrial Relations Australia has become a multicultural society, with almost half its population either born overseas or with at least one parent born overseas. This cultural diversity is also reflected in Australian workplaces, particularly in the healthcare services sector, which is one of Australia’s biggest employers and has a significant proportion of its workforce and patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds. Hence, it is essential that healthcare services providers understand the differences in the prior knowledge and experiences of these diverse groups of employees and patients, in order to meet their expectations by providing culturally appropriate services. However, despite the growing importance of cultural knowledge and cultural gap bridging (CGB) behaviours, current evidence shows that Australian organisations are still not ready to engage with their culturally diverse workforce and patient base in a meaningful manner. This project aims to address this gap by using an integrated multilevel process model to examine the antecedents and outcomes of multicultural readiness and CGB behaviours in a highly culturally diverse workforce. The project outcomes will assist Australian healthcare services providers to create more productive workplaces and provide better patient care to their patients from CaLD backgrounds. This would lead to better productivity and more positive patient outcomes, which will save huge costs for the Australian economy and taxpayers.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Living Together: New Approaches to Multispecies Conflict and Coexistence. Building on the methods and concepts of the emerging environmental humanities, this project will produce a new conceptual vocabulary for a world in which multispecies conflict and coexistence is increasingly important. It brings critical and generative rereadings of classical political thought and contemporary biopolitical and cosmopolitical approaches into dialogue with a set of empirical case studies emerging from novel encounters between humans and other animals. This project will expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capacity in the interdisciplinary environmental humanities and stake out new approaches to the question of living together in a changing environment. Field of research: 4702 - Cultural Studies Relationships between humans and other animal species are frequently a subject of contention. Presently, these relationships are more complex and important than ever. From species extinction through wildlife management to companion animals, sites of contact, conflict and cohabitation with animals are multiplying. This project examines human-animal relationships in their social and environmental contexts in order to deepen our understanding of the obstacles to and possibilities for coexistence. The project includes a series of detailed case studies that range from conservation and captivity to agriculture and bioscience. Bringing philosophical research into conversation with empirical case studies, this project will improve our understanding of how humans and animals might live together in mutually sustaining ways in difficult times. The research will benefit Australians by creating new resources and approaches to cohabitation that will help to reduce existing conflicts over how we ought to treat and live with animals, conflicts with significant economic, social, and environmental consequences. The findings will be shared with a wide audience, including the public and relevant industry and government groups, through targeted publications, outreach activities and contributions to appropriate public affairs media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Next-generation Navigation by Mega-constellations LEO Satellites. This research will explore a novel positioning approach using new mega-constellations low-earth-orbit satellite communications signals to address a severe limitation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It will facilitate improved positioning for services that rely on satellite positioning in challenging environments where GNSS signal visibility is limited, and where accurate positioning is needed. Expected outcomes are generating new knowledge in using satellite internet signals for navigation, advancing our satellite positioning capability essential for vital applications such as transport, mining and defence, and developing technologies to increase Australia’s satellite innovation capacity with global scalability. Field of research: 4013 - Geomatic Engineering Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are essential for many vital sectors in Australia; including transport, defence, mining, agriculture, and safety-critical navigation applications. However, GNSS signal blockage occurs in challenging environments, like urban areas, bushland and indoors, resulting in unreliable or unavailable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions. GNSS signals are also vulnerable to “spoofing” and radio frequency interference. This project aims to develop a novel concept that addresses these severe limitations of GNSS, by exploiting opportunistic signals that are transmitted from the new mega-constellations of low-earth orbiting (LEO) communications satellites. It will facilitate improved services that rely on satellite positioning in challenging environments, and where reliable positioning is needed. The Australian Space Agency has identified the tremendous economic, social and environmental benefits of PNT for Australia; through increased productivity, better safety outcomes, and improved environmental management. Expected outcomes are generating new knowledge in using satellite signals for navigation, advancing our satellite positioning capability, and developing technologies to increase Australia’s satellite innovation capacity with global scalability. The outcomes of the project will be shared with Australian industry and government agencies, and popularised to the broader society via mainstream and social media.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Ion-atom collision data for fusion energy, hadron therapy and astrophysics. This project aims to combine experimental and theoretical efforts to generate accurate data required for the development and maintenance of fusion reactors, treatment planning in hadron therapy of cancerous tumours, and modelling astrophysical phenomena. Hadron therapy has been used successfully worldwide for over a decade with Australia’s first such facility, the Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy, currently under construction. Fusion reactors are a source of abundant green energy. Immense progress is being made in their construction and underlying technology. Currently, there is an urgent demand for accurate data on ion-beam collisions with atoms and molecules for the aforementioned applications. This project intends to meet this demand. Field of research: 5102 - Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Rising worldwide demand for energy, increasing pollution, and climate change accelerated by the extensive use of fossil fuels, calls for the development of new means of power production to minimise the impact on the natural environment while maximising energy output. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) aims to fuse particles and harness the energy released to produce electricity. This large-scale international project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of producing green energy that is millions of times more efficient than burning coal, with no pollution and significantly less radioactive waste than traditional nuclear reactors. ITER demands state-of-the-art scientific knowledge to succeed. Activating hot fusion reactions requires carefully controlled heating of plasma fuel to temperatures of millions of degrees. ITER injects beams of atoms for heating and diagnostics of fusion plasmas. Currently, there is an urgent demand for accurate data on collisions of these beam atoms with plasma particles. Through our collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we will provide vital data required for ITER. This project is aligned with Australia’s Science and Research Priority area of Energy. Australia has had a formal cooperation agreement with the ITER organisation since 2016. The project will strengthen Australian involvement in ITER. It will promote the benefits of fusion energy research to Australia in the wider community.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Electron-molecule collisions in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. This project will apply innovative methods developed in Australia to accurately model electron collisions with diatomic hydrides. It will generate new knowledge of the dynamics underlying fundamental chemical reactions, and bring international scientists together to study the influence of molecules in plasmas more accurately than ever before. Outcomes will include essential diagnostics for fusion reactors, methods for using the James Webb Space Telescope to study astrophysical clouds, and strengthened ties between Australia and the global plasma physics community. The significant benefits will include accelerating the development of fusion technology as an alternative to fossil fuels, and furthering our understanding of stellar evolution. Field of research: 5102 - Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Australia has historically been at the forefront of the field of atomic collision theory, and we are now in the midst of rapid progress in the more complex studies of molecular collisions. This project will apply advanced computational techniques to accurately predict the outcomes of electron collisions with diatomic hydrides such as H2, HeH, LiH, BeH, and more. Such data are essential in fusion plasma modelling and astrophysics, yet are mostly unknown. Via international collaborations with fusion researchers and astrophysicists, the project will lead to the development of plasma diagnostic tools for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the largest fusion experiment in the world, and new techniques for studying astrophysical clouds. The outcomes of this project will represent an important contribution from Australia to the global effort to develop fusion technology, which will provide a safe and clean source of electricity to meet humanity’s growing energy needs and disrupt the fossil fuel industry by reducing carbon emissions and ensuring the energy needs of future generations are met. This will be a major factor in meeting the UN sustainability goals of affordable and clean energy and climate action. The project will provide training for early-career scientists in Australia in advanced computational and modelling techniques, making them ready to contribute to the nation in defence, industry and academia.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

