Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collabora ....Probing cross modal interactions in the perception of object motion and self-motion. How the brain integrates information from the different senses is not yet understood. This project aims first, to uncover how the brain integrates sound and visual information when perceiving moving objects and second, to probe more complex sensory interactions between sound, vision, and our vestibular senses when perceiving self-motion. This project will expand Australia's knowledge base, strengthen collaborative ties between Australia and Japan, and provide unique training opportunities for Australian and Japanese students. Publication of research in top-ranking journals will further promote Australian science abroad. Results will lead to improvements in the design of human-machine interfaces in both industry and entertainment.Read moreRead less
Modeling cross-level interactions in complex networked social systems. The advances of this collaboration will add significantly to Australian and international capacity in the modelling of complex social systems. The outcomes will be directly translated, through these and other collaborations, into practical scientific outcomes in several significant policy areas. There is widespread demand for these modelling techniques in empirical settings. Potential applications from ongoing national collab ....Modeling cross-level interactions in complex networked social systems. The advances of this collaboration will add significantly to Australian and international capacity in the modelling of complex social systems. The outcomes will be directly translated, through these and other collaborations, into practical scientific outcomes in several significant policy areas. There is widespread demand for these modelling techniques in empirical settings. Potential applications from ongoing national collaborations include: Hepatitis C spread through sexual and needle sharing networks; labour market dynamics; mental health and social support in rural communities; defence applications; and environmental governance. A major emphasis is the training of postgraduates in the application of complex modelling techniques.Read moreRead less
A cross-linguistic investigation of lexical stress using corpus analyses, behavioural testing and computational modelling. Some languages exhibit variable patterns of emphasis or 'lexical stress' across words ('ZEbra' v 'girAFFE'). This research will provide a more precise understanding of the role of lexical stress in language processing. This will assist educators/clinicians working with normally developing children and those with developmental delays as well as educators/students in second-l ....A cross-linguistic investigation of lexical stress using corpus analyses, behavioural testing and computational modelling. Some languages exhibit variable patterns of emphasis or 'lexical stress' across words ('ZEbra' v 'girAFFE'). This research will provide a more precise understanding of the role of lexical stress in language processing. This will assist educators/clinicians working with normally developing children and those with developmental delays as well as educators/students in second-language learning. It will also lead to improved automatic speech recognition/synthesis - used in commercial applications such as phone banking, edutainment/epistemic computer games and communication devices (speech-to-text dictation systems for those with limited mobility and text-to-speech systems for those unable to speak). Undertaken in collaboration with a high-profile research lab in the UK this project will maintain Australia's competitive edge in cognitive science.Read moreRead less
Japan, Australia and the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Fishery: Social and Political Perspectives. In 1999 negotiations over the annual tonnage of the SBT fishery allocated to Japan broke down over disagreements about how much fishing effort SBT stocks could survive. Australia resorted to the international legal system and, although Australia eventually accepted Japan's position, bilateral relations have remained troubled over SBT. Australian public perceptions of the fishery tend to be hostile, e ....Japan, Australia and the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Fishery: Social and Political Perspectives. In 1999 negotiations over the annual tonnage of the SBT fishery allocated to Japan broke down over disagreements about how much fishing effort SBT stocks could survive. Australia resorted to the international legal system and, although Australia eventually accepted Japan's position, bilateral relations have remained troubled over SBT. Australian public perceptions of the fishery tend to be hostile, especially towards the Japanese side. IN order to achieve a balance between economics and sustainability, fisheries must be managed, and management may be hampered by social and political problems. This project provides social science research to facilitate effective management of SBT.Read moreRead less
How does Motor Cortex Excitability Influence Internal Model Retention. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of ....How does Motor Cortex Excitability Influence Internal Model Retention. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of life and functional life-span, as well as significantly reduced costs of health care. In understanding the fundamental principles underlying the stability and adaptability of movement coordination, this research is likely to make a significant contribution to the design of programs for rehabilitation of the upper limb.Read moreRead less