eGenomics - Next generation biomonitoring of threatened species. DNA is the molecule of life and exists everywhere in the environment as a largely untapped source of information on evolution, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Our overriding aim is to start mining that information to benefit threatened species. Based on optimized ancient DNA methods, powerful sequencing technology, whole genome analyses, and RNA profiling, we present a novel and holistic framework for genetic biomonitoring. In two parallel model systems we will study corals and reptiles to improve environmental detection while simultaneously obtaining information on their population health. This will foster more efficient conservation of endangered species that are of tremendous importance to our marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Field of research: 3105 - Genetics The global biodiversity crisis is real and ongoing, and efficient tools to monitor the richness and health of our biodiversity are at the forefront of our fight against this crisis. This project will deliver new, cutting-edge, molecular technology to improve detection of rare and endangered species in both marine and terrestrial environments, while simultaneously providing information on their population health and viability. This will allow for more efficient conservation management to preserve our unique biodiversity which ultimately benefits us all. The 2016 State of the Environment Report identified that conserving animal, plant, microbial and genetic resources for food production, agriculture, and ecosystem functions such as soil fertility and pollination of crops, is critical for the ongoing ecological, cultural, and economic sustainability, health, and wellbeing of Australia. With increasing threats from climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, it is imperative that we can measure ecosystem health and stress in real-time, and the provision of the proposed eGenomics framework to relevant government and conservation organisations has the potential to deliver that.

ARC National Competitive Grants · FY 2024 · 2024-01

Precarious housing, housing assistance and wellbeing. Australia’s housing system is undergoing a major transformation, marked by growing precariousness that has now spread across all housing tenures. The wellbeing impacts of this are not well-understood. This project aims to develop a contemporary conceptualisation of housing precariousness as a multidimensional experience that exists in potentially variable ways for renters, owners and the marginally housed. Using mixed methods and cross-country analyses, the project expects to produce new evidence on pathways in and out of precariousness, as well as the coping strategies and wellbeing of the precariously housed. This is expected to offer major benefits by informing housing assistance policies that promote the wellbeing of Australians. Field of research: 4407 - Policy and Administration Australia’s housing system is undergoing a major revolution. People’s housing conditions are becoming more precarious, and this is a housing crisis because it affects Australians in all tenures, not just low-income renters. We do not know enough about people’s precarious housing experiences to formulate effective policies to assist them. This project will address the precarious housing problem by tracking how people’s life journeys lead some into precarious housing, how badly their wellbeing is affected, and finding out what support they need to escape precarious housing. By asking precariously housed people to share their experiences and analysing policies from different countries, this project will reveal whether current housing assistance programs are helping to protect the wellbeing of the precariously housed. This project benefits housing policymakers and Australians more broadly by increasing our understanding of how to provide housing support that is secure, affordable and suitable to meet Australians’ needs and aspirations. This project’s findings can be used to develop policies that give people more protection from the negative effects of precarious housing on their lives. We will actively drive change by sharing our findings with organisations committed to supporting Australians in precarious housing through small group discussions and a national policy workshop involving housing policy change-makers.