The Future of Oceans Governance in Polar Areas. Australia has a compelling national interest in maintaining its sovereignty and security in the Antarctic. Australian government goals include maintaining the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS); enhancing Australia's influence within the system; protecting the Antarctic environment; understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and undertaking scientific work of practical, economic and national significance. This project directly ad ....The Future of Oceans Governance in Polar Areas. Australia has a compelling national interest in maintaining its sovereignty and security in the Antarctic. Australian government goals include maintaining the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS); enhancing Australia's influence within the system; protecting the Antarctic environment; understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and undertaking scientific work of practical, economic and national significance. This project directly addresses national research priorities through analysis of oceans governance issues that centre on Australian interests. This project will also contribute to national benefit by focusing on issues central to the International Polar Year.Read moreRead less
The Niah Cave project: archaeological textile analysis. This project on archaeological textiles from excavations at Niah Cave in Sarawak involves collaborative links between researchers from many different disciplines from the Australian National University, the National University of Singapore, the University of Cambridge and the University of Leicester as well as researchers from the Sarawak Museum in Malaysia. The project is an integrated program of archaeological excavation and environmental ....The Niah Cave project: archaeological textile analysis. This project on archaeological textiles from excavations at Niah Cave in Sarawak involves collaborative links between researchers from many different disciplines from the Australian National University, the National University of Singapore, the University of Cambridge and the University of Leicester as well as researchers from the Sarawak Museum in Malaysia. The project is an integrated program of archaeological excavation and environmental science by an inter-disciplinary team from universities in Great Britain, Australia, Sarawak and the USA and will lead to further international collaboration.Read moreRead less
Development of Knowledge Discovery for High Dimensional Biomedical Data. The recent progress in experimental techniques of molecular genetics has made available a wealth of genome data and raised the interest for analysis of DNA sequences. As the human and mouse genome projects are in a phase of systematic sequencing, computational tools based on concepts used in science fields have recently played a prominent role. Significant contributions to this project will increasingly depend upon original ....Development of Knowledge Discovery for High Dimensional Biomedical Data. The recent progress in experimental techniques of molecular genetics has made available a wealth of genome data and raised the interest for analysis of DNA sequences. As the human and mouse genome projects are in a phase of systematic sequencing, computational tools based on concepts used in science fields have recently played a prominent role. Significant contributions to this project will increasingly depend upon original application and development of algorithms for the analysis of genomic data, and of the computational systems that support them. These challenges have fostered major progress in computer science, leading to collaborative research of global significance.Read moreRead less
Expand the capacity of an international multidisciplinary research network focussed on the ethical, legal and social implications of emerging biotechnologies. This project will ensure that Australia plays a central role in international debates and research activities aimed at regulating and facilitating advances in biotechnology. The project will also provide Australian researchers with direct access to key international experts in the field.
Effect of Chemo-Mechanical Grinding on Surface Integrity of Single Crystal Silicon Substrates. Silicon substrates or wafers are extensively used in electronic and optic/photonic industries. A long-time standing problem in silicon wafer machining is the surface and subsurface damage induced by machining. This may significantly affect the mechanical, optical and electronic characteristics of wafer-based components. The issue becomes increasingly more critical as the application of silicon wafers i ....Effect of Chemo-Mechanical Grinding on Surface Integrity of Single Crystal Silicon Substrates. Silicon substrates or wafers are extensively used in electronic and optic/photonic industries. A long-time standing problem in silicon wafer machining is the surface and subsurface damage induced by machining. This may significantly affect the mechanical, optical and electronic characteristics of wafer-based components. The issue becomes increasingly more critical as the application of silicon wafers is extending further as structural components. The research outcomes will contribute an improved understanding of Chemo Mechanical Grinding process and help to develop innovative technologies for silicon industries.Read moreRead